Photoplayer Hater

Actors come to the craft from many different backgrounds and for many different reasons. Although acting is entertainment from the audience perspective, many actors do not become actors just to entertain others- more often than not it is the side benefits that keep them going. Not only do actors get different things from acting, they can reap these benefits in different areas and times of the acting process. These benefits generally consist of some sort of fun.

Acting breaks down into at least three parts: preparation, performance, response. Preparation and performance are available to all actors, but only the more famous experience any significant benefits from audience response. Audience response is fan mail, compliments, gifts, money, and the like. Since most actors never get to that level, they are stuck with getting the most of the first two.

Most amateur and aspiring actors concentrate on maximizing the positive benefits they get from performing a scene in front of an audience, but there are some ways that can work against them.

Personal Gain Over Audience Enjoyment

If you are worried about getting something personally gratifying in your performance it may not play as something an audience should care about. An audience wants to believe you are who you are portraying and be invested in the goal the character seeks. Thus be the audience riveted at each and every action you take in this pursuit. If you are up there in an attempt to just have fun, it may not be something worthy of being staged.

Nervousness Overtakes Character Objectives

Often people do little preparation as they know it elicits nervous excitement and to many this is fun. They love the jolt of adrenaline from the uncertainty as to whether they will remember their lines, and they thrill at the idea of people watching them do something. The problem is that overcoming this nervousness to be able to become your character can easily become the thing your conscious mind concentrates on, to the detriment of your character's goals. So instead of an actor playing a character, your character becomes an actor trying to overcome nervousness to be able to play a character.

Changing What Works When Bored Of It

Often in class an actor will have really great rehearsals, but completely change their approach for the final performance. In an attempt to conquer what they perceive as boredom they change what worked in order to keep from losing that excitement. Seeking excitement in performance is a great way for you to make bad decisions that can end up in poor performance. It can even affect the material you choose, if it does not shout fun at the first reading you may put it aside.

Trouble Performing Without Excitement

Seeking excitement in performance as a primary reason for acting is not sustainable. It will not always be like it is in acting class where you can do any scene as you please. Once a part of an organized production, your character will not be able to swing wildly from a swishy gay man to a macho creep at your whim. There will be creative strictures that will curtail your ability to wring the same amount of "fun" from acting. Do not depend on this mental remuneration for your work.

Weak Empathy Muscles

There are many veteran actors, directors, and acting coaches that swear by nervousness. They feel it is the single most important ingredient to bring a character to life. Though it may give a tired actor a perceived jolt of energy, it never will overtake empathy and focus as the best way to reach a great performance. Do not confuse nervous activity with a truly vibrant acting performance, though sometimes they look the same. Fostering in yourself an acute sense of empathy pays off in ways nervousness cannot.

If relying on having fun while doing the acting is bad, there needs to be a replacement. Each actor will have a personal way of getting something out of acting, it will be individual and unique. It seem old-fashioned or cheesy, but I mostly get my satisfaction from a job well-done. I do get excited about acting, but long before my performance during the formulation of the character. Once I have created a character and rehearsed it to death, I can then move on to the "work" and play the character giving their objectives my complete attention. I can still remember how I felt when I created the character and can recreate that excitement with some effort, but the memory of it and the satisfaction of doing my character justice keeps me going.

What do you get out of acting? Has it ever affected your ability to actually practice your craft?