How to Rehearse
THINGS FALL APART
“I know you bought airplane tickets, got a sitter, and booked a hotel, but DO NOT COME. It sucks. I’m awful. Really. It’s embarrassing. My performance is forced and boring and lifeless. I know it started off great, but trust me, it’s the worst thing I’ve ever done.”
My family and dear friends have all received that call from me in the week or two before opening a show. In response they laugh and say, “Aha! You must be in tech week when everything falls apart. It’s going to be wonderful. I can’t wait! See you opening night!”
They understand the rehearsal process and know that this phase, where everything falls apart and each line comes out like a thud, is a critical passage on the way to a free performance. It cannot be skipped.
This is true for all rehearsal processes, whether we are practicing for an online power point presentation, a TED Talk, or a heightened conversation.
However, many people prefer to skip the entire rehearsal process!
They have many “reasons.”
Some people are afraid that any rehearsal will dull them; the talk will lose its spark, the presentation will lose its aliveness. They believe that to “keep it fresh,” it’s best to wing it! To these people I say, “Good luck. You’ll need it.” Technique and practice are what actors use so that they do not have to count on luck.
People who do not rehearse must rely on luck.
Some people prefer to rehearse “lightly.” They stop well before the dreaded falling apart stage, afraid that they might get stuck there.
To those people I say, “Do not fear the process. If you get stuck it’s because you have rehearsed too LITTLE!” Ask any actor about the slump that comes the week or two before opening when all of the wild creativity seems to evaporate as we integrate the lights, costumes, blocking (movement), and leave the script in the hands of the stage manager. This part of the process demands that we struggle through the logistics. And only after these new elements are integrated can we be free again to play. The same is true of any talk or conversation. We must integrate and become fluent in the logistics as well as the content.
Most of us are actually just afraid to rehearse. We might avoid rehearsing because we are afraid of public speaking or are afraid of conflict. Practicing is like walking towards our fear. Even if we know that the best way to allay our fear is to prepare.
We also might not know how to rehearse so we avoid it.
HOW TO REHEARSE
Create a space that mimics the space for the talk or conversation—move chairs or tables out of the way, imagine where the audience might be sitting. If you’ll be holding a clicker, notes, microphone, put something in your hands.
Take your opening breath.
Say the entire talk out-loud once per day.
Use the space-walk, explore, experiment.
As you get closer to the event date, invite a few friends or family members to watch.
Before they give you feedback, ask them only: “Was there anything you didn’t understand? Was anything confusing?”
It’s wonderful to have an awkward rehearsal. As I remind people, best to experience the awkward phase before the actual event!
When you get lost, that’s OK. Do not go back or apologize or roll your eyes. Continue on as if it is a performance. This will solidify your transitions and remind you that you will be fine and can always find your way back to the talk.
End your talk and take that breath/moment.
24 HOURS BEFORE YOUR TALK OR EVENT…things change. We’ll talk about this next week.