Singers and sportspeople maintain a relationship with a coach throughout their career. Actors much less so. While there are a dedicated few that can keep up their vocal and physical training in isolatation, between shows, it doesn't appear to be the norm.
Firstly, I'd fire any coach that offered me a kick up the arse for "being flakey and girly". If the voice in your head hasn't set a specific, measurable, acheivable, realistic task, then it has no right to criticise and its just wasting your time and energy further. If you miss a self-imposed rehearsal, fine, kick yourself. But make sure the Inner Critic isn't being flakey and unfocused, too.
Secondly, is making your performance life your "sole focus" like it used to be a practical goal? You do have other things in your life now. It's possibly more useful to aim for more skill in "shifting focus" from your other roles as mother, worker, friend etc.
What energises those roles? A sudden call to action? The hours set aside for it? How do you effectively de-role to move on to the next?
So if the goal is to give quality time to your craft, how do you set the scene? Is your loungeroom or bedroom doubling as your work space? If you look at the space you use as where you are about to have a date with the Love of your Life (which the theatre is) how would you make it more comfortable/private/alluring? Framing old programs? A collage of actors you admire in roles you want to play someday? Or do you need to empty a space?
You don't need to get your workspace and time perfect, like a student falling into the trap of drawing up the perfect study timetable rather than actually studying, just more workable.
The script: you are already playing mind-games with yourself about it, so find one that works to your advantage. For example, put yourself on Shakespeare restrictions. Use your four minute timer. You are only allowed a four minute read every hour while reservoirs of creative juices are at low levels. Stick to it until the dam bursts.
You have a gift; and lots of people want you to succeed.
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Date: 2007-07-11 03:02 am (UTC)Firstly, I'd fire any coach that offered me a kick up the arse for "being flakey and girly". If the voice in your head hasn't set a specific, measurable, acheivable, realistic task, then it has no right to criticise and its just wasting your time and energy further. If you miss a self-imposed rehearsal, fine, kick yourself. But make sure the Inner Critic isn't being flakey and unfocused, too.
Secondly, is making your performance life your "sole focus" like it used to be a practical goal? You do have other things in your life now. It's possibly more useful to aim for more skill in "shifting focus" from your other roles as mother, worker, friend etc.
What energises those roles? A sudden call to action? The hours set aside for it? How do you effectively de-role to move on to the next?
So if the goal is to give quality time to your craft, how do you set the scene? Is your loungeroom or bedroom doubling as your work space? If you look at the space you use as where you are about to have a date with the Love of your Life (which the theatre is) how would you make it more comfortable/private/alluring?
Framing old programs? A collage of actors you admire in roles you want to play someday? Or do you need to empty a space?
You don't need to get your workspace and time perfect, like a student falling into the trap of drawing up the perfect study timetable rather than actually studying, just more workable.
The script: you are already playing mind-games with yourself about it, so find one that works to your advantage. For example, put yourself on Shakespeare restrictions. Use your four minute timer. You are only allowed a four minute read every hour while reservoirs of creative juices are at low levels. Stick to it until the dam bursts.
You have a gift; and lots of people want you to succeed.