Saturday, March 10, 2018

Stage Presence

Directors and other actors have told me that I have good "stage presence." I think they mean that I have good posture.

In the book, "The Warlock In Spite Of Himself," Christopher Stasheff wrote, "Put tights and a cape on a man, and he begins to strut." Having already spent a couple of years in the SCA, I had to agree.

From that day forward, whenever I wanted a boost of confidence, and to straighten my posture, I imagine wearing a cape and tights.


Psychologists have noticed that people gain a confidence boost, and a slight immunity to pain, by striking a "superhero pose:"  legs slightly more than shoulder-width apart, hands balled into fists, which are placed firmly on hips.  Chest our, shoulders back, chin up.

Terry Pratchett's character, Tiffany Aching, is given a virtual witch's hat by Granny Weatherwax.  She can't see the hat, but she knows when she's wearing it.

The point of all this is, you can psych yourself up, and it works.  

Put on that invisible cape.