Ghost train-ing

crgwllms | 02/07/2006 - 02:03

The current poll overwhelmingly indicates that people believe training never ends - and yet how many, I wonder, seriously take the effort to improve their craft through training?

I'm not including anyone in a school or training institution...this is a question for those theatre artists who have left their original training and are in the industry or performing in the community - What do you do to improve?

I hear a lot of you defend yourselves saying 'You learn by experience'. This is a truism, but some of you are also deluding yourselves. If your experience is not challenging you; if the experience is simply repeating what you already know over and over; if the experience is actually an incidence of doing something badly....then all you are learning are bad habits and poor technique. Unfortunately, you also learn those by experience!

That's not to say that you MUST go to a class or an institution. There are many skilled practitioners who have set out to train themselves...whether that means learning an instrument, studying performance by watching plays, practicing lines and learning monologues...etc, etc...

Everyone has something to learn. That's obvious, and judging by the poll most of us know it. But how many people are aware of their own individual weaknesses, and are actively taking steps to improve? How many of us realize what exact steps we need to take to increase our skill and improve our own performance abilities?

Who can sum up, in a single sentence, what particular habit or inability is holding them back from greater success?

That's the first, and most important, step toward training.

Cheers,
Craig

<8>-/======\-------

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Though not an acting

Author: Na
Date: 02/07/2006 - 21:24

Though not an acting training comment, this does add to the discussion:

Learning puppetry, I find that I am buying more books on the subject, on a range of topics. But I'm also 'learning by doing' crossed with actual self-training. Last year I only really learnt how to knit. This was taken as a hobby, but is certainly now a skill that I can use in future shows. This week I made myself a puppet on an experimentation of an image I saw on the net. Neither of which are 'training' as such, but are extra-curricular hobbies that can be used as skills in shows. By actively giving myself time, space and materials, I can learn how to do new things without undertaking formal training.

And it's not quite learning by experience, but learning from other people's patterns and ideas. And by doing this, hopefully I'll be able to make my own.

The Prompt Copy
Networking emerging theatre professionals
www.thepromptcopy.com

Sticky Apple Legs
http://stickyapplelegs.artsblogs.com

Thou speaketh truth

Author: Labrug
Date: 03/07/2006 - 09:27

Indeed Craig. I can only be agree whole heartedly with you. I like to think that I do not repeat old habits. I love the challenge of something different and learning something additional. For me the real inhibitor to further training is the high cost of education for acting. These courses are a real hole in the back pocket so often I am trying to find other alternatives to developing my skills and keeping my abilities 'Fresh' so to speak.

Mixing with other actors and discussing styles - what works - what does not. I have had many a wonderful discussion about shows, methods, techniques, etc with my back-stage cast an crew. The experiences of others are a wonderful bed of knowledge but one needs to be prepared to accept the advice and opinions of another. This would appear to be a difficult thing to do for some performers however. My feelings is that an open mind does not mean an easily swayed mind. There is always room to try something different.

There are plenty of books and acting resources out there, if you know where to look. Interestingly enough, Shakespearian techniques are really quite powerful in modern theatre (in my honest opinion) and there are stacks of resource materials in this area. Besides the classics, the are a multitude of books about audition techniques, stage-craft, accents and so forth. I try and read as much as I can.

Dixi

Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
Fight/Sword Choreographer

http://au.geocities.com/labrug

Every experience is a learning experience

Author: Logos
Date: 03/07/2006 - 11:05

But only if you allow it to be. As you say Craig. I'mm also with you Jeff about the high cost of workshops for participants in an industry that doen't earn a whole lot. What I hope to set up through the SHORT THEATRE group we are getting going here in Adelaide is a series of self help workshops where we bring our experience and hopefully leave our prejudice at the door. We would lead sessions in our areas of expertise and in return take part in sessions that challenge us.
I recently had the opportunity to work with another really experienced actor and a young woman who had never set foot on a stage outside of school and an academic drama course. Bridget and I found that the questions she asked made us re-evaluate truisms we had accepted for years. An eye opening experience and I am very pleased that Holly had the chutzpah to challenge two old stagers because we both learnt from her.

The Light Bulb Moment

Author: Labrug
Date: 03/07/2006 - 11:35

>> the questions she asked made us re-evaluate truisms we had accepted for years

I love those experiences. The real Light Bulb is ON moments. We all have so well crafted our own knowledge and training to suit our tastes at the time. When something comes along to challenge it, you have a choice;

Reject or Adapt. Personally, adapting is far more exciting and full-filling.

I have a long history in training others. Mainly computing skills mind you, yet the philosophy I employed then still makes sense in theatre : If I don't walk away from this having learnt something, then is hasn't bee a good use of my time. This is true if you are the student, teacher, actor, director, what-ever.

To Challenge is to learn.

Dixi

Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
Fight/Sword Choreographer

http://au.geocities.com/labrug

I didn't comment before

Author: Labrug
Date: 04/07/2006 - 09:03

I am glad to see that there is some attempts being made to establish forums for theatrically minded individuals were we can mix and learn from each other. I can say that there are plans for something very similar in Perth. I can't go into a lot of detail at the moment other than watch this space.

Logos, I wish you all the luck for your project, and keeps us informed as to how it goes. I personally would love to hear about it.

Dixi

Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
Fight/Sword Choreographer

http://au.geocities.com/labrug

Ghost train-ing

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