Performance

How to Practice Dancing For Upcoming Stage Performances

Are you curious on how to practice dancing for upcoming performances? I can certainly relate with your situation since I also wanted to be like you but did not succeed in doing so until I learned some tips from a master of dance. It was very interesting to me because she allowed me to watch her practice my own moves. In this article I will share with you some tips that can help you be a hit on the stage.

First stage confidence is about you. It is easy for you to get intimidated on how to dance on stage but remember that this is your moment so do your best to be confident. It is important that you act natural as possible because your audience will be watching your every move. If you try hard to impress them by imitating a famous comedian, it may not go over well since the audience will think that you are just trying to be like him. So you have to be original. Practice by practicing in front of a mirror or better yet, practice with an acting coach.

Second, actors want you to have fun. So always dress in a way that you will feel comfortable no matter what the costume might be. Make sure that you look good but do not let anyone see your face muscles. It is okay to show a little bit of your facial skin especially if there are going to be other people around you.

Another important thing that actors are required to know is how to take care of their body and how to dress accordingly. You should not only focus on your appearance but also make sure that your body is fit. If you are feeling a little bit overweight then you should be in good shape. It is very important for your performance to look good on the stage. Even though you will only be seeing your close friends and family, they still want you to present yourself in a presentable fashion.

If you do not know how to dress appropriately for your performance then the first place that you should visit is your local wardrobe. When you first start working on acting you will probably be required to audition often. Once you are in the industry you can work with experienced actors and get tips from them. Also, read magazines and watch TV shows because these will give you an insight as to what is hot and what is not. If there are special events such as a wrap party or a premiere at a particular time, then make sure that you attend.

If you have been asked to do some dancing before for a production or a live performance, then you should plan on learning a few moves. Practice will make you a more skilled dancer and will prepare you for your upcoming performances. In fact, if you can practice for the little parts that you will be doing on stage then you will learn how to do them properly. The more experience that you gain the better it is going to be when it comes to dancing on stage.

How To Improve Your Live Band’s Engagement With The Audience

Whether you are in a jazz band, a heavy metal band, or a country-rock group, there are certain things that you will need to do in order to have successful live shows both in your hometown and on the road. One of the most important things to do as a music artist is to find ways to engage with the audience. There are a variety of ways that this can be done both on stage and off stage. By following these tips, you can help to ensure that your fans feel more connected with your band.

Engage with the Audience Before and After the Show

Improving your engagement with the audience is a multi-faceted task. It is about more than just presenting an active and engaging onstage show. Many popular brands are well known for doing meet and greet (either formal or informal) before and after their shows. During these, you can talk to audience members, autograph items for them, and invite them to future shows. This is often done at the merch table or directly outside of the venue when weather permits.

Move Around on Stage, Look Out at the Crowd

Having an engaging live show is one of the number one things that you can do to improve your band’s sense of overall audience engagement. An engaging live show does not have to involve full costuming, elaborate props, or pyrotechnics. Doing something as simple as pointing and looking out in the direction of an audience can help to improve engagement. By dancing and having a good time with your bandmates on stage, you can encourage audience members to do the same.

Singer on stage.

Talk to the Crowd Between Songs

Think of the best live shows that you have ever attended. The frontman of the band probably took time between songs to share quick anecdotes and jokes and to thank the audience for coming. They may have made you laugh or even made you cry. You may have learned the story behind one of your favorite songs or found out something new about a band member that you did not know before. These things help to make live shows more engaging and more memorable for the people who attend them.

Bring Audience Members On Stage

Some bands even choose to bring audience members on stage. You can select someone from the front row to join in with guest vocals for a well-known chorus or you can bring someone up to play a fun onstage game while your bandmates switch out instruments or get a drink of water.

Connect with Fans on Social Media While Off Stage

Taking selfies.

Your audience does not only exist in music venues. They also exist in their homes, their cars, their workplaces, and all of the other locations where they enjoy your music. This means that there is always a way to engage with fans, at least on the internet. By replying to comments, liking fan photos, sharing on different social media platforms, and tweeting out at your audience, you can continue engaging with crowds from anywhere in the world.

If you are trying to become more successful as a band, then you need to focus on improving audience engagement. By following these tips, you can make your fans feel more special and sell more records, more merchandise, and more concert tickets through the process as well.

Dogs in Theater: How to Get Them to Play Along

Getting dogs to play along in movies requires the intervention of skilled trainers. Dogs are loyal animals that always seek to serve and make humans happy. Understanding their behavior can make it easy for them to give convincing performances.

Many movies and advertisements have had dogs in the scenes, and they have been impressive.

Being the man’s best friend, acting dogs are proving to be very obedient in films. Building the dog’s confidence requires constant training and treats. Inspiring dedication and expected behavior during movies can be achieved by:

Enhancing Safety Measures

Dog on a play.

The American Humane Association works with directors to ensure dogs’ safety in films. By making them feel safe, the dogs can perform the required tricks for the plot. The use of safety equipment will ensure the dogs trust you as a trainer. Contrary to that, the dogs may misbehave when feeling insecure. It may bark or snap while growling to express fear or nervousness.

Having the owner of the dog during the scene can also enhance trust from the dog. For challenging tricks, the owner can hang around the cast, making the dog comfortable. As a result, the trainer will have an easier time gaining trust from the dog.

Creating a Bond

Man with dog by theatre.

Dogs take relationships seriously like humans. Establishing a bond with the human actors can help the dog to act naturally during the shoot. Introducing the dogs to the actors early enough helps kick-start a relationship.

The actors should also engage the dogs in playful activities, which makes them get used to them. Physical touch should also be a priority since it helps to calm a dog down when around you.

Walking the dog can be very effective, as well as taking hikes. If your production budget allows, a GPS collar can make this easy – especially on a spacious set. This comparison of the Halo Collar and SpotOn Dog Fence shows just how useful a GPS collar can be in this situation. That said, if your budget is a bit on the tighter side then some good old games of fetch can also help create a bond since dogs are very playful.

Talking is also very crucial in creating a bond. Speaking to the dog allows it to read your emotions. It also helps them anticipate your commands, and they will follow instructions easily. It, in turn, creates a bond since they incline to spend more time with the actors.

Training

Conditioned response training is the most important of all factors. You should first ensure that you have experienced trainers. An experienced trainer assures a higher chance of cooperation from the dog.

Most movies have an average of four trainers who will ensure the dog remains focused. These trainers are crucial to ensure that the dog scene unfolds every step of the way.

Secondly, you should practice ensuring that the dog knows what to do. Through guidance on obstacles to encounter, familiarity will be easy in the actual filming. Scenes, where barking takes place, should also receive emphasis at an early stage.

Achieving conditioned training requires:

  • Treats– by giving the dog treats during training, you can motivate them to act accordingly. Treats can also establish trust and signify good performance from the dog.
  • Clicker – this is a device that produces a clicking sound when clicked. They signify good performance when training a dog. You can use them to communicate satisfaction with the dog’s performance.
  • Feed stick- when trying to switch the dog’s attention in the movie, a feed stick is crucial. Usually fitted with treats at the end, the dog can be coaxed to look in different directions.

Step-by-step training– for exceptional results, trainers should use this training method. By teaching the dogs in small chunks, they can catch faster. They also learn how to integrate the different parts leading to better performance.

Dogs are very loyal and intelligent creatures. They help humans get through emotional difficulties. Having dogs as actors will be helpful to the mental health of viewers. They connect to humans on a deeper level and will always have a place in our hearts.

Improv Night: How To Stand Out From The Crowd

While natural talent can get you started, it’s not the end-all, be-all. 

Any skill will take time, effort, practice, and patience. The great thing is that improv is tons of fun and you can get plenty of practice with just about anyone – even if you’re the only performer there! 

1. Be studious in day-to-day life.

Just because you’re working improv where everything is subject to change doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have regular characters. Having a rotating cast of characters you can choose from can help you understand what your character might like or dislike in any given situation, how their personality would handle it, and even what sort of job they have and how it might relate to a situation. 

When you’re able to channel a specific character, you won’t have to worry about your character, responses, or answers seeming unsuitable or too far-fetched. 

A lot of beginners make the mistake of copying a celebrity. This isn’t highly advisable. Instead, if this is your preferred method, choose a celebrity you like and create a different character around them. 

Studying those around you and how they act and interact is a great way to work up character profiles. 

2. Work where you can hone your skills.

When you start out, you likely won’t be earning a ton of money with your improv acting. That’s why it’s important to take a job that will help you hone your skills while you pay the bills! 

  • Bartending is a great way to practice using your facial expressions to convey your message, practice your stage presence, and practice speaking clearly and being heard – without yelling and putting off your ‘audience’. It’s also a great way to practice a little exaggeration for humor effect with one-time or rarely-there customers. 
Person playing piano.
  • Teaching is another great way to practice your skills – in particular, public speaking, dealing with stage fright, and having to think on your feet. While little kids may give you more practice when it comes to keeping you on your toes, teaching adults can help you overcome the feeling of being judged, and maybe practice a little humor, too. 
  • Salespeople are basically improv actors, right? Whether you do sales over the phone or in person, being able to interact with your potential customers and pitching a product to them in a way that makes them want to buy are great for getting your improv chops up. 
  • Theme park actors get plenty of improv opportunities. Whether you’re acting in the Christmas walk-through or haunting a Halloween scene, this is a great opportunity to interact with an audience, test out ideas, and maybe even get a little feedback! (The feedback being, of course, whether they laugh, scream, or blow you off.) 

3. Take the focus off ‘funny’.

One of the worst mistakes a newbie can make is to try too hard to get the crowd laughing. If you come across as desperate for laughs, the jokes just won’t land. Don’t chase after your audience’s approval. 

Letting the scene, good times, and funny moments unfold naturally will lead to bigger, more satisfying laughs. It also helps you practice other important improv skills – like keeping on your toes and going with the flow! 

4. Keep track of relationships, places, and events.

Perhaps nothing is more embarrassing on-stage than forgetting some crucial part of the story. And while this could put the audience off, and definitely throw your partner for a loop, you may want to incorporate it into your character. (Maybe your character has multi-personality disorder or a 5-second memory?) While this might get you out of a tough bit during a funny skit, you don’t want to go through this with a more serious skit. 

People performing.

5. Be flexible and willing to adjust. 

This is one of the pivotal parts of improv. Finding creative solutions and angles to whatever your improv partner throws at you will keep things fresh and fun. You don’t have to love your partner’s acting chops, scene, or character – but you do have to have a good time with them and make them look good. 

Going with the flow means that you won’t be caught up in trying to change your ‘surroundings’, which can lead to hard feelings from your partner and confusion from the audience. 

There is a reason that improv can be summed up with “Yes, and…?” It’s to help you keep in mind that you should always go with your partner’s premise and add to it, rather than stubbornly persist on your own idea.