Card magic tricks are very easy to learn and also easy to perform. As a beginner, you may want to show around your skills after getting the techniques of mastering mentalism upfront. You need to practice and practice to reach the perfection that is the hallmark of famous magicians. Card tricks are easy to show to a room full of people.
There are hardly any schools worth their name who do not organize an annual drama. These dramas are targeted towards parents and are generally held at the end of the year, especially prior to the Christmas holidays. Most teachers find problems in securing proper short play scripts and drama scripts that are suitable for young kids. Though there is no dearth of short play scripts and drama scripts as far as adults are concerned, it cannot be said to be the same as far as kids and their drama shows are concerned.
I have been an actor for over 30 years and I know what it feels like to go from acting job to acting job. I have been lucky and have managed to work regularly as an actor. However, because our profession is always so on and off, I find that it is not unusual to make a large amount of money one month and very little the next. You never know what will happen, and with the film business being slow right now, acting jobs are few. Being creative is not always conducive to being financially literate. You spend a substantial amount of money marketing yourself and it eats into your income. Your bank account never grows. Why not create multiple streams of income to sustain your acting career while you are looking for an acting job? After becoming a widow, and realizing that I needed to survive in Los Angeles with two kids, I discovered direct sales and have never looked back since. Here are some reasons why direct sales or network marketing might be the perfect role for you.
I have found a system that can be used by anyone in direct sales or network marketing to build and grow their business. You can take advantage of it even if you have never been involved in this field and do not have a current direct sales or network marketing business. By helping other network marketers build their businesses online, you will earn commissions on auto pilot, find a business that you would love to promote and have plenty of time to develop your acting craft. It is easy, affordable and has step by step video training so anyone, even the most un-technical actor, can figure it out. Believe me, if I can do it, so can you. I have seen results immediately and so will you.
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I invite you to find out how you can work in direct sales or network marketing and create 18 streams of additional income while you are waiting for an acting job Go to http://www.greatactingjob.com Even if you do not currently have a direct sales business, you can get started with this system and start creating residuals like you have never seen in your entire acting career. Build security for yourself and never go to a casting call looking hungry again Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Forstadt |
I have been an actor for over 30 years and I know what it feels like to go from acting job to acting job. I have been lucky and have managed to work regularly as an actor. However, because our profession is always so on and off, I find that it is not unusual to make a large amount of money one month and very little the next. You never know what will happen, and with the film business being slow right now, acting jobs are few. Being creative is not always conducive to being financially literate. You spend a substantial amount of money marketing yourself and it eats into your income. Your bank account never grows. Why not create multiple streams of income to sustain your acting career while you are looking for an acting job? After becoming a widow, and realizing that I needed to survive in Los Angeles with two kids, I discovered direct sales and have never looked back since. Here are some reasons why direct sales or network marketing might be the perfect role for you.
I have found a system that can be used by anyone in direct sales or network marketing to build and grow their business. You can take advantage of it even if you have never been involved in this field and do not have a current direct sales or network marketing business. By helping other network marketers build their businesses online, you will earn commissions on auto pilot, find a business that you would love to promote and have plenty of time to develop your acting craft. It is easy, affordable and has step by step video training so anyone, even the most un-technical actor, can figure it out. Believe me, if I can do it, so can you. I have seen results immediately and so will you.
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I invite you to find out how you can work in direct sales or network marketing and create 18 streams of additional income while you are waiting for an acting job Go to http://www.greatactingjob.com Even if you do not currently have a direct sales business, you can get started with this system and start creating residuals like you have never seen in your entire acting career. Build security for yourself and never go to a casting call looking hungry again Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Forstadt |
I have been an actor for over 30 years and I know what it feels like to go from acting job to acting job. I have been lucky and have managed to work regularly as an actor. However, because our profession is always so on and off, I find that it is not unusual to make a large amount of money one month and very little the next. You never know what will happen, and with the film business being slow right now, acting jobs are few. Being creative is not always conducive to being financially literate. You spend a substantial amount of money marketing yourself and it eats into your income. Your bank account never grows. Why not create multiple streams of income to sustain your acting career while you are looking for an acting job? After becoming a widow, and realizing that I needed to survive in Los Angeles with two kids, I discovered direct sales and have never looked back since. Here are some reasons why direct sales or network marketing might be the perfect role for you.
I have found a system that can be used by anyone in direct sales or network marketing to build and grow their business. You can take advantage of it even if you have never been involved in this field and do not have a current direct sales or network marketing business. By helping other network marketers build their businesses online, you will earn commissions on auto pilot, find a business that you would love to promote and have plenty of time to develop your acting craft. It is easy, affordable and has step by step video training so anyone, even the most un-technical actor, can figure it out. Believe me, if I can do it, so can you. I have seen results immediately and so will you.
|
I invite you to find out how you can work in direct sales or network marketing and create 18 streams of additional income while you are waiting for an acting job Go to http://www.greatactingjob.com Even if you do not currently have a direct sales business, you can get started with this system and start creating residuals like you have never seen in your entire acting career. Build security for yourself and never go to a casting call looking hungry again Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Forstadt |
Choosing a career in the entertainment industry as an actor or model may be one of the boldest decisions you will ever make. It might also be one of the greatest decisions you will ever make as well.
How familiar does this scenario sound to you? You decide that it’s time to cultivate solid relationships with television casting directors, so you sign up for a workshop service in order to meet these people face to face. Over the course of the next year, you meet two different casting directors each month totaling twenty-four first meetings yet no one really knows you. I meet tons of actors every month who believe strongly that CD workshops don’t work. Well, of course they don’t when you never really develop a relationship with the casting directors you meet.
Is stage fright holding you back? Somebody on one of the magic forums said he had his first gig coming up. He said he was too nervous to perform his good sleight of hand magic so wanted some easy to perform alternatives. Here’s my reply:
It seems to me that you’re treating the symptoms of your problem and not the cause.
In other words, you say your sleights are as good as anybody’s you’ve seen but you have stage fright. So instead of treating your anxiety, you’ve decided to do less than what you’re fully capable of doing. Why not get rid of your nervousness, which is the cause of your problem?
First of all, what makes you nervous? It’s the fear of failure. When new performers are scared to death of bombing, they don’t act like themselves. They try to come up with characters or scripts and they don’t connect with people because they aren’t being real.
So, one thing you should decide now is that you are going to treat this gig like you’re going to a friend’s house to hang out. Pretend it’s just you, friends, and family, and just be yourself. So much of finding your voice as a performer depends on how comfortable you are while on stage. If you can feel as comfortable on stage as you do when you’re hanging with your friends just chatting and cracking jokes, you will be light years ahead of many scripted performers.
This is not to imply you should just go and improvise. It means you have a plan that’s well rehearsed but in practice serves only as an outline. Make it simple. Create two sets of magic of three tricks each. Practice those routines, including what you’re going to say. Do them over and over and over and over.
You will gain great confidence by being well prepared and this confidence is your first step in eliminating your stage fright.
Next, accept the fact that you might make mistakes and certain things won’t go as planned. Do the best you can. After the gig analyze your experience, put yourself in your own audience and replay the show from their point of view, take notes, and try to do better next time.
I’d also like you stop saying that performing in front of strangers makes you nervous. When you constantly feed your mind negative thoughts like that, it builds up and creates anxiety. From now on, every time you start to think you’re nervous, put up a big stop sign in your mind and replace the word nervous with excited. Learn to speak positively to yourself. Every time you think of the upcoming gig, just think, “Man, this is going to be great, I’m excited, I’m going to kill it because I rock.” You don’t have to believe any of this for it to work. By feeding your subconscious positive thoughts, you will see a reduction in stage fright.
If you’re serious about tackling your anxiety, you should make a script for yourself that you review on a regular basis. You can simply make it a list that you read a few times a day. For instance:
1. I love performing magic because I’m good at it and it makes me happy to entertain people.
2. I am confident in my ability to entertain an audience.
3. My sleight of hand skills are well practiced and honed.
You get the idea. Try to write these things out in the present tense and make them applicable to yourself and what you need to work on. If you procrastinate, write:
4. I get everything done when it’s supposed to be done.
This isn’t voodoo. It’s a fact that constantly thinking negative thoughts over and over is bad for your mental health. It’s also a fact that negative thinking is a bad habit but you can change those thoughts into positives and you will see your anxiety go away.
Here’s another tip if you’re feeling nervous. As soon as you feel anxious, recognize the feeling, then inhale slowly through your nose, breathing from the diaphragm for two seconds and then exhale for four seconds through your mouth. Your stomach should rise when you inhale and be sucked in as you exhale. As you do the breathing, immediately distract yourself from whatever you were just thinking about (probably your upcoming gig). Distract yourself by thinking of something, anything else. It’s easier if you think of something funny. Get into this habit and you will never have a panic attack again.
Lastly, you should confront your fear. You should do the best magic you’re capable of. If you mess something up, it won’t kill you. It won’t end your career. Nobody will speak poorly about you. It just doesn’t matter if you aren’t perfect because nobody is.
The only way to be your best is to confront this stage fright issue. Realize it’s coming from a fear of failure which is tied into low self esteem. Get in line, you’re in show business, we all have low self esteem. However, don’t be a wimp and do weak magic. Instead, be well prepared, learn positive self talk, use the techniques I gave you, be yourself, and have fun!
One last tip. You can always say exactly how you feel while performing. That’s called being yourself. For example, you approach your first group and you’re shaking. No problem, walk over, introduce yourself and say, “Wow, you are the first guest I’m supposed to entertain but I may die of a heart attack first I’m so nervous.” People will find your honesty endearing and funny. There was a comedian who was on stage for her first time. Her opening line was, “I’m really nervous because my husband is here. I’m scared if I bomb, he’ll divorce me.” People cracked up.
Remember, you want people to remember you, not the tricks. Follow my guidelines and you’ll be on your way to ending stage fright for good.
It all started with a spider. Really, it started with a spider (Ananse) story:
There once was a powerful, rich king with three beautiful daughters, but no sons. The daughters were never allowed to leave the King’s palace, and their names - Kpanlogo, Alogodzan, and Nmaa Nmaa - were kept secret from the public.
As the King grew older, he became more concerned that he had no son to inherit his throne. The wise old king devised a plan to secure his throne. He devised a contest for all the men of his realm: the man who guessed the secret names of his three daughters would win their hands in marriage, and thereby inherit the throne.
Previously, a sneaky man had made his way into the palace. He sneaked his way around and through the palace until he came upon the three beautiful daughters playing. He began to flail and gyrate, acting like a mad man, making the girls laugh at him. Not too far away, their mother heard the uproar, and wanted to know what all the commotion was. Mother called out to her eldest, “Kpanlogo?” Receiving no answer, she called out to her other daughters, “Alogodzan? Nmaa Nmaa?” With this, the man vanished, leaving the girls explaining to their mother what had just taken place.
The day of the contest all the single men of the kingdom gathered at the palace for their chance to win the King’s contest. One by one, they presented to the king, trying to guess the names of his beautiful daughters. One by one, they failed. Finally, it was the turn of the sneaky man. He had composed a song using the names of the daughters and he began to sing, “Kpanlogo Alogodzan nn Kpanlogo Nmaa oo Nmaa oo”.
The crowds and the Royal Family were truly amazed! However, none more so than the king, who demanded to know how Sneaky Man had learned the names of his precious daughters. Sneaky Man enthralled the throngs with his amazing tale of bravery and daring. The king was so impressed with Sneaky Man’s cleverness, that he gladly gave his daughter’s hands in marriage to our sneaky friend.
Like most Ananse stories, this tale was passed from generation to generation in West Africa, specifically the Accra region of Ghana, as both entertainment and an educational tool. After hearing the story told by his grandfather, during the 1960s, a young Ga man called Otoo (Otu) Lincoln was inspired to create a performance of this tale. Developing new rhythms, now known as Kpanlogo, Lincoln incorporated aspects of traditional Ghanaian fisher-folk dances, known as “lolo”, as well as African “high-life” dances, with similar rhythms to those of Clave (a Cuban rhythmic pattern), and influences of American blues-man Bo Diddley. Intended as a recreational dance, Kpanlogo quickly caught on with West Africa’s younger population.
The Kpanlogo drum is also a favorite of the Ghanaian people. Similar in shape, but smaller in size than a Conga, the Kpanlogo drum produces a rich, deep, mellow sound. The drum stands about 24 inches tall and has a head of from 10 to 12 inches in diameter. The head is traditionally made with antelope skin, however, may be made of calf or goatskin, with calfskin producing the sound most similar to antelope. Being a peg-type drum, it is tuned by tapping the pegs into the drum body. The drum is played strictly with the hands.
The Kpanlogo orchestra consists of two Kpanlogo drums (male and female), iron double bells, shekeres, or gourd rattles. One or more square wooden drums (Tamali), the Gyil (xylophone), bamboo flute, hand clapping and whistles may all be incorporated to produce this lively dance sound.
In the Ga language, Kpan means dance, and longo means turning, so Kpanlogo means turning dance. The dance features wildly swinging arms, gyrating torsos, and fancy footwork. Performed equally by men and women, “lolo” aspects, such as the arm movements of pulling in heavily loaded fishing nets, can be readily seen in the dance’s structure, as can hints of rock and roll dancing. Comedic movements, rapid turning, foot stamping, facial expression and flirtatiousness all play their part in completing the form.
The sexual overtones implied in the performance served to have the dance temporarily banned by the government in the mid-1960s. Officials ordered a demonstration of the dance to consider for themselves the ultimate determination of the dances’ appropriateness. Cleverly, those engaged in this special performance ever so slightly altered their steps and movements. After this consideration, authorities determined Kpanlogo an appropriate social dance, and lifted the ban. From this point on, kpanlogo became the favorite social and celebratory dance of the Ghanaian people, now performed by young and old alike.
The creation of character is achieved through the augmentation and the suppression of aspects of your own personality. Whether the reason for this is based on the facts of the play, your own imaginings, the rumbling in your stomach or the advice of the director - the creation of character is a relatively simple idea that is often over-complicated. Whatever process that you are using or that you believe that you are using, running in the background is the simplest of systems, the manipulation of your own personality to suit the needs of the play in production.