Method acting is all about performing a role with depth and total believability. When you begin using The Method, it won’t be long before you start to understand what it really means to ‘become’ the character you’re playing.
There are a few things that can stand in the way of an actor reaching their full potential. These are all issues that can, however, be overcome with the right training. One element that is central to this is relaxation techniques for method actors. These can be self-taught and practiced at home as often as necessary. Knowing how to implement different relaxation techniques can be particularly helpful for method actors in combatting their nerves – one of the most common acting weaknesses.
Nerves come in many different forms and can affect performers in a number of ways. The first thing that springs to mind for most people when they think of ‘acting nerves’ is stage fright; the sort that causes you to stumble over your lines in the audition room or get the shakes on opening night. This is a very real and common issue for many actors, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that if you’re not struck by fear before a performance, nerves and stress aren’t affecting your acting in other ways.
Relaxation Techniques For Method Actors
Lee Strasberg, the legendary acting coach who is often referred to as ‘the father of method acting’, described tension as the “occupational disease of the actor” and one of the main factors for holding a performance back. He believed that relaxation is essential for any performance and even developed his own relaxation techniques for method actors to help them open up and put their mind into a neutral state. He found that this helped them to get into the mindset of an entirely different person.
Method actors in all stages of their career, from beginners to Oscar-winning icons like Jack Nicholson, practice relaxation when getting into character. Of course, everyone is different, so certain techniques work better on some than others. Here are five of the most common ways to unwind – try them out and see which one works best for you.
Lee Strasberg’s Classic Technique
Where better to start than with the founder of method acting himself, Lee Strasberg? This is the most widely practiced relaxation technique for method actors in all stages of their careers. Acting icons like Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep are fans of this technique which has been a firm favourite with many actors for decades.
Begin by finding a comfortable chair and taking a seat. Sit with you arms and legs hanging loosely down the sides of your body. Move your foot in a circle, and then shake it off until there is absolutely no tension left in your muscles. Repeat this in the opposite leg and then in each arm. Once your limbs are as limp as can be, release the muscles in your face and neck until your jaw goes slack. Finally, let out a humming or grunting noise from deep inside your throat.
Do this exercise for around 20 minutes and you’ll find your mind and body are in a state of total relaxation. Strasberg developed this technique to help actors identify and loosen up muscles they didn’t even know they had.
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Anyone who has ever had to overcome any sort of anxiety will have been told to ‘just breathe’. This might sound ridiculously simple but you’d be amazed at how much of a difference deliberate and controlled breathing can make to your state of mind. Breath is one of the first things to be disrupted when a person becomes stressed or tense.
Diaphragmatic breathing is an easy way to regain control over your nervous system. Just like the Lee Strasberg technique, diaphragmatic breathing begins by sitting down comfortably in a chair. Let your arms hang by your sides and close your eyes. Then start breathing extremely deeply, moving your diaphragm with each inhale and exhale. When you breathe in, concentrate on the oxygen travelling all the way into your lungs and then slowly and smoothly, expel the air.
When you get used to the steady rhythm of this diaphragmatic breathing, you’ll be able to focus on your body and find which muscles are tight. Whatever you do, don’t forget the muscles in your face and neck, as this is where most tension is carried. Don’t wait until you’re feeling tense to try out this exercise, train yourself to do it several times a week until it becomes a habit. This way, you will feel the relaxing benefits on a long-term basis and ‘neutralising’ yourself in preparation for a role will become easier than ever.
Mind-Body Opening
Mind-body opening uses small and simple movements to reprogram your body into flowing up and out rather than down and inwards. This subtle change releases the tension in your body and mind, helping you to feel more positive and ready to perform.
In his 2014 book, Physical Expression on Stage and Screen, Bill Connington describes a mind-body opening technique. Start by standing up straight with your feet apart. As you slowly breathe in and out, concentrate on ‘thinking up and open’ through your torso, chest, and shoulders. Gently raise your arms, letting them float freely at your sides, focusing the entire time on opening up and out. As you do this, make sure that none of your muscles are tensed. Become as relaxed as possible and continue the exercise for as long as it takes you to feel refreshed and relaxed.
Yoga Sun Salutation
The Sun Salutation is one of the most popular yoga poses. It is also a common relaxation technique used by many method actors. But don’t worry; you don’t have to be an expert yogi to pull it off. Everything about this move is connected to breathing, which is why many performers practice it regularly to clear their mind of any stress.
Begin by standing up straight and breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Reach your arms upwards and slowly bend forward as you exhale. When you are leaning forwards with arms outstretched, stretch your right leg back until you are in a lunging position. As you hold this pose, stretch your arms downwards until your hands and feet are on the floor. Then, just as slowly as you did to start with, rise up again to a standing position with your arms above your head before gradually lowering them back down to your sides. This gentle exercise can be repeated as many times as you like.
Meditation
It’s well known all around the world that meditating is one of the best ways to relax. A brief meditation can be a great way to unwind either before or after a performance. Just like the Sun Salutation yoga pose, meditation might sound a bit off-putting at first, but you don’t have to be an expert or guru to be able to use it as a great relaxation technique. All you have to do is sit comfortably in a chair or on the floor with your legs crossed, close your eyes and breathe. During meditation, you should focus on the inward and outward motion of your breathing. The best way to do this is to picture something that moves in a similar style such as waves on the shore or a swing moving back and forth.
Many actors use mantras while meditating to help their brains relax. A mantra can be just about anything you want it to be. You can choose a personal affirmation to help boost your confidence, such as the classic ‘OM’ sound that is most closely associated with meditation. You could also try counting. Whatever you choose, chant it in a rhythmic way to help time your breathing and keep your mind focused. Meditation can also be a great way of getting into the mind of your character and envisioning the world through their eyes. The Inner Health Studio has some great tips on meditation specifically for actors.
Learn More
Do you feel like nerves are holding back your ability to really let loose in auditions or performances? Maybe you have another weakness that you need to shake off? When you enroll on any of our courses you will learn everything you need to know not only improve your acting ability but crucially how to succeed within the business side of the acting industry.
At both the three-day Method Acting Boot Camp and the year-long Ultimate Acting Programme we cover a range of relaxation techniques for method actors. To find out more about what our courses have to offer you and how we can help you kick-start your acting career, get in touch today.
It’s one of the most important qualities you should have as an actor. No, not talent or a busy acting CV. It’s the ability to listen, and take direction. All the talent in the world cannot save you once you’ve built up a reputation for being difficult on set and argumentative with directors. So as someone new to the industry, it’s important that you start your career on the right foot, which means, learning to take direction, and how to make yourself the sort of person a director wants to work with.
Learning To Take Direction In The Audition Room
The audition room is your first chance to show just what kind of an actor you are. Having prepared your lines and decided on your character portrayal, you will be fully prepared to demonstrate your skills and ability to perform the role. However, at the end of your reading, the casting director will probably ask you to do something differently. Whether it’s a different style of reading or movement, they will request that you try it again a slightly different way.
Your first response may be to panic, but don’t worry, they aren’t asking you to read again because you’ve made a mistake or you aren’t right, (that feedback would be to show you the door). And their note may even sound like a bad idea, totally at odds with the way you perceive the character and how they would act. Don’t let it throw you off, it is all in fact, a way of ascertaining if learning to take direction is something you can do, and how professionally you can deal with it.
Listen carefully to what they have to say, and take some time to think about it if you need to. Make sure you understand fully, and if you don’t, gently enquire as to their meaning. Thank them for the note and then apply it to your performance. Once you’ve finished the reading they may ask you to go, or ask you to try it again, but they are unlikely to tell you how well you’ve done so don’t expect it. Be grateful, graceful and leave the room confidently.
Behaving in a calm and cooperative manner is the only way to succeed in an audition, since casting directors are looking for actors who understand the importance of learning to take direction and are able to apply it to a performance. A production is a collaboration between industry professionals- you need to show how great of a team-player you would be, and how well you would listen to the boss: the director.
Learning To Take Direction In Rehearsals
As I discussed in my podcast ‘How to Take Direction from a Director’, you as actors are there for one reason: to fulfil the brief and create the director’s vision. It can be easy to forget, since it may seem like you are at the centre of the production, but everything that happens on stage or set is down to the director, and they are the person in charge.
As part of being in control of everything and everyone, the director is usually kept pretty busy, dealing with everything related to the project, from set design to performance. As a result, a director needs their actors to be professional and easy to work with. This means, if they give you a note, you need to accept it and change your performance without argument. You may have viewed the character differently, and the note may seem like a terrible idea to you, but arguing will only cause more stress to the director, and potential harm to your career. The director is the one with the bigger picture in mind- you must trust in their vision and work with their direction.
When it comes to notes, the director will often do a ‘notes session’ at the end of the rehearsal day. This is a quick way for the director to summarise their thoughts and voice any concerns to the cast as a whole. However it is important to remember that you DO NOT want to be included in this list of notes. Being left out doesn’t mean you’ve been forgotten, it means you’re doing a good job! It also means you shouldn’t pester the director for feedback or advice. Keep doing what you’re doing- they will tell you if there’s a problem.
Often one of the most irritating problems the director has to deal with is the one or two actors who are intent on arguing and bringing down the energy of a production. They disagree with notes, pick holes in the story and criticise the director to their cast mates. They don’t take direction well and cause trouble in rehearsals. This behaviour is not only unprofessional, but it has the power to really damage a project. These actors are the ones that don’t get rehired, and often wonder why. If you want to survive in the industry, you need to bring positivity into every project you collaborate on. It will make people want to work with you time and time again.
Learning To Take Direction When Meeting Managers Or Agents
A manager or agent, particularly one that is seriously considering representing you, will probably give you some critique when you meet them. This is not because they want to put you down, but because they have experience in the industry, and therefore have a pretty good idea of how you can improve as an actor. Much like the importance of learning to take and work with direction in an audition or rehearsal room, dealing well with criticism as an actor is an incredibly important and useful skill to have. You should:
- Listen to the Criticism: Don’t argue or justify yourself, just take it in and stay quiet
- Evaluate what they’ve said: Ask yourself, is it true? Perhaps ask a friend what they think
- Accept and learn from it: If it does ring true, be grateful that you are aware of it and understand you need to work on it
- Make changes: Act on what has been said. Whatever it is, headshots or a reason you won’t be suitable for representation, work on it knowing you will become a better and more successful actor as a result
Don’t Forget: Everybody Talks
Directors, casting directors, agents and managers talk to each other, some might even be friends. If you fall foul of one you can bet you won’t be hired or represented by the other. Everyone in the industry talks and many do their best to help out productions by recommending or condemning actors to their colleagues and friends. And since the very nature of the performance industry means getting to know a lot of different people over a relatively short space of time, news about a particularly difficult actor travels fast.
For this reason it is vitally important that, as someone new to the business, you do all you can to forge yourself a sterling reputation. Critical to this is your ability to listen well and learning take direction without question or difficulty. That’s not to say that it’s always inappropriate to voice your opinion about something, in a workshop, for example, where you are collaborating on a project and developing it, you would be expected to give your view. But generally, in audition or formal rehearsal, the director expects to have the last word.
Great Performers start with Great Education
Entering the acting profession is tough, with so much to learn and so much etiquette to follow. When casting the first thing a casting director will look at is where you trained, and then look to see if they know any of the directors you’ve worked with in the past. My Ultimate Acting Programme with it’s directed Showcase at the end is the perfect start for anyone’s career. We are a trusted name in the industry, and one constantly approached for information on actors we’ve worked with in the past.
If you’re just starting out in your acting career, or returning to acting after a break, you probably don’t have an agent yet. And while it is generally true that having an agent is key to finding good auditions, there are still plenty of ways of finding auditions without an agent and creating opportunities on your own that are equally as promising. Being without representation for a while does not mean you will have to simply accept that great auditions will be difficult to come by. However, it will require you to get creative and work hard at being your own agent for a while!
Key Steps To Finding An Audition Without An Agent
Join Equity
A crucial first step in your acting journey, whether you have an agent or not, is to join Equity, the UK trade union for performers. As well as giving you access to legal, tax and welfare advice, being a member of Equity allows you to access their Job Information Service, where paid work and audition opportunities are posted regularly. In addition, some of the other benefits you can look forward to include reserving your professional name and receiving enhanced protection over your pay rate. To be eligible you need to have had previous paid work in the entertainment industry, however, graduates who have completed recognised courses are able to join immediately.
Find Genuine Casting Notices
From websites advertising open casting calls to subscription-based services displaying listings, there are hundreds, perhaps even thousands of websites and publications which claim to give members the opportunity to find auditions without an agent. Of course, not all casting websites were created equal, and some are far better than others. The best ones to sign up to include:
- Spotlight (Membership £150 a year)
- Backstage (Membership £100 a year)
- Casting Call Pro (Free registration)
- Mandy.com (Free registration)
- The Stage (Free registration)
Sticking to the more established casting websites will give you a greater chance of finding promising auditions without an agent, as well as reducing your chances of coming across a fake or misleading listing. Some specialise in different types of casting calls, like Mandy.com which tend to feature more independent film listings. Make time to go through the various jobs available to view first before signing up -this will help ensure you find the kind of work you’re looking for.
Make Your Own Work
If you want to turn the heads of casting directors and have more success in finding auditions without an agent, one of the best ways to get noticed is to create your own works. Get together with a group of other aspiring actors and writers and create something yourselves; a play, short film or web series. Not only will it keep your acting skills sharp, but if what you’ve created is good enough to get some attention, it will give all of you a much-needed career boost too. Yes, it may be a bit La La Land, but it really does happen sometimes. I mean it worked for Mia, right? Casting directors like to hire talented actors who can take initiative and work well collaboratively.
Network Like a Pro
As you build up your career as an actor, you’ll come across more and more people in the industry, whether it’s through previous jobs or acting classes. Just like in any other industry, the contacts that you make can be your ticket to the next best thing. Don’t hesitate to make the most of these contacts by keeping in touch with them, finding out about upcoming projects or auditions and showing an interest in their work and their own projects. Attending industry events is also a great way to meet important people and add to your collection of contacts, as well as being active on social media and connecting with others in the industry. Stage 32 is a social networking site for film, tv and theatre creatives, and one of a number of industry specific social networks that can really help you streamline your social media use for the benefit of your career.
Recommend Your Friends
It may seem counterintuitive, but promoting your friends to those with suitable projects may turn out to be a very smart move. There are two main reasons for this: firstly, if your friend gets cast through your efforts, they will only be too happy to put you forward for projects in return. Secondly, if your friend joins a project that becomes successful, they are likely to build on their network and offer the both of you, even more, chances to meet important people and find promising work. So as strange as it sounds, putting another’s career over your own might really pay off one day.
Blog It
Searching for auditions and being out of work doesn’t mean your acting skills must lay in wait for the next job to come along. If you’ve trained or worked in acting, you can write about it, on a personal blog, or guest blog if you have a particular talent for writing. It will serve as a platform to promote yourself and your skills as a working actor, as well as helping you to meet others in the business. Write about an acting technique you love or a funny story on set. As well as keeping up your own motivation and belief in your career, it may also get you noticed, and help you on your way to finding auditions without an agent, since your readers are likely to be in the industry too.
Enhance Your Skills
If things are slow and auditions are few and far between, it’s worth considering the Ultimate Acting Programme. It will give you the chance to build new skills, meet new people and grow your network. As well as receiving world-class training in method acting (including training for auditions), students participate in a Graduation Showcase, where both agents and casting directors alike are in attendance. This gives those new to the industry the chance to make connections with big and influential industry players, while also being able to showcase their talents in front of an expert audience. Many of my previous students have in fact secured an agent through the showcase, giving them a much greater chance of finding auditions and getting cast.
Click here for more details on the Ultimate Acting Programme >
Click here for more details on the Ultimate Acting Programme >
Click here for more details on the Ultimate Acting Programme >
Click here for more details on the Ultimate Acting Programme >
Click here for more details on the Ultimate Acting Programme >
Click here for more details on the Ultimate Acting Programme >
An acting showcase is a chance for a group actors of show off their acting ability to the public. It is normally a series of sketches or scenes from longer pieces where each actor gets a chance to be the lead and demonstrate some of what they can do.
A good acting showcase can be a really important opportunity for aspiring professional actors. It gives them a chance to perform in front of people and potentially make important connections that could lead to future work. But a showcase is only going to do that if it is properly planned and organised to provide the right kind of opportunity.
So what exactly goes into making a good acting showcase that will really help get your professional acting career off the ground? We explain some of the key things you need to look out for.
Who is organising the showcase?
This is really critical. A good showcase which is going to get you noticed and help you make the right impression should be organised by professionals with good industry contacts.
At the very least, there should be a professional director in charge of the show and ideally there will also be professional lighting and sound etc. To really have an impact, you want the showcase to look and feel totally professional and the best way to do that is to work with professionals.
If the showcase is run by professionals, there is a much better chance that other industry insiders will attend, which is vital if the showcase is going to get your name out there.
What is the track record of the organisers?
Lots of people talk a good game when it comes to the acting industry, but results matter. When considering being part of a showcase, don’t be afraid to (politely) ask the organisers how many showcases they have run before and what the results were.
If this is their first ever showcase, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be terrible, but if they have run loads of them in the past where performers went on to get signed by agents and cast in projects as a result, then that’s a very good sign.
Does it give you a chance to shine?
A good acting showcase has to give you the chance to actually show what you can do. For that, you generally need a really good scene of at least four minutes where you are playing the lead.
The perfect showcase scene will be something that stands alone, where you don’t need to know a lot of back story or other context for it to work. That means the people watching can be 100% focused on your performance.
You also need a scene that is challenging and allows you to show some of the depth and range of your acting. This doesn’t necessarily mean something really over the top, or where you try to cram in every possible thing you can do, but it does need to be something that will make a lasting impression.
Make sure to spend plenty of time discussing with the director and your acting teachers exactly what scene you are going to go with so you can be confident it will give you a real chance to shine.
Is the venue going to attract the right people?
You might think the venue isn’t as important as what happens on the stage and to some extent you’d be right – a great performance is a great performance wherever it takes place. However, the reality is that where the showcase takes place can make a big difference to who actually turns up to watch it.
It would be perfectly possible to put on a showcase in a village hall or your local community theatre space, but chances are nobody who can offer a gateway into the industry is likely to see it there. Instead, you need to have your showcase in a venue that industry people already know and want to attend. That way they are much more likely to attend.
A well-known performance space or favourite industry venue will mean the type of people who can actually make a difference to your career don’t have to go out of their way to see you. And the easier you make things for people, the better the chances of them seeing you and giving you a shot.
Is there enough talent on display?
Although from your point of view a good acting showcase is likely to be one where you get a chance to shine and make good connections, for agents and casting directors it’s a little different. What they want to see is a good selection of diverse actors, because that means it is worth their time coming.
Unless the word is already out there about what a phenomenal talent you are, chances are most industry insiders won’t turn up just to see you. So when assessing the quality of a showcase, knowing the strength of the other performers is a must.
Who is going to be there?
This really is the crux of the whole question of what makes a good acting showcase. It doesn’t matter how expertly the event is put on or how wonderfully you perform, if the right people don’t see it, then it’s all for nothing.
A decent acting showcase will have a large number of top agents and casting directors in attendance as these are the people who can really help get your career going. Ideally these should be people the organisers know personally, so they can guarantee they will be there and help to introduce you and put in a good word for you before and after your actual performance.
Make sure to ask the organisers who will be at the showcase and then do your research to see exactly who these people are, who they work with and decide which of them you think will offer you the best opportunities. Then make sure to introduce yourself at the showcase so you can follow up on the interest you will hopefully generate.
Learn to act and get a good acting showcase to kick-start your career
At the Brian Timoney Actors’ Studio, we know that building a career as a professional actor takes more than just talent. You also need to know how to navigate the business side of the industry and make the right connections to help you get ahead.
That’s why, at the end of each One-Year Ultimate Acting Programme, we put on a professional standard acting showcase for our students in front of top agents and casting directors. That way, each graduate gets to show off the skills they’ve developed under our tutoring to industry gatekeepers. These are the connections who can really help get professional acting careers off the ground.
Places on the Ultimate Acting Programme are strictly limited and by audition only. Spaces fill up fast, so if you want to get your professional acting career off the ground in just one year, make sure to apply and audition today!