Who has performed on stage before?

Al B. Sure! · April 11, 2003, 21:43

I rapped for the school talent show today and damn... it's the weirdest feeling to perform on stage. You can't see **** except a bright white light because of the spotlight and you get lost in the beat and just start going off. You got no sense of time or nothing and you feel like you could do it for hours.

And I had the audience all hyped with the chorus. I'd be like "Who's that lady that we love?" and they'd shout out "Hip Hop"... "Who be getting down with thugs?" "Hip Hop!" Amazing feeling hearing a whole auditorium full of people hollering like that. It's almost like you got some kind of power with them hanging on your every word

Plus I had an 15-man entourage that was hyping me up and doing a little dancing... and my one boy who is going to be a comedian (I'll tell yall when he gets on SNL) saying nut **** at the beginning to get the audience hyped.

Performing in front of so many people is amazing...

Any of yall did it before?

thanks

chequita guevara · April 11, 2003, 22:01

I was in a musical in college. I highly recommend getting on stage for everyone.

Seneca · April 11, 2003, 22:08

I used to play piano in a bar. It's brilliant when everyone's gathered round, singing along, buying you drinks, even nibbling your ears...

It's less enjoyable when you've got the neds in, threatening you with violence if you don't shut up, but you've got to take the rough with the smooth...

GePap · April 11, 2003, 23:00

I've only been on stage as a kid. I have spoken in front of large audiences, but that is not the same thing.

Urban Ranger · April 11, 2003, 23:14

A number of times. I was in several plays and musicals. Once I was in a short play competition with my own script. Another time I accidentally got in front of the stage on Friday night as a stage crew, and the audience thought that was intentional.

monkspider · April 11, 2003, 23:16

I was in a musical and a couple plays in my younger, more vulnerable years.

-edit, oh yeah, I have been in quite a few debates, and gave lots of speeches too. I am actually quite the orator. :Cute:

Kontiki · April 11, 2003, 23:23

I've performed on stage, but not in a speaking/acting role.....

Spiffor · April 11, 2003, 23:35

I have taken 7 years of theater course as a kid. I got used to the stage pretty quickly. My favorite technique, when I feeled I begun to be impressed by the audience, was to look straight in the lights in front of me, to forget there was a public at all

The Mad Monk · April 11, 2003, 23:53

Chorus and 'Chamber Singers' in high school, Choral in college, and a large amatuer choir that does Messiah every year recently. Also solo in my home church.

Aro · April 11, 2003, 23:56

I play tenor sax in a bar with a band, and I'm on stage on a weekly basis. Our schedule also includes some major shows every year...
It's a piece of cake... if you are drunk enough. I can't do it sober.

Quote:

Originally posted by Spiffor
I have taken 7 years of theater course as a kid. I got used to the stage pretty quickly. My favorite technique, when I feeled I begun to be impressed by the audience, was to look straight in the lights in front of me, to forget there was a public at all

It's my second favorite technique...

CapitanGarlic · April 11, 2003, 23:59

You better believe it. I'm a thespian, that's for sure -- bunches of school productions, last semester getting the lead role in the play and this semester getting the title role in The Man Who Came to Dinner. Hilarious play, that one...

But I'm not limited to school stuff; I'm active in the community playhouse as well. I played Jim in The Glass Menagerie last spring, and it was a blast.

To anyone who hasn't: give it a shot.

Aro · April 12, 2003, 00:02

Quote:

Originally posted by CapitanGarlic

.......................

To anyone who hasn't: give it a shot.

SuperSneak · April 12, 2003, 03:37

Hmmmm....
Was "volunteered" by music teacher in 4th grade to sing a solo song and dance number called "Clancy" in front of @500 children and their mothers (mostly).
Lead in horribly sappy 8th grade play called "Teen".
High school:
Room Service Harry Binion
Macbeth Macbeth
Christmas Carol Ghost of Christmas Past
Frankenstein Victor Von Frankenstein
Brigadoon Forget the character!
Fiddler on the Roof Lazar Wolff
Various one act/spring projects

College:
(switched to English exclusively) except for:
Angels in America Roy Cohn

Lead singer in two bands (Act of God & Herb's Buddhafield).

I really liked acting, though I was a more blue collar actor than a character or nuance actor. I probably would really enjoy character acting now that my good looks are gone.

From the first time I was thrust on stage I was both elated and terrified...it is the "greatest fear" after all, isn't it?
There were some horrible moments and some insane highs as well--when the audience connects with you, it is an incredible experience; well worth the occasional flubs.

If your story is accurate, sounds like you had a great connection, but I can't help but think it seems a bit "romanticized". You were doing call and response with 15 backups? Wow.

Ming · April 12, 2003, 04:11

Quote:

Originally posted by GePap
I have spoken in front of large audiences, but that is not the same thing.

I disagree... speaking in front of over a thousand people is the same if not worse. You are the center of attention... and you better say something good, or you are toast.

You have to play to the crowd, and excite them... the same holds true for anybody that has to be infront of an audience.

Bosh · April 12, 2003, 04:11

Did some theatre in HS, including a one-act written, directed and co-starring Boshko...
Haven't done anything except debate in college...

edited since I apparently can't tell the difference between HS and college while drunk, all the spelling was passable amazingly enough.

loinburger · April 12, 2003, 06:39

I've got this one-act that I've frequently done for talent shows etc. It's always an unusual experience to perform it, because it's funny, but the audience is given the distinct idea that it's not supposed to be funny (which is part of what makes it funny), so it makes for some very odd audience reactions.

I also sang a solo in a high school play my senior year (despite never having sung before, aside from my semi-annual rendition of "Happy Birthday" for various family members) because the director didn't necessarily want somebody who was a decent singer, but rather she just wanted somebody who was loud. That was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences I've ever gone though.

FrustratedPoet · April 12, 2003, 11:07

I've been on stage several times, performing with a band. We sucked big time, but it was fun anyway.

Uncle Sparky · April 12, 2003, 11:59

Quite a bit.

Everything from improv to opera. I'm currectly Sir Joseph in the Winnipeg G & S Society production of "HMS Pinafore".

I stopped being nervous before shows years ago. I've been performing for about 30 years.

GePap · April 12, 2003, 12:00

Quote:

Originally posted by Ming

I disagree... speaking in front of over a thousand people is the same if not worse. You are the center of attention... and you better say something good, or you are toast.

If it worse, its not the same, now is it?

General Ludd · April 12, 2003, 12:11

I am not a stage person. I was in a couple of school plays, but as very very minor parts. In grade 4, I was "behind the scenes" and had to do the sound effects and crap. in grade 7 I was the executioner in Joan of Arc, and in grade eight I was mostly just an extra in a mid summer's night dream with about 3 lines in total. I had to do some dancing in that one, though.

EDIT: actually, aswell as being the executioner in joan of Arc, I was also a judge.

(only one line

)

Pekka · April 12, 2003, 12:38

I used to play an instrument when I was a kid, and was on stage few times. It wasn't bad, I didn't get too excited about it. But then again I didn't enjoy it either. It was just something I had to do. I was 7 years old then.
I thought it was stupid that they gave aplauds since I made few mistakes playing (playing alone), and that they were only aplauding 'aaaww look how cute it is' thing, and was angry at them actually

.

gsmoove23 · April 12, 2003, 14:51

I played a very good Scrooge in our 5th grade production of "A Christmas Carol"

Also Sam Squirrel in our 4th grade production. Don't remember the name of that one...

I had a brilliant career planned