Getting Up To Perform

For the past few months, I’ve been dabbling a lot with the performing arts, gaining exposure and experience in auditions, as well as attending performing classes. Originally I wanted to put up a week to week basis of what I learn in each class of Joe Hasham’s a Acting For Beginners. But I won’t for first of I do not have their permission to put up what has been giving in the classes and secondly to protect the integrity and confidentiality of things that are only made available to the students. That said though, I will share with those out there who want to come and join the performing arts scene here in KL. First off I don’t know it all and not going to claim that I am even credible that you have to listen to what I’m about to explain, because I am only STARTing out. All I am doing is purely, sharing what I have gone through so that you yourself will know that you aren’t alone in this terrible fight of trying to go ahead with drama, theater, acting, performing – however you want to call it – the artsy stuff. 5 most logical and best things you can do for yourself if you want to try to get into the scene:

1. Go for classes Head on to places like the Footstool Players, Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Center (KLPAC) or The Oral Stage (TOS) to get yourself some basic drama classes. Just to wet your feet into acting or performing to see whether it is to your liking.
2. Audition, audition, audition! After a thought, I don’t think one can ever have to many auditions or too many castings. If anything at all, in the words of one of my friends, auditioning is also an art. What I love about auditions, you learn many new things not just about yourself but also how to improve on your technique and overall well being. What I hate, the fact that criticisms are hard to take and worse still when you are either rejected or left hanging from an audition. Meaning you don’t hear from the audition panel at all. Ah well.. take it as a good thing and learn.
3. Read and Prepare No harm too in doing some of this. As much as it is great to go in tons of auditions, keep yourself well read and prepared. Know what you are auditioning for. Prepare for the roles you might play, read up on the story that you are to audition for, warm up your vocal chords and body, to get yourself ready for anything spontaneous
4. Network The beauty of PR. Network yourself as much as possible. You just never know when you may meet some people whom share the same interests and beliefs as you in the art. Meaning that they would be hopefully just as focused and disciplined as you to get the job of putting on a good show. Which is the essential thing to make something fun and enjoyable. Besides they could be your best bet to actually knowing what, where and when to audition for something new. Also it’s great encouragement to know you aren’t alone in this field of work.
5. Root Yourself Focus. Focus is key to what it is you want to achieve when you are performing. Don’t have your eyes wandering all about, stop fidgeting, stop zoning out of character. Be very specific in your movements and wants for your character. Don’t have that, you’ll just pretty much throw everything away. Nothing sucks more than you not giving all you have for a performance. You would walk away feeling disappointed.

By the way I’d also recommend watching this. Out of many videos, I found this most helpful in terms of how to get at least a start in this path.