Educating the Aspiring Performer
Education for the aspiring artist
By Theresa Moss
Educate yourself, remember knowledge is power.
Cross train yourself; you should never have only one foot to stand on.
Go to your local library, take out some books, watch some videos, listen to some audio tapes, browse through magazines, and attend related workshops.
Learn how to drive a stick shift well, swim, horseback ride, play tennis. If you want to work on your body think ballet, or better yet yoga. You never know when, or who, will invite you to an outing, always be prepared.
If your craft requires writing, collaborate with a writer, you’ll both be able to include the work on your resumes/video/audio tape, if it’s packaged right. Comedians, singers, musicians, actors, announcers should all be on this page of the book, in other words, get some original material, for your demo.
If you speak another language, learn how to be fluent, be able to speak, read and write it. It could get you in the door in more places, than you may think.
Musicians although it’s not always required, should consider learning how to read music. Also, if you can play more than one instrument, work on mastering each, and every one of them. Always be in a position to say “Yes, I can do that too”.
Models should focus on announcing, if they are articulate, with a strong vocabulary. If singing or dancing is an option work on either or both, but acting should be first, and foremost along with your modeling.
Artists interested in martial arts/stunt work should also focus on acting while fine tuning their craft.
Actors should focus on all levels of acting as well as other crafts which may enhance what they do. Singing, dancing, announcing, all of these professions should be given consideration. If there’s an opportunity to work with a vocal/speech coach do this as well. And if you have been told that you’re funny, explore comedy; it may be another stepping stone that you’ve never considered.
Announcers should not only master their speech/voice coaching, but experiment and master at least 2-3 character voices. Now, if you have a strong vocabulary, you should explore technical voiceover work. If you have a fairly attractive outer shell, and don’t mind being in front of the camera, consider spokes model/emcee work.
Dancers should of course work on their dancing, but should also be collaborating with a choreographer. And cross train, consider acting first, and if you can sing, or play an instrument, you should work on packaging those talents too.
Singers, should work not only on their voice, and choreography, but acting as well.
But most importantly, collaborate with a lyric writer; work on your own material, to package your demo.
And finally, learn how to read body language, although I mentioned it in passing, it would be to your advantage. During interviews/auditions, you’ll be able to feel out the person. Also you’ll be able to correct negative body language that you weren’t aware of.
Theresa Moss has worked in the entertainment industry in a number of behind the scenes jobs including; talent coordinator, production assistant, modeling recruiter, appointment secretary, administrative assistant and receptionist. The author of From the Inside Looking Out a self help guide for the aspiring artist in the entertainment industry. http://www.checkitoffseries.mysite.com
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