View Full Version : Big plans? Something new or exciting to do on a Thru?
RockStar
05-24-2007, 20:51
I'll start with something I want to do and then explain.
I have been told all my life I should be a comedian. I never gave it a second thought until now b/c I saw comedians as clowns with less make up and no real tricks. I dislike clowns. Im not 27 and with the situations I gravitate towards or the people that gravitate towards me...I now see that being a comedian might just help me deal with stress among other things. Plus who wouldn't get paid to be funny? So I have 1 problem...stage fright. I don't mind being the center of attention for a moment or 2 but, 5 minutes or more...makes my palms sweat just thinking about it. So I have decided that among other things I want to do on my Thru attempt, I would like to find an open mic night along the way and see if I can get a few laughs. I figure maybe NYC. Mostly b/c it sounds pretty intimidating to me and if I can do that there I can do it anywhere.
Does anyone have a similar thing they want to do? Maybe you are afraid of heights and want to sit with your legs dangling off McAfee Knob. I know a lot of ppl just want to walk to Maine. That in itself is awesome but, I am just wondering how many other ppl have small goals they wish to achieve and hope to have the strength to do or overcome certain things they normally wouldn't being anywhere else.
Kind of along the same line. I have horrible social skills. I have easily gone 2 months without saying a word. If I am comfortable around someone I will talk to them, but around someone I don't know I will not talk. It is bad enough that I have trained my dog to respond to head and hand gestures, and noises that can barely be heard so I don't have to give him verbal commands when others are around. So I am using my thru hike next year as a way to get away from that. I figure with all of the people I will meet it would be good for me. I have never initiated a conversation with a stranger. Every friend I have ever had, they approached me. If someone does not talk to me first, we could spend 10 years around eachother and I would never say a word to them. So I plan on changing that next year.
RockStar
05-24-2007, 21:20
Kind of along the same line. I have horrible social skills. I have easily gone 2 months without saying a word. If I am comfortable around someone I will talk to them, but around someone I don't know I will not talk. It is bad enough that I have trained my dog to respond to head and hand gestures, and noises that can barely be heard so I don't have to give him verbal commands when others are around. So I am using my thru hike next year as a way to get away from that. I figure with all of the people I will meet it would be good for me. I have never initiated a conversation with a stranger. Every friend I have ever had, they approached me. If someone does not talk to me first, we could spend 10 years around eachother and I would never say a word to them. So I plan on changing that next year.
When are you starting? I can cure you. I talk so much you will realize you too deserve to use some of the air Im sucking in and using up. ;) You'll think "geez wish I could get a word in". hehe Thanks for responding. You'l find a lot of GREAT people out there and they will strike up conversation. Mostly the same thing for the first week or more "Whats your name, when'd you start, are you going to Maine?" Those are easy ones for ya. ;)
If someone asks me a question I will answer it. I just don't return the questions. For exmple, if someone say "how are you doing?" I usually just say hey, or grunt or something. I never say "fine, and you?". If you ask me my name I will tell you, but I won't ask yours. I will answer just about any question, but I will never ask one back. I'm far from rude, just distant. I'm starting sometime in March. I will quit my job March 1st, and just hang around town until I feel like hiking. Won't have a start date until about 24 hours before I start. So fair warning to everyone I hike with next year, I am not rude. You just have to either force me to talk, or give me a couple of weeks to get used to you and start talking.
RockStar
05-24-2007, 23:12
You won't be the only one. I have a habbit of coming off like a B*tch. I , like you, can go WITHOUT verbal communication for a while. I see no point in idle conversation. However, to not look like such a b*tch and rest assure myself that the conversation is worth while...I take the opportunity to do ALL the talking. ;) And eventually ppl join in with something to add or find a way to go away. They either like me or avoid me int he future. I have many good friends now b/c of this tactic. I feel, what better topic of conversation than me? ;) I sure as hell can live without hearing dog, child, or lame stories. Now someone who has GOOD stories, I LOVE. Conversation shouldn't be boring. And I got VERY annoyed at answering the same questions on the trail. I guess they are better questions than "So how are your "movements" since you started" or "So how do you like the mice?"
I'll start with something I want to do and then explain.
I have been told all my life I should be a comedian. I never gave it a second thought until now b/c I saw comedians as clowns with less make up and no real tricks. I dislike clowns. Im not 27 and with the situations I gravitate towards or the people that gravitate towards me...I now see that being a comedian might just help me deal with stress among other things. Plus who wouldn't get paid to be funny? So I have 1 problem...stage fright. I don't mind being the center of attention for a moment or 2 but, 5 minutes or more...makes my palms sweat just thinking about it. So I have decided that among other things I want to do on my Thru attempt, I would like to find an open mic night along the way and see if I can get a few laughs. I figure maybe NYC. Mostly b/c it sounds pretty intimidating to me and if I can do that there I can do it anywhere.
Does anyone have a similar thing they want to do? Maybe you are afraid of heights and want to sit with your legs dangling off McAfee Knob. I know a lot of ppl just want to walk to Maine. That in itself is awesome but, I am just wondering how many other ppl have small goals they wish to achieve and hope to have the strength to do or overcome certain things they normally wouldn't being anywhere else.
Well, I've been a practicing comedian for decades. I wonder why no one has noticed.
Weary
RockStar
05-24-2007, 23:18
Well, I've been a practicing comedian for decades. I wonder why no one has noticed.
Weary
Are you being serious? lol I have noticed humor online is a lot different than being funny in daily life. Just as being funny in general doesn't mean it's easy to get on stage and get the same laughs on stage. A LOT of you guys bust my gut! And I see a LOT of other ppl on here take you seriously and assume you're all *holes when you are trying to lighten a situation. If you have said something funny...I have noticed! And I appreciate it!;)
Well, I've been a practicing comedian for decades. I wonder why no one has noticed.
Weary
Well, I saw on King of the Hill once that you have to ring a cow bell after you tell a joke. That way people know it was funny and they should laugh. Maybe you need something like that. Ooohh, one of those little compressed air, air horns.
spittinpigeon
05-24-2007, 23:25
I've learned a little spanish from various sources throughout the years. But I have some CD's that I wanted to listen to while hiking. Unfortunately my mp3 player is only 256MB, so I couldn't even fit one of them on there.
But ya, that's what I wanted to do on my thru, learn more spanish.
RockStar
05-24-2007, 23:46
I've learned a little spanish from various sources throughout the years. But I have some CD's that I wanted to listen to while hiking. Unfortunately my mp3 player is only 256MB, so I couldn't even fit one of them on there.
But ya, that's what I wanted to do on my thru, learn more spanish.
Thats nuts! In a coincadental kinda way...I posted on the "how to cure boredum" thread about how I wanted to learn more spanish on my hike by listening to Audios on my MP3 player! Kudos! :p I never thought about space being an issue? :( Which program(audio) do you have? I have seen a lot of different ones but, am not sure which is more practical.
RockStar
05-24-2007, 23:48
Well, I saw on King of the Hill once that you have to ring a cow bell after you tell a joke. That way people know it was funny and they should laugh. Maybe you need something like that. Ooohh, one of those little compressed air, air horns.
LMAO That might help! My problem is that I spend SO MUCH TIME entertaining my friends and myself that most of my med-low level humor wouldnt be funny at all to strangers. And the good stuff is just SO MUCH better in person in the moment. Soooooo I have to work out embellishing and reinacting. Which is a pain when it is so easy to do it spur of the moment in good company! ;) ;) However, I guess that is life. If it's worth doing it's worth doing right!
fiddlehead
05-25-2007, 01:42
There's 2 ways to cure your stage fright: valiums or experience.
I needed about 25 more songs in order to become a solo guitar/vocal act and learned them while long distance hiking. Now, i know more than 100 songs and play professionally here in Thailand. I used to get a bit of stage fright but experience has taught me to just have fun and enjoy it. There's hardly anyone out there to be worried about. But in the old rock and roll/ drug days, i would take valium sometimes if it was a really big crowd. No more though. have fun out there
TomScanlan
05-25-2007, 03:04
I think I could get you a mike for about 5 minutes in the east village, manhattan, NYC on a wednesday night, with some notice. This is a night where several local comedians try out some new material on a friendly crowd and each other. With more motivation, I could get a bigger venue. On the other hand, every street corner holds boundless opportunities for public comedy.
serenityrich
05-25-2007, 03:08
I believe within each of us is a special something that when discovered brings us tremendous joy. I've heard it called, "Our bliss". Over the years I had an opportunity to explore myself. In this journey I have found amongst a lot of crap a few jewels hidden deep within.
Anyway, I also believe that there is something for me to learn about myself that will be experienced at it's deepest level when revealed somewhere along the A.T. This is something I will be seeking as I stroll along.
I think there are more than a few of you that understand what I mean.
RockStar
05-25-2007, 04:18
There's 2 ways to cure your stage fright: valiums or experience.
I needed about 25 more songs in order to become a solo guitar/vocal act and learned them while long distance hiking. Now, i know more than 100 songs and play professionally here in Thailand. I used to get a bit of stage fright but experience has taught me to just have fun and enjoy it. There's hardly anyone out there to be worried about. But in the old rock and roll/ drug days, i would take valium sometimes if it was a really big crowd. No more though. have fun out there
As an addict in recovery...I think I'll avoid the Valium but, MAY have a Crown Royal and Cranberry before going on. :P
I think I could get you a mike for about 5 minutes in the east village, manhattan, NYC on a wednesday night, with some notice. This is a night where several local comedians try out some new material on a friendly crowd and each other. With more motivation, I could get a bigger venue. On the other hand, every street corner holds boundless opportunities for public comedy.
That would be so amazing! I would really appreciate that. Will you pm me a number or someway to contact you if I get that far? I have to get that far first! :p If I don't make it in '08 there is always '09.;)
I believe within each of us is a special something that when discovered brings us tremendous joy. I've heard it called, "Our bliss". Over the years I had an opportunity to explore myself. In this journey I have found amongst a lot of crap a few jewels hidden deep within.
Anyway, I also believe that there is something for me to learn about myself that will be experienced at it's deepest level when revealed somewhere along the A.T. This is something I will be seeking as I stroll along.
I think there are more than a few of you that understand what I mean.
I thought you were making a joke and referring to your "Family Jewels" then realized it wasnt a joke and stopped laughing. And if it was a joke -Good One! ;)
serenityrich
05-25-2007, 04:25
Ah! To find the hummor in all you see what a joy.
You maybe right. Your bliss may be as a comedian.
Your interpretation gave me a laugh, but I stayed in my chair and kept my ass on.
RockStar
05-25-2007, 08:31
I am a daddies girl. And have had a LOT of male friends. Unlike my women freinds the men folk like to joke around and poke fun. Especially at each other. And boys love to make fun of each other and make each other feel stupid or like a pervert. So it rubbed off on me. No pun intended. See, you have to say stuff like that around boys. ;)
Gray Blazer
05-25-2007, 09:09
With your looks and your personality, I'm not surprised you have a lot of male friends. I love to have fun as most people do. Have you ever noticed how some people are always miserable when everyone else is happy. Watch them closely when everybody is upset about something, they usually have a little smile on their face. As far as learning new things on the trail, my thing is to become familiar with all the AT in NC/TN/GA and all the road crossings, both major and FS roads and especially FS roads that go to or near mountain summits. I dream of looking out from a mountaintop and being able to name some of the peaks I can see.
Don't be afraid to go onstage. Some people have a lot of talent and no nerve and some people's nerve far exceeds their talent. I have been a performer for years (sax and woodwinds) and no matter how I prepare, I always got those little butterflies right before the performance. I would always make a little mistake near the beginning, but I made a point to finish strong. Always leave a good lasting impression.
TomScanlan
05-25-2007, 11:49
Sent you a mail RockStar. This trip for me is a way to start making some big changes in priorities and how I live my life. Go for the comedy, fool!
Also, be afraid of getting on stage, but get on there anyway. And bring your anti-heckle gear (think bear spray used as crowd control).
Stage fright is totally normal. I started playing music on a professional level when I was in highschool. I used to get the hiccups everytime I had to play a flute solo, and I dam near puked the first time I played with the philly orchestra......it passes. Honestly, the hardest thing that I ever did was walking away from my moms car at forest service rd 42 last year. That was always my "lofty goal" Follow your dreams........you never know where they will lead you.
As you take the leap into achiving one....other will arrive. It's one hell of a trip!
Shoot, it took the trail from me to realize that my goal is to have a simple life. Live in a small town, run a little store, do community service. Go big, then see where it takes you!
If someone asks me a question I will answer it. I just don't return the questions. For exmple, if someone say "how are you doing?" I usually just say hey, or grunt or something. I never say "fine, and you?". If you ask me my name I will tell you, but I won't ask yours. I will answer just about any question, but I will never ask one back. I'm far from rude, just distant. I'm starting sometime in March. I will quit my job March 1st, and just hang around town until I feel like hiking. Won't have a start date until about 24 hours before I start. So fair warning to everyone I hike with next year, I am not rude. You just have to either force me to talk, or give me a couple of weeks to get used to you and start talking.
I am exactly the same way--but I'm workin' on it.
RockStar
05-25-2007, 15:53
Sent you a mail RockStar. This trip for me is a way to start making some big changes in priorities and how I live my life. Go for the comedy, fool!
Also, be afraid of getting on stage, but get on there anyway. And bring your anti-heckle gear (think bear spray used as crowd control).
Got your message! Thanks! I was wondering if you did comedy? You said int eh emssage you haven't been in months. I didn't know if you went for fun or to do comedy?
With your looks and your personality, I'm not surprised you have a lot of male friends. I love to have fun as most people do. Have you ever noticed how some people are always miserable when everyone else is happy. Watch them closely when everybody is upset about something, they usually have a little smile on their face. As far as learning new things on the trail, my thing is to become familiar with all the AT in NC/TN/GA and all the road crossings, both major and FS roads and especially FS roads that go to or near mountain summits. I dream of looking out from a mountaintop and being able to name some of the peaks I can see.
Don't be afraid to go onstage. Some people have a lot of talent and no nerve and some people's nerve far exceeds their talent. I have been a performer for years (sax and woodwinds) and no matter how I prepare, I always got those little butterflies right before the performance. I would always make a little mistake near the beginning, but I made a point to finish strong. Always leave a good lasting impression.
You know my mail friends are my biggest fans. They love the Dyke jokes. And they love it when I translate what women say and do into what they mean and are trying to get YOU to do and say! ;)
Stage fright is totally normal. I started playing music on a professional level when I was in highschool. I used to get the hiccups everytime I had to play a flute solo, and I dam near puked the first time I played with the philly orchestra......it passes. Honestly, the hardest thing that I ever did was walking away from my moms car at forest service rd 42 last year. That was always my "lofty goal" Follow your dreams........you never know where they will lead you.
As you take the leap into achiving one....other will arrive. It's one hell of a trip!
Shoot, it took the trail from me to realize that my goal is to have a simple life. Live in a small town, run a little store, do community service. Go big, then see where it takes you!
You know I played trumpet in high school and soon took the Soloist position. MY GOSH I got the jitters but, no matter how many times my valves stuck they still cheered! Once my lip was busted after a TD provoked the Clarinets to jump up, popped my horn and it was at my lip. Split my lip. I couldn't play a NOTE of my solo and the crowd looked a bit confused but, still cheered! LOL:D
I am exactly the same way--but I'm workin' on it.
I have read some of your Trail Journal. You write EXTREMELY WELL! I have found that ppl I meet who write extremely well are so good at observing sometimes they are a bit shy with interacting. ALmost like a scientist looking down a microscope not wanting to disturb the specimen. And rightfully so, some specimen shouldn't be touched! :eek: ;)
Thanks for the kind words you guys and gals. I am enjoying hearing your stories and aspirations.
mountain squid
05-25-2007, 15:59
RockStar - No need to wait until NYC. You will have a captive audience every night at the shelter. You might have to pick Ramen noodles out of your hair <insert Ramen throwing smiley>:), but it should be a good venue to get you started...
http://www.freesmileys.org/emo/happy097.gif
cerberus.../Miu - don't worry about it. One of the great things about hiking the AT is that regardless of one's position in the 'real world', you have plenty in common with everyone else out there:
cold days, rainy days, full shelters, bear encounters, hostel experiences, big mountains, little mountains, next town stop, sore muscles, blisters, gear choices, heavy backpack, etc (and, of course, RockStar will be there to joke about it all :D...)
There is always something to talk about...
See you on the trail,
mt squid
TomScanlan
05-25-2007, 16:56
I'm a comedian in my own head. Others may think I'm funny at times, but often what I think is funny doesn't work for anyone but me. As an example... a few weeks back a friend and I were drinking and playing darts when he started railing on "yo' momma" jokes, while I thought it was more fun to twist the normal put-someone-else's-momma-down into expertly delivered put-someone-else's-momma-down-but-in-the-process-make-my-momma-look-even-worse-than-that jokes. That doesn't translate very well.
Depending on the crowd, I may not vocalize my jokes, but instead stare into space and laugh to myself. Close friends know better than to ask why I'm laughing.
In anycase, Squid is on the right trail (har har har, ugh), use the shelters and random passers-by as unwitting audiences. When you get good enough, we can rope off the shelter opening and charge folks a cover (I get a 15% cut, or you have to carry the rope). If it doesn't work so swimingly, maybe there will be more room in the shelter for you to stretch out.
"It's the comedy chick and she's got a note pad! Cheeze it!"
When you get good enough, we can rope off the shelter opening... If it doesn't work so swimingly, maybe there will be more room in the shelter for you to stretch out.
I thought the rope was to keep the victims errr audience from escaping thus you would have the same number at the end that you had at the beginning? :D
TomScanlan
05-25-2007, 18:05
All depends on how you look at it. Am I taping them to the floor to keep them from running away, or am I ensuring their saftey from sliding off the face of the earth? Am I hobbeling them with a stick to the knee, or am I a performance artist re-enacting a Tonya Harding snapshot in time?
Only the history books can say.
superman
05-25-2007, 18:15
LOL, what I'm hearing is pretty much same old, same old. Most all middle aged men think they are wicked funny...just ask any female cashire or waitress. What you young guys are doing is practicing to be middle aged. Good luck with that.
I am exactly the same way--but I'm workin' on it.
I guess we will have some intersting non-conversations out there then if we meet.
RockStar
05-25-2007, 18:45
I'm a comedian in my own head. Others may think I'm funny at times, but often what I think is funny doesn't work for anyone but me. As an example... a few weeks back a friend and I were drinking and playing darts when he started railing on "yo' momma" jokes, while I thought it was more fun to twist the normal put-someone-else's-momma-down into expertly delivered put-someone-else's-momma-down-but-in-the-process-make-my-momma-look-even-worse-than-that jokes. That doesn't translate very well.
Depending on the crowd, I may not vocalize my jokes, but instead stare into space and laugh to myself. Close friends know better than to ask why I'm laughing.
In anycase, Squid is on the right trail (har har har, ugh), use the shelters and random passers-by as unwitting audiences. When you get good enough, we can rope off the shelter opening and charge folks a cover (I get a 15% cut, or you have to carry the rope). If it doesn't work so swimingly, maybe there will be more room in the shelter for you to stretch out.
"It's the comedy chick and she's got a note pad! Cheeze it!"
I thought the rope was to keep the victims errr audience from escaping thus you would have the same number at the end that you had at the beginning? :D
Caretaker hiked in '98 and was the first person that said "you hsould be a comedian or at LEAST write a book." and I actually took it seriously. he NEVER Bull***** me! And sometimes we would be listening to TV or ppl talk and I would DIE LAUGHING and he would look over and say "You are SICK adn what's worse is that I was thinking the EXACT same thing only didn't say it b/c I KNEW you guys would think I am a sicko or a dumb*ss!" We like you, often entertain ourselves with inside jokes for fear it may be too raunchy or hammy for the nearby crowd. I will take you advice and perfect my routine. This along with my rapid fire Robin Williams Manic style should have SOMEONE wetting themselves a little by NYC.
LOL, what I'm hearing is pretty much same old, same old. Most all middle aged men think they are wicked funny...just ask any female cashire or waitress. What you young guys are doing is practicing to be middle aged. Good luck with that.
I LOVE that sense of humor though! This guy in a restaurant told a waitress at a nearby table "HEY you dropped your nametag hon and held up a packet of SUGAR! ALL the guys at the table DIED laughing!" So did I. hehehehe He was so icky it was funny! She was totally grossed out! :p
Well, I've been a practicing comedian for decades. I wonder why no one has noticed.
WearyJust the opposite here. I've never tried to be a comedian, yet everywhere I go people laugh at me.
In the spirit of this thread (something different to do on a thruhike), I would like to write a collection of short stories while I hike the AT, one story for each state. They would be mystery stories, and though each story will be complete all by itself, reading them all in order would tell a single complete story.
But they would be mystery stories, not humor.
RockStar
05-25-2007, 19:22
Just the opposite here. I've never tried to be a comedian, yet everywhere I go people laugh at me.
In the spirit of this thread (something different to do on a thruhike), I would like to write a collection of short stories while I hike the AT, one story for each state. They would be mystery stories, and though each story will be complete all by itself, reading them all in order would tell a single complete story.
But they would be mystery stories, not humor.
I like short stories. And the idea that they would tell a complete story interests me more. My favorite book is Dante's "Inferno". I was mesmerized that he never skipped a beat with the rhyme. It seemed superhuman!
I guess we will have some intersting non-conversations out there then if we meet.
Or we could work on developing our social skills by having conversations about our lack of social skills....maybe we could talk about our hammocks too :)
superman
05-26-2007, 06:15
When I started my AT hike in 2000 a commonly asked question was "why are you hiking the AT." The answers in the beginning were mostly "to hug a tree, be one with nature, etc." Then those answers fell away and were replaced by "I wanted some time to think about where or how I want my life to go after some event." The event was commonly graduation, retirement, divorce, career change, etc. A smaller percentage worked on their pet personal project...at least for a while. The regimen of the hike sort of takes over in the daily ritual of making the miles. Most of the people who I spoke with who had hoped to work things out in their heads during their hike didn't. Here's the point of all this. Things do get worked out but not like you think they would. It's not like there is an epiphany and you shout eureka. When the hike ends your life may shoot off in a direction that you never consciously considered. Your life or your perception of your life will very likely be different. There may or may not be a new and improved you at the end of the AT but if you don't do it you'll never know.
I had been asked to write a book but I had no idea how to do that. As I hiked the AT I started telling anecdotes. When I finished the AT I found that the anecdotes I told on the AT were the basis for the book. It all works out...just relax and let it happen.
RockStar
05-26-2007, 08:22
Good advice! Thanks for sharing!:o
When I started my AT hike in 2000 a commonly asked question was "why are you hiking the AT." The answers in the beginning were mostly "to hug a tree, be one with nature, etc." Then those answers fell away and were replaced by "I wanted some time to think about where or how I want my life to go after some event." The event was commonly graduation, retirement, divorce, career change, etc. A smaller percentage worked on their pet personal project...at least for a while. The regimen of the hike sort of takes over in the daily ritual of making the miles. Most of the people who I spoke with who had hoped to work things out in their heads during their hike didn't. Here's the point of all this. Things do get worked out but not like you think they would. It's not like there is an epiphany and you shout eureka. When the hike ends your life may shoot off in a direction that you never consciously considered. Your life or your perception of your life will very likely be different. There may or may not be a new and improved you at the end of the AT but if you don't do it you'll never know.
I had been asked to write a book but I had no idea how to do that. As I hiked the AT I started telling anecdotes. When I finished the AT I found that the anecdotes I told on the AT were the basis for the book. It all works out...just relax and let it happen.
This is all true, plus going with the flow tends to align your outside actions with your inside drives.
Still, we are talking about doing something that we have always wanted to do, and for that a commitment to an end is the best way to accomplish our goal. I sincerely believe in the truth of a passage by William Hutchinson Murray (1913-1996), from his 1951 book, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition:
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:
Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it!”
If you think about it, he might have been talking about trail magic.
Or he might be sending me a message from the grave.
Or we could work on developing our social skills by having conversations about our lack of social skills....maybe we could talk about our hammocks too :)
Hold on there... If we talk about not talking, then do we still not talk, or are we now talkers?
TomScanlan
05-26-2007, 13:00
to talk about nothing indicates your lips are flapping, even if you don't make progress on a topic
TomScanlan
05-26-2007, 13:03
Superman (gosh, supperman sometimes sounds so much cooler; food!), there is a lot I'm searching for on this trip, and only a handful I can explain to friends and family. Maybe when I'm done I'll be better able to express what I found than what I was looking for.
Hold on there... If we talk about not talking, then do we still not talk, or are we now talkers?
We're practicing talking because we're not talkers. Maybe we can practice thinking too, because I'm starting to get confused :)
In my limited experience, nearly every night at a shelter is "open mic night" :D So I'm thinking it may be a good place to practice your stuff & help with the "stage fright". I'm not one to understand stage fright, don't get it myself :p But then if I am ever referred to being "Shy" it's usually followed by barely supressed giggling, oft times outright hysterical laughter.
What some actor friends of mine do to quiet the stage fright is to focus on the edge of the stage AREA, don't let your vision focus on the audience. LOOK AT THEM, but allow your vision to blur. I have been in a 20 minute show (2x a weekend day, 8 weekends plus Labor day) with a few who had stage fright & that's what they said they did to "Get over it". One said "Or I'd be a basket case".
Doctari
RockStar
05-27-2007, 12:47
In my limited experience, nearly every night at a shelter is "open mic night" :D So I'm thinking it may be a good place to practice your stuff & help with the "stage fright". I'm not one to understand stage fright, don't get it myself :p But then if I am ever referred to being "Shy" it's usually followed by barely supressed giggling, oft times outright hysterical laughter.
What some actor friends of mine do to quiet the stage fright is to focus on the edge of the stage AREA, don't let your vision focus on the audience. LOOK AT THEM, but allow your vision to blur. I have been in a 20 minute show (2x a weekend day, 8 weekends plus Labor day) with a few who had stage fright & that's what they said they did to "Get over it". One said "Or I'd be a basket case".
Doctari
Thanks. I always thought it was silly to "imagine the crowd naked" that would creep me out. Not that Im NOT a pervert but, I use my eray vision for a select few ya know!
tekiechick
06-05-2007, 09:21
Kind of along the same line. I have horrible social skills. I have easily gone 2 months without saying a word. If I am comfortable around someone I will talk to them, but around someone I don't know I will not talk. It is bad enough that I have trained my dog to respond to head and hand gestures, and noises that can barely be heard so I don't have to give him verbal commands when others are around. So I am using my thru hike next year as a way to get away from that. I figure with all of the people I will meet it would be good for me. I have never initiated a conversation with a stranger. Every friend I have ever had, they approached me. If someone does not talk to me first, we could spend 10 years around eachother and I would never say a word to them. So I plan on changing that next year.
I have very similar ... quirks. I call myself a social moron. If I'm able to do an '08 thru, one of my biggest concerns is having to get to towns and ask people for things (shuttle, reservations, etc.). I'll be 37 soon and over the past couple of years, I've progressed a bit. That is, I'll dare to say "fine" (regardless of how I'm really doing) and genuinely inquire, "how are you?". I work with a guy who is likely one of the best social engineers I know. Sometimes I just listen to him - almost in awe of his social talents - thinking that one day, I too might be able to do that. LOL