January 15, 2008
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How do you deal with stage fright?
I always have the butterflies. Everyday I have to be up on stage. Which is everyday. But as my old TV and Radio professor and director used to always say before we went on air: Everybody's got butterflies, it's your job to make them fly in formation.
So in short I have to suck it up: the fear, the jitters, the overwhelming desire to puke every second and just act. Everyday I have to put on Mr. Chiang the teacher (the character is confident, moody, forceful, deliberate, rude, in-your-face, frank and honest to a fault, and a drill searjeant with a hint of heart). Most things that I am really not or that I am in part, but not as exaggerated.
It has been an interesting gig. One of the most difficult roles I have ever had to play: me, but not me, not really me. It's as scripted as it can be, but mostly interactive theatre or as I've learnt to call it: confrontational theatre. Only a few students (or ex-students) have really seen me "off-stage" as really the introverted, insecure bookworm.
Like people have said before teaching is 3/4 acting and 1/4 actual teaching. That's true, all true.
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Comments (2)
hmm, you have a good point. theres something about me wanting to get into all that musical, acting, media sort of thing. usually its not me to be getting up in front of a huge group of people, but the whole thing just feels so right for me. ive been trying to get over my shyness and improve socially. i dont know if its been working, but its something i REALLY need to work on. i guess ill just need a little extra boost.
Interesting... when I'm nervous about something, I mask it by speaking non-stop and using really big words. People always comment that I carried myself well, but in the end, I have no idea what I was babbling about--just something to pass the time.
Good to see you back on Xanga! Hope all is well with you!
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