ACTING CLASS

Lessons

If you are running a class or just practicing to improve your public speaking skills, these lessons will be extremely helpful. You can either spend one class/day on each lesson or you can do more than one if you have enough time. 

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Can You Hear Me? 

      Stand as far away as possible from the person speaking. Have them stand with their feet shoulder width apart and hands at their side. Ask them to talk about a vacation or to introduce themselves. If you have to strain to hear them, say "I can't hear you!". They can be louder by taking a deep breath and projecting their voice - but they should not be yelling. See the School page under Classes to see a list of sample questions to ask the speaker. 

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Where to Look

      When talking to people (whether it's 3 or 3,000) you never want to stare at them. This will make you and your audience uncomfortable! When you look at something just above a person's head, it looks as if you are making eye contact. To avoid looking like an owl or a deer in headlights, choose three spots: one in the center, one on the left, and on on the right. Rotate between looking at these three spots while talking so you are able to address your whole audience. 

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What do I do With my Hands?

      When talking or presenting, fidgeting is exceedingly distracting. By moving your hands or feet, the audience is distracted and cannot focus on what you are saying. If it seems impossible to keep your hands quiet, clasp them behind your back. 

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Talk Then Walk

      If you are giving a speech or presentation and you begin to walk away before you are done talking, it makes the audience believe that you do not care about what you are saying and it distracts them from your closing sentence. Wait 2-3 seconds after you are done talking before you begin walking. 

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Like and Umm...

      By using filler words such as "like", "umm", "uh", etc. (most people have individualized filler words as well so listen to what they are saying to discover them) it makes the audience believe you are unprepared, bored, and uneducated. Becoming aware of your usage of filler words is the first step to stop using them. 

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The Stage

      The stage is broken up into parts. The front of the stage is called downstage and the back of the stage is called upstage. When standing on the stage and facing the audience, your left is stage left and your right is stage right. This does not change regardless of which direction you are facing. The offstage sections are referred to as offstage, the wings, and backstage. 

 

Upstaging 

      People can be upstaged by themselves, props, and/or others. You can upstage yourself by turning your back on the audience or blocking your face. You can be upstaged by a prop if it is held in front of your face. You can be upstaged by someone else if they are standing in front of you, locking your face, or taking attention away from you if you are supposed to be the focal point. 

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Mic Day! 

      Using microphones is a lot of fun! However, there are a lot of rules that come with it. These rules consist of: never tap the mic, do not tug or step on the wires, only hold the mic in one hand, check if it is on by saying "Hello!" and flipping the switch, wait 2-3 seconds before talking if another person is using a microphone as well, and never put the mic on a flat surface. When talking, hard sounds (especially p, b, c/k, s, and t) can be jarring. By saying them softer, it is much easier on everyone's ears! A good way to practice using microphone is to tell jokes!

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Note Card Day! 

      Knowing how to properly and effectively use a note card is important. Never write full sentences, only 1-2 words to remind you of what to say. Do not stare at the note card, only glance at it. Do not cover your face with the notecard, and only hold it in one hand.  

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Audition Day!

      Have 3-4 people sitting in chairs at a table as casting directors or judges. People will choose between a few different "sides". A side is a monologue or dialogue for audition purposes. If the side is for two people, but only one is "auditioning", one of the casting directors will read with the actor without getting up. Each actor should "slate" before performing. Although they vary, a slate usually consists of your name, age, what and who you are auditioning for.

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Script Reading

      Show a sample script with highlighted lines, underlined stage directions, notes from a director, and other nuances that might be seen in a script. 

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Game Day!

      The last day can be all fun and games with Game Day! Feel free to play people's favorite acting and improv. games!