Shy! - Page 2 - Actors Forum is the Community to Talk, Learn and Study Acting.

MynameisEvan · 01-14-2007, 11:47 AM

Yea Its kind of wierd for me. If you see me in Acting class Im always the one who jumps up and starts doing things, no matter how stupid. But at most other parts of the day Im really quiet (usually). I think Its because I enjoy acting so much I dont care how other people think I am.

I Learned a while ago that the best way to not be shy is to try to Not care about other people, (I know it sounds strange but it acctually works for me) just think about YOU when your acting. Don't Think that your going to screw up or something, Just think of how good you are. Be a Ham. lol

Billy1970 · 01-22-2007, 11:58 PM

For what it's worth, I was very shy as well when I started 'hitting the boards' in class. I'll only speak for myself here, but for me, I was afraid to be seen, I was afraid to be heard, and mostly I was afraid of looking foolish or being embarrassed.

And all that did was make it worse.

For me, that fear was simply my ego getting in the way. The thing that helped me the most (and only took me about a year and a half of training to understand) was when I realized that I really wasn't anything special. Seriously. It just kind of dawned on me one day that all that fear was about me trying to live up to an image of myself that wasn't necessarily based in reality.

I have to look cool.
I can't look stupid.
I can't make a mistake, because that means I'm not 'good'.
I don't want to be embarrassed.
And, I don't want anybody to REALLY see me, because deep down inside, maybe (just maybe) I really believe that I'm not that big of deal after all, which would be even MORE embarrassing if everyone knew.

Then I realized that, in truth, there was nothing even remotely remarkable about me. I saw that I had to work to get better at something that I wasn't very good at because I hadn't ever really worked at it before...if that makes any sense. That was when I really understood what everyone meant by 'leaving my ego at the door' and right after that, 'shy' went out the door right behind it.

Now, I'm not saying any of this is the case with you, I just hope my experience may be of some help. Whether or not anything I said is relevant, just know that no matter what, if you keep getting up there you will get more comfortable.

Good Luck and Keep At It!

Pyodog · 01-23-2007, 02:08 PM

Wow good advice guys! Reading this has certainly helped me.
I am a little shy, not terribly... but just a little. Sometimes I do stupid things in front of people just to see if they laugh, and if they do, I know I did something right. I try to not care that much about what people think about me, their opinions are not going to make or break my chance at an acting career.

SWK78 · 07-10-2007, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephy

I'm shy too. I have to tell that I'm very shy to talk infront of my class mates, but I'm not afraid to talk infront of a hole school.

During drama classess I'm a bit shy, but when I performance all the shynes leave me. I esspress my feelings during acting, in one world I forget evrything and I conconrate on acting. It's not the first time that I go for rehealses very sad and then my mood is changed!!! Acting changed mt life.

I agree.. I too am quite a naturally sort of shy person. But when I'm performing, I am strictly performing and have no problem. I feel safe on stage, and that's why I want to pursue film acting now. Live audiences are nice; you can instantly tell whether or not the viewers like it or not, but I'm ready to go in front of a camera and work my magic!

TeenyBikini · 07-14-2007, 12:39 PM

I am naturally very shy too, but when I'm on stage it's so different. Everyone is silent, watching you, and you have to do a good job.... and in your mind you can only think about what you have to say next. The best thing is to block everyone out.... only you are there and in that present moment.

I can easily talk with a small group of 5 or less people, and I can easily give speeches in groups of 250+ because everyone turns into a blur. But its those groups between 5 and 250, I am very shy.

Estelle

SWK78 · 07-16-2007, 02:46 PM

Many people say that performing or practicing a speech in front of family or friends is easy and a controlled environment. HA! I don't know about those people, but they must be weird. I LOATHE doing either in front of JUST family/friends. It's so much harder. I much prefer doing these and performing in front of people that I don't see everyday, or people that I'll likely never see again, because if all goes well, I won't have to hear their abusing critiques or lame jokes since I'll likely never see them again in my life.

It's much more relaxing doing it for big audiences, too, instead of small ones. Like, I did a presentation in my College English class in high school [about 40 people] and before I got up there I was fine, not nervous at all, but then once I was doint it, my voice and hands were shaking like mad. I hated the whole experience, but in the back of my mind I just kept saying "Just think of it as another performance". That loosened me up a bit, but I still hated it. Not to mention I saw those 40-some people everyday at school on account they are my friends, which made it all the worse. And I got comment cards back too, and two of them said they could tell I was nervous, but I wasn't so I didn't like those comments too much. I don't get overly nervous at all. I don't know what it is. Perhaps it is simply my body being nervous, because in my mind I usually never am.

SWK78 · 07-16-2007, 03:08 PM

A further note.....

To further the above[sorry for the double post], let me add. I won the statewide competition in the West Virginia Young Writers' Competition this year, and let's say well. I was excited and then I learned that I had to read my short story to the auditorium at the University in Charleston on May 16. Well, I'll bet there were at least 600-800 people sitting in there [maybe a 1000...?]. It was large and every seat filled, though. And well, when I got up there, I was really so much better. I talked nice and slow and it was totally a great experience for me. I only knew two people there, my mum and sis. My mum even said that I had a woman either in tears or almost in tears. [To read the story visit this link: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/59084566/ .] So, that day was great. And then I guess the energy and confidence I got from that day blew into May 25....

My graduation date. And as I was Salutatorian, I had to make a speech. And well, as I am a writer... it was about 2 1/2 pages long. And I spoke clearly. Our ceremony was held in our gymnasium, which I know sits at least 2000 people, and seeing as my class was in chairs on the floor of it, and guests in the benches and along the floor of the benches, there were a good 300 more than that to boot. So nearly 2300 people to talk to, a eighth of which I probably actually knew, and I had to make a speech. Surprisingly, it was the most relaxed I'd ever been in my life. So yeah, I think it helps when you have a mixed audience when you're doing something live. Many of my teachers and friends of my mum approached her and told her I did a wonderful job, writing and delivering it. One person thought my mum had written it or at least helped me, but as she told this person that I would not even let her read it let alone help with it, the person was surprised. I was so proud when my mum told me all these things.

It's nice to get praise, and I think it helps build confidence in yourself when you go on to another project. The shy factor recedes after a while in something you do for a while. In speechmaking and in performing live I think I have mastered myself. But when I go on to something new, like film acting, it will be new, so the shy factor will loom large once more. And it'll be the fact of breaking past that with confidence.

So, never lose confidence, believe in yourself, and never give up on your dreams because you think you're too shy ... because one day, it'll be but a memory!

Fate Bless,
SWK78

misteriobanderas · 09-05-2007, 04:19 PM

I'm shy too.But getting into the craft has helped me with that. I find when I'm doing my part, I'm a different person. I think there is a stereotype about actors/actresses being shy. must be in the stars or something.

SWK78 · 09-09-2007, 05:15 PM

I think that's true. When we're acting, we don't have to [we cant] be shy [unless that's the character]. It gives us a free space to unlock what is inside of us. So, nothing else matters.

bri18 · 04-24-2008, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mad

I think shyness creates a passion to act, to self-express. I think acting relies heavily on internal thinking and contemplation, and that's what shy people do best, from what I've read.!

I agree! I'm also very shy and I feel that acting lets me express my emotions.