Bfame Youth

Firstly, we’re all different.  What works for you may not work for your friend.  Don’t think you have to do it someone else’s way.  Find what works for you.  For instance, I find it best to record my lines and listen, saying them at the same time, while pacing. 

Go through your script and highlight your lines.  I like to use one colour for my lines, and a different colour for stage directions. 

Don’t just read your own lines.  Getting to know the whole script will help. 

Ask someone to read with you.  You can ask them to correct you or just give you the cue lines. 

Record yourself or the whole cast doing lines.   

Saying lines out loud usually helps and moving while learning is scientifically proven to make it easier to learn. 

Give yourself breaks.  Do short sessions a few times a day, rather than spending hours doing lines. 

Learn your cue lines.  Get the cues and your lines will flow. 

Practise. 

Find something else to think about.  Focusing on how scared you are isn’t helpful.  Feel the fear and try to work through it.  Don’t tell yourself you’re stupid for being scared.   

Try deep breathing.  Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 5 seconds, and out for 7 seconds – feel yourself calming down. Think of nothing except the sensations in your body as you breathe.  

It can help to count, or say something repetitive, to take your mind off your fear.  Meditate, if that’s something you like to do.  You could try yoga or relaxation exercises.   

Make sure you know your lines.  Be prepared.  Know you are ready and you know your stuff. 

Remember, your audience isn’t there for perfection.  They want you to do well.  Feel their support.  The majority of people really do want you to succeed. 

Put it into perspective.  It’s not a matter of life and death and, even if you do go wrong, the audience may not even realise.  And if they do?  They’ve ALL made a mistake at some point.  Most of the time, everyone else will be far kinder than you are to yourself. 

Can you ‘reframe’ the nerves?  Stop feeling it as fear, and tell yourself it’s excitement. 

I would advise you not to get too superstitious.  It may seem to help to always wear your lucky pants or to have your special stone in your pocket, but what if your pants rip or you lose your stone? 

Stage fright can affect you in many ways.  If it makes you vomit, brush your teeth or eat a mint before you go onstage.  If you get clammy, have some baby wipes at the ready.  Make sure to drink some water so you’re not dehydrated – a headache won’t help. 

Try the ‘superhero’ stance.  Posture matters.  First, try hunching up, making yourself as small as you can.  There is strong evidence that this can affect your emotions and performance.  So why wouldn’t it work to do the opposite?  Hands on hips, feet shoulder width apart, chin up, deep breathing.  Although not scientifically proven, standing like Superman can make you feel more confident.   

Visualise your performance going really well.  Maybe say some affirmations.  “My performance will go well.  I am ready.  I am confident”.  Try saying them to yourself in the mirror.   

It can help to create a pre-show routine.  This could include breathing exercises, affirmations, doing some stretches or vocal exercises, or it could be simply taking yourself off to a quiet corner for 5 minutes.  Do what works for you. 

Ground yourself by leaning against a wall or taking your shoes off and really feeling the floor.  Look around you.  Name 5 things you can see – (a chair, a script, your hand).  4 things you can feel – (the floor, the wall, the paper of your script).  3 things you can hear – (a castmate, a bird singing, traffic).  2 things you can smell – (soap, coffee, a drink).  1 thing you can taste – (a mint, coffee).  By giving your mind something else to think about, you’ll be taking it off your fear. 

Don’t try to be perfect.  Don’t set your expectations too high.  Just be the best you can be.  Prepared, not perfect. 

If you already have the script, make sure you have read it through a couple of times.  Think about your character.  How do they fit in the play?  Are there any words you don’t know the meaning of?  Or how to pronounce them?  Make sure you know what you’re saying.  Highlight your lines.  Be prepared to throw yourself into it.  Make sure to remember your script and take a pencil for notes.  I prefer to write notes directly onto my script but, if you don’t like that idea, take a notepad.  I like to write the names of all the crew and cast members next to their role.  Take a drink and a snack.  Make sure you’re dressed comfortably, especially if you’re dancing or moving around. Make absolutely sure to wear comfortable shoes.  Comfort is far more important than looking good.  Also remember, that fear you’re feeling?  Everyone else is feeling it too. 

You should already know where you’re going, what time you have to be there and so on.  If not, make sure to get there a little early.  The director might want you to sit in a specific place, ask them.  If not, choose a seat.  Be ready, be alert, be enthusiastic. 

Make sure your phone is off.  Don’t just put it on vibrate because that will distract you. 

You may find you’ll be asked to participate in icebreakers.  This might be a game.  Throw yourself into it.  This is a great way to meet everyone else and get to know them. 

You’ll probably do a warm-up.  This could include vocal and physical exercises. 

You’ll most likely discuss schedules; you may be given a time to be ‘off book’.  You’ll be given instructions for future rehearsals, ground rules, and expectations. 

The first read through will be just that.  You’ll all be reading the script together.  You don’t have to ‘act’.  It’s just to understand the play and get a feel for each other. 

You may be given information about your character but, if not, try building a character with your own ideas.  The director will tell you if they want you to make changes.  If that happens, don’t feel silly, you’ve just helped the director see what they want. 

If the script is a familiar play or film, DON’T try to play it the way it was played in the performance you’ve seen.  Directors want to do things their way, not to have cloned performances. 

Try to relax and have fun.  This will be a memory, make it a good one. 

You’ll probably be given time to ask questions.  Make sure you’ve asked everything you need, to feel confident and prepared. 

Listen, make notes, try to relax. 

Use all your senses.  What is your character seeing?  What are they hearing, smelling etc?  This can help you flesh out your character and make them more real and rounded. 

What type of person are they?  Nobody is JUST one thing.  Take the ‘mean girl’.  Why is she mean in the first place?  Was she treated badly?  Why does she need to be the centre of attention?  Is she pushed aside at home?  Think of WHY someone acts a certain way.  What is their motivation?  Can you make her a sympathetic character rather than JUST a villain?  What is their story?   

Think about props.  How many times have you seen someone in a play pick up an obviously empty cup and pretend to drink from it?  So often, you can see they’re just pretending.  Practise.  Put some liquid in a cup and really notice how it feels, how your hand feels, how your hand moves, how your mouth moves when you put the cup to your lips.  Then try again with the cup empty.  Finally try using an imaginary cup.  Watch yourself in the mirror.  Video yourself and watch it back. 

If someone else throws in a new idea, run with it.  Stay in character and react as your character would. 

 ‘Yes, and’; take what the other actor says and add to it. 

Add as much detail as you can so your character is really well-rounded.