Taking the plunge
Jump off the edge
Too often we let our nerves or the butterflies in our stomachs scare us into backing off from a challenge (or opportunity). Whether we're preparing to go on stage, speak with our neighbour about his wayward dog or apply for a new job, those jitters are just telling us we're doing something different. And when fear wins, you lose.
In comedy school, fear showed up at the first audition and shadowed us along each step of our journey. Early on we discovered the high price of not taking risks: self-doubt and regret.Rob Trick, an accomplished comedian who teaches clown and stand-up for the comedy program, encourages students to do their first few stand-up sets as soon as possible. "And they need to create some new material for each set," he adds. Trick says that this method gives students the confidence to try new things and not let fear get in the way. They soon discover, like I did, that dying on stage has nothing to do with dying in real life.
Be yourself
"Oh, look! It's the girl who does that thing with her face."
The last thing you want to do is become a one-trick pony, says Trick, or rely on gimmicks or characters rather than find your own voice. And that means creating opportunities to connect or share with your audience.
"I always thought that being ‘real' just meant being more serious," says Sarah-Mae Spalding, who has appeared on Life (now Slice) Network's "The Call," TV commercials and regional theatre productions since her Humber graduation. "But it's scarier than that."
In class, we were given the opportunity to rant about whatever was on our minds. "One day it took me over four hours to get to school," says Spalding. Venting the frustration allowed her an incredible aha moment: not only did her audience find her really, really funny -- but they were also really, really sympathetic.
The experience of comedy school "made it easier to open up to new experiences," says Spalding, "marriage being one of them." In August 2006, she wholeheartedly took on the role of a happy newlywed. "We might have waited another five years if it weren't for comedy school," she laughs. And besides, "you have to have a sense of humour when you're married!"
Click to continue...
Page 3 of 4
Too often we let our nerves or the butterflies in our stomachs scare us into backing off from a challenge (or opportunity). Whether we're preparing to go on stage, speak with our neighbour about his wayward dog or apply for a new job, those jitters are just telling us we're doing something different. And when fear wins, you lose.
In comedy school, fear showed up at the first audition and shadowed us along each step of our journey. Early on we discovered the high price of not taking risks: self-doubt and regret.Rob Trick, an accomplished comedian who teaches clown and stand-up for the comedy program, encourages students to do their first few stand-up sets as soon as possible. "And they need to create some new material for each set," he adds. Trick says that this method gives students the confidence to try new things and not let fear get in the way. They soon discover, like I did, that dying on stage has nothing to do with dying in real life.
Be yourself
"Oh, look! It's the girl who does that thing with her face."
The last thing you want to do is become a one-trick pony, says Trick, or rely on gimmicks or characters rather than find your own voice. And that means creating opportunities to connect or share with your audience.
"I always thought that being ‘real' just meant being more serious," says Sarah-Mae Spalding, who has appeared on Life (now Slice) Network's "The Call," TV commercials and regional theatre productions since her Humber graduation. "But it's scarier than that."
In class, we were given the opportunity to rant about whatever was on our minds. "One day it took me over four hours to get to school," says Spalding. Venting the frustration allowed her an incredible aha moment: not only did her audience find her really, really funny -- but they were also really, really sympathetic.
The experience of comedy school "made it easier to open up to new experiences," says Spalding, "marriage being one of them." In August 2006, she wholeheartedly took on the role of a happy newlywed. "We might have waited another five years if it weren't for comedy school," she laughs. And besides, "you have to have a sense of humour when you're married!"
Click to continue...
Page 3 of 4
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