Two Bad Habits of Actors

These are two bad habits that you should work hard to eradicate as soon as possible. They are rife in the acting business. I see it a lot in the UK and I saw it a little in the USA. You should cultivate the habit of telling the truth, completing the tasks that are within your control and having respect for your colleagues and the art you share.

Excuses

Actors are full of excuses, I’m sorry but we are. I’ve heard them, and even offered some myself too. I suggest that you give them up, they’re disempowering to you. They bring weakness to your character (you) and they set a bad example to others.

You will always be busy, you will always have reasons not to do things. The only way to avoid excuses is to do what has be asked or demanded, by yourself or others. Give up your excuses today.  I remember a friend telling me a story about a colleague in a show he was in. Whilst everyone else decided to learn their lines, he bumbled along in rehearsals, making no effort, full of excuses, even ones that he tried to make sound like some kind of technique of acting. This guy made rehearsals painful for everyone, especially as in the final days of the rehearsal he had essentially improvised the script (perhaps he thought he was a better write than the playwright) and then had to suddenly fight his memory whilst ingraining the real words over his rough guestimation. His reason for this colossal lack of professionalism – he was too busy and too tired when he got home from rehearsal.

But all tasks and requests on your time can be split into one of two camps. Either it’s within your control or it is not. If it’s within your control, your excuse (however valid) will always sound weak, and consequently make you sound weak.

When someone asks you to do something that is outwith your control, then you should refuse or politely decline, as since it is outwith your control, you will eventually have to make up an excuse, and again, however valid, it will be an excuse again.

When someone asks you to do something that is within your control, plan it into your schedule, give the task ample time, complete the task and stop making excuses.

Sometimes real things happen: real ‘reasons’. That’s when you show your true character by what lengths you are willing to go to, to fulfill your role as a professional in the art of the theatre, or whether you are just ‘hanging out’.

Even your best reasons are really just excuses.

Lateness

Never be late. It shows disrespect to everyone including yourself. Sometimes it is utterly unavoidable, such as when a bus breaks down. However, even then, you could make other plans, catch a taxi, sure, that’s going out of your way but… better never than late has always been my motto in the rehearsal and class room. However, this should be one occasion in a sea of punctuality.  I call lateness, tardiness, the American name, because it sounds even worse. Being tardy is a flaw in YOUR character.

Do not schedule appointments closely if you think it will make you late. To leave someone waiting is incredibly rude. In the theatre, your lateness projects to others as a lack of respect for them and also a lack of care.

Imagine a group of actors that meets each week to work on scenes. One is constantly late. The others say nothing. They condone the lateness. That person begins to think lateness is okay, after all, it has been condoned by their peers. If their peers didn’t mention it (for fear or politeness) then that person takes it as a sign of approval, and they continue that behaviour when they get work too.

To be late is to tell the other person that you do not value their time as highly as yours. If that person is a friend, it is plain disrespect to them. If that person is a colleague in the arts, it is a slight to them, their professionalism, their time and the art of the theatre. Do you really want to be that unprofessional all because you are “a little late”.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe it was Strasberg who said “If you can’t be on time, be early.” I remember reading a brochure for The Poor School many years ago, it talked about punctuality. It said “On time is ten minutes late”. Bear this in mind, being a little early costs you very little, but being a little late costs you much more than you think.

If you can eradicate these two poor habits from your life, and thus your acting career, you will no doubt become a better person and a better professional.

If these are the only things that you do to develop your acting career today, then do these. And then pick some nice Shakespeare sonnets and read them, the more familiar you are with his language, the easier his plays will be. Or get a singing coach, or go to dance lessons. Whatever will improve your chances of getting work. Sitting at home, moaning and dreaming – that never got anyone anywhere, trust me, I know!

Best Wishes

-Mark-