Erin Gilbreth
  • Home
  • "You Wouldn't Expect"
  • Headshot
  • Resume
  • About
  • Past Productions

The Myth of Control

12/6/2013

2 Comments

 
Tonight, I was working one on one with the text coach at rehearsal. She complimented my work and I immediately mentioned that I wished I had just a few more days with the poems that I am performing tomorrow night. "I'm used to working with Shakespeare ensembles, where you are expected to know your text backwards and forwards," I commented, perhaps nervously making excuses for myself - even though, if pressed to admit it, I was fairly happy with the work we were doing at that moment. I had no need to make excuses.

My coach jumped in and said something really wise: "Well, yes - it's wonderful to aim for that level of familiarity…but don't let that make you feel like you have all the control. You never have ALL the control. So let's just give up that myth right now."

Brilliant. And true, you know? Even if I know a piece of text like the back of my hand, I can't control tech elements or my scene partners or my audience. Anything can happen, regardless of how much I rehearse something on my own. So, yes, I get that -- use my discipline and study my role to the best of my ability, but don't cling to all those hours of preparation as if they are some magical talisman that will make everything ok.  I can't ever have complete control. 

Truly - I have something bigger to remember tomorrow night. The sound tech is juggling a lot of tasks for the show, so he's asked me to remember to mute my own mic when I'm not on stage. 

Picture
Do you know how hard it is to remember to mute and unmute your own body mic? And also remember not to chatter unnecessarily in case you forget….? True, he'll cover me by turning the down the sound that comes through the house speakers, so the audience won't hear me when I'm off-stage; But there are 4 cast members and some booth personnel that can still hear me in their ear pieces if I don't mute myself -- eek! Pray that I remember to switch myself on and off at all the appropriate times tomorrow night!
Picture
2 Comments
Ruth link
12/8/2013 12:22:45 pm

Okay, I'll admit it. I was skimming this post. And when I got to this line, "Do you know how hard it is to remember to mute and unmute your own body mic?" I thought it was a metaphor. Super profound. I was like, wow . . . She's so right. I need to mute my mic. Then I realized that this was a literal sentiment. Besides, now that I think about it I don't want to my BODY mic, it's my BRAIN mic that needs muting. That's what yoga's for. A few ujjayi breaths will have to do for now. p.s. I can't wait to hear how it went!

Reply
Erin G.
12/8/2013 03:43:57 pm

Hah! Nice. I'm not that profound!! And, yes, I love yoga for the same reason. Just wrote about the show -- enjoy. XO!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    About Me

    Picture
    …probably worth 1,000 words.

    Subscribe

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    August 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

Proudly powered by Weebly