Acting? I haven't the foggiest idea what I'm getting into! *need advice*

I'm super shy. It's painful for me to talk to my own friends a lot of the time. And anyone new? Haha, you'd better forget that.

I've had this much experience in plays:
*tried out for lead role in elementary school and was an understudy
*I was in a skit in which I played a rock once for a camp thing

However, I've been told many times by friends and teachers and whatnot that I should be in drama class, because I would apparently do very well. I've always secretly wanted to be in a play, and I very much enjoy watching them.

I've got a lot of people right now, drama teachers included, trying to convince me to try out for the play that we'll have this upcoming school year. This list of people includes someone we'll call M. M has done acting since she was very young, and took acting classes as a child. Evidently one of her teachers tried to convince her to go into the commercial business once. M is very talented in everything. Art, drama, singing, you name it and that girl can do it. I'm convinced that if she wants it, she can and will be famous one day. M was the star of our school play this year, and did a wonderful job both singing and acting. She said she had little kids coming up to her and telling her how much they liked her performance, as well as adults.

Here's what I'm trying to understand. Why do they all want me to do it? M and the drama teachers telling me I should do it says to me that somehow they've gotten into their heads that I have a talent for drama. Here's my other thing: I feel ready to puke thinking about even considering trying out for the play.

One of my teachers, whom I'm pretty close to, is the choir teacher. Since there's music in a play, she's involved and I believe she and the drama teacher work together on the auditions. I talked to her about this, and she's one of the ones who wants me to do it. I said maybe I'll be lucky and not even get a part. She said, "Be prepared to get one." So apparently she really really thinks I can get a part.

I've decided to auditon. The audition's a long way off, probably not until December or so. I'm getting together with M soon, though, and she's going to help me practice acting. M has been acting for 12 years, taken acting classes, etc. She's very talented. I'm kind of afraid to practice along side of her. I'm afraid I'll look pretty non-talented, and also be a bit afraid because I love her to death, but I'm very shy of her. I figure this will be good for me in the long run, though, because if I can get over acting around her, then it will be much easier to do around other people.


Got any advice? Advice on good auditions, overcoming shyness, doing well in a play, not being nervous, whatever it is, I'll take it.

I'm freaking out here.

Don't panic! For some reason I don't get nervous, it is weird. I over came my stage fright when I was 4. I imagined the judge with pink polka dot pants on his head. Hmmm... acting. Everybody seems to think I'm a good actor as well. I just pretend that it is actually happening, like say... my brother died.... or... I am a giant hamburger. Keep your face straight, the trick is not to look nervous. I'm sure you will do well!

Thanks for the advice. I'm really mostly nervous about practicing with M right now. I'm totally excited about it, but eek! I get sooo shy around her! Just the thought of acting with her is pretty scary. I mean, she's got so much experience with it that I don't have. Then add into the mix that I'm shy around her, and that all equals knots in my stomach right now.

Just keep practicing and don't give up. Maybe you could get to know M?

See, that's the crazy part. I do know her. Albeit that I haven't know her for more than a month, I do know her. We're good friends. She's already proved to me that she's a wonderful friend quite a few times. But I'm still very shy around her. I think it's because not only is she my friend, but she's one of my role models. I've noticed that even if I do really like them, I tend to stay shy around my role models for a while before warming up to them. M knows that I'm really shy, and she knows that I'm even more so around her. She made a comment the other day about how she thinks me practicing with her and getting over my ahyness around her will help me get started on becoming more used to an audience. My cousin was telling me today that I shouldn't feel shy around her, she's just trying to help. I know I shouldn't, but I just do. I really like her. She's very sweet, talented, and a great friend. But I'm still shy around her.

Ah, just my kind of thread! I was just like you a few years ago. All through school I would never talk to anyone, I was always so shy. Then once I got into college I had to take a theater class. A few fellow students there along with my professor all convinced me somehow to audition for the Fall play. I was so nervous! I got together with the other students who were auditioning and practiced, but I was still a nervous mess. I was so nervous, that the morning of the audition I told my mom I wasn't going. I somehow though got up the courage to go and audition, and I got in! It was still a long road from there with getting out of my stage fright and coming out of my shell, but it changed my life so much! Since then I have been hooked. I registered following semesters for Acting I and Acting II, and was in 3 more plays. It's such a rush, and even though I still get a little bit nervous before putting on a show, it's no where near as frightening as it once was! And I'm not as shy anymore either! Trust me, you'll love it!

Very sorry about this, I can totally relate. I too have stage fright.

Something I found that works is to keep positive and encouraging thoughts. The mind is a powerful thing; so you need to keep telling yourself it's okay. If you tell yourself everything will be fine, more than likely it will be. All that you need to do is be confident in yourself, and let it show.

You don't want to look like a nervous wreck either, because your anxiety will rub of on the other actors.

I wish you all the best, and peace of mind.

I really don't have any advice for you, but you have my whole-hearted encouragement. I've always been very shy. I don't talk to cashiers in the store, strangers in the elevator, the repair man working on my dishwasher, etc. People have often thought that I'm snobby because of it. But I'm just not comfortable doing that.

I learned early in my life that I'm not only shy, but an introvert as well. I don't like large crowds and have never had (or wanted) tons of friends, just a few close ones. However, my shyness at 43 is completely different than it was at 23. It took a lot of time - too long - but I'm finally much more self-confident and comfortable with myself.

Can you identify what about auditioning and acting makes you uncomfortable? And you can't just say "everyone looking at me" because there's got to be more to it than that. I don't like everyone looking at me and being the center of attention because I feel that it's my responsibility to "entertain" everyone and keep the conversation going - which I don't feel that I'm good at. If you can identify that key thing, you may be able to work on a way to overcome it. I know I'll never enjoy a big crowd or party, but they don't terrify me any more.

You obviously have a support network that thinks you have the talent and skills to do this. Trust them. They may think that you're just as talented as your friend M.

You, like me, may always be shy and/or introverted, but it doesn't mean you can't find a way to work with or around it to succeed some sort of performance. Give it a shot so you'll know that you at least tried.

GreenCheek said:

Ah, just my kind of thread! I was just like you a few years ago. All through school I would never talk to anyone, I was always so shy. Then once I got into college I had to take a theater class. A few fellow students there along with my professor all convinced me somehow to audition for the Fall play. I was so nervous! I got together with the other students who were auditioning and practiced, but I was still a nervous mess. I was so nervous, that the morning of the audition I told my mom I wasn't going. I somehow though got up the courage to go and audition, and I got in! It was still a long road from there with getting out of my stage fright and coming out of my shell, but it changed my life so much! Since then I have been hooked. I registered following semesters for Acting I and Acting II, and was in 3 more plays. It's such a rush, and even though I still get a little bit nervous before putting on a show, it's no where near as frightening as it once was! And I'm not as shy anymore either! Trust me, you'll love it!

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Sounds like something I would do. Almost back out on the audition. Yeah, I would. Your post was encouraging, though. Makes me want to practice. lol

Can you identify what about auditioning and acting makes you uncomfortable? And you can't just say "everyone looking at me" because there's got to be more to it than that. I don't like everyone looking at me and being the center of attention because I feel that it's my responsibility to "entertain" everyone and keep the conversation going - which I don't feel that I'm good at. If you can identify that key thing, you may be able to work on a way to overcome it. I know I'll never enjoy a big crowd or party, but they don't terrify me any more.

You obviously have a support network that thinks you have the talent and skills to do this. Trust them. They may think that you're just as talented as your friend M.

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Yeah. I can identify it easily. I can give you the answer in one letter. M. I'm nervous about being compared to her, I'm nervous about doing the same thing she did this year (except chances are super high I won't end up in the lead role! Don't have enough experience or talent.) , I'm nervous about practicing with her. I'm nervous about her coming to see me! (VERY nervous about that one. M's got a few, uh, problems with her college plans. Originally she was going to go to a school on the other side of the country. Recently, it's been sounding like she's pretty positive she's going to end up at a school 3 hours away instead. So she's said that if she ends up there, then she'll do her best to come and see me in the play. She realized it would make me nervous, though. Mentioned wearing a disguise. lol I told her if I was doing my part, I wouldn't be scanning the audience and she wouldn't need a disguise.) I want to make sure everyone gets the right impression, so let me say this: M is a wonderful, supportive friend. I love her to death. However, she does make me feel shy. Not to mention that I know how good she is, and I feel like when we start into practice, that's probably going to intimidate me.

She tries her best to help me out. She told me this the other day: "if you have to, you can sort of hide behind the character if it makes you nervous. there is an element of putting yourself into it, (that also helps make the character a little more believable) but somehow sharing that other identity too takes some of the pressure off thinking about what other people are thinking of you."

I'd really like you guys to watch these videos of M. See what I mean by she's experienced and maybe see why I'm intimidated. If you could, please watch them. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi2d_mZhJQo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi2d_mZhJQo[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_QqDtUAQi0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_QqDtUAQi0[/ame] If you enjoy them and would like to see more, just ask. I have plenty.


Yeah, the part about them maybe thinking I'm as talented as M? That's what I'm afraid of!

And they think I have the skills and talent to do this? Yeah, I'm trying to figure out where they got that impression, because I certainly don't agree.

And they think I have the skills and talent to do this? Yeah, I'm trying to figure out where they got that impression, because I certainly don't agree.

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There goes the negative thoughts again, be sure to watch for that. They're very bad for your self-esteem, and can affect your performance in an unfortunate way.

Here, read these links. You might find them interesting.
How to Handle Stage Fright | eHow.com
How to Deal With Stage Fright | eHow.com

I hope this was of some use to you, and I wish you all the best with your performance. Practice as much as possible, and have fun with it.