Here’s a way to easily remember some fundamentals. These are what I call The four “P’s”—process, patience, practice, and perseverance.
Process. I don’t know about you, but when I’m asked to do something by a director, writer, or producer, I want to do it quickly—and do it well. The pressure I put on myself can get in the way. If I get too concerned about delivering a requested result, then I am not able to perform optimally. My work improves when I remind myself that everything we do as artists is “in process.” When a director asks me for a specific result, I just give myself adjustments that will move my performance in the direction that they seek. When I allow my work to be process-oriented, rather than result-oriented, I do better and occasionally deliver performances that go far beyond the director’s vision.
Every time I perform, I learn about myself. How can I relax more? How can I tell the story better? How can I infuse my performance with greater spontaneity?
Patience. Processes take time, and when I forget that simple concept, I get tense. I become hard on myself for not being immediately brilliant. This sort of harsh self-criticism is
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