Ever catch yourself trying to relax before you go on an audition or give a presentation?
So many of us do. I used to do it all the time.
I see students doing it in class.
Ya know, get up in front of the class, or in front of a casting director, and shake off your shoulders. Get rid of that tension.
Makes sense.
HOWEVER…
Did you know that trying to get relaxed can be the number one reason you DON’T book that job??
There is another thing you can do – that works!
Check out this simple and extremely effective practice that will have you booking more work, and engaging your audience.
Now, because it’s important to know how to be creative, and how to become an artist that has an impact in the world – I have a challenge for you!
HOW ARE THE TWO QUOTES CONNECTED?
I just barely touched on the connection between the two quotes in the video.
But they are intertwined.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE CONNECTION between the two quotes?
Let’s talk about it.
The Two Quotes:
“I think a lot of people mistake naturalism for relaxation, but being comfortable is not the same thing as being alive and real and truthful.”
-Kenneth Lonergan
“My feeling is [when you’re recording music], always leave at least 20 to 30 percent room for the Lord to walk through the room. Because then you’re leaving room for the magic.”
-Quincy Jones
Leave your comment below.
Let’s play.
Josh
I very much enjoyed your video. You constantly hit on the same things from different angles. It is very reassuring.
Thank you.
I’m happy that’s reassuring.
Yea – my message is pretty consistent – create from your truth – not your mind.
Thanks for your comment – it means a lot.
Good day
Josh
I totally agree! The “stress/anxiety” you can actually harness and use, rather than wishing it wasn’t there. (And it always will be!) *I’m Back* <3
Exaaaactly!
If it’s there – might as well use it.
Good day to ya!
Josh
It feels like the connection is that when we get “relaxed” we lose a bit of our truth, which in turn, means we have made up our minds about how it “should be,” or how we should be in the scene, so we’re forcing the steering wheel to make the turns we think it should make. And that leaves no room for the magic, the Muse, to bring the quality of our work to a new, higher level.
I’m eager to try this out – often in class, in the *effort* to be natural (I know, I know), I feel as though I’m just playing a variety of super casual versions of myself, and it feels very one-note. Part of my avoidance of leaning into whatever nerves or excitement I’m feeling is the fear that I’ll instead behave like a cartoon character. But I know there must be choices other than being monotone and being cartoonish. As far as connection between the two quotations goes – perhaps it’s that despite all the preparation one can do (script analysis, memorization, blocking), it’s impossible to prevent the nerves and other feelings that show up when it’s go-time, and if we befriend that humanness (rather than try to wrangle it into a relaxed state), that’s where the magic is that can comprise the 20-30% of a performance Quincy Jones refers to. Thanks for this thought exercise! My brain feels good and stretched for the rest of the day.
Hey Maria
So many people feel that if they surrender to what is really going on that they will evolve into some wild creature. But that doesn’t happen. And the more that you do this work – the more fun it becomes – and the more fun it is for an audience – because they can’t help but be engaged. Start experimenting. And, love your connection between the two quotes. Have a great day!
Josh
i had an audition recently that I felt so “comfortable” in for the first time in a long time. I used to almost vomit 3 years ago when I started my career. After the first take he said, “You can give it a little more personality” I was so ashamed because my personality is massive and I guess I came off kind of “too chill” if you will. I said I was used to comedy and he said “oh that’s while you dialed back, let’s do it again, I understand” We did a few more takes and the casting director seemed “happy”. He def worked with me to get the most truthful tape. This was for a very popular cop show that you all know of in NYC and I was playing a bartender being interviewed about a suspect. I dressed to the description of the character and immediately realized after I left that I’m more concerned about how I look than what I’m doing. I’m back and ready to continue being uncomfortable and being myself while using the energy within. So much work to do but looking forward to April!
Fascinating that you went for ‘comfort’ and the casting director asked for more! Great work Lala 🙂
Lala, I really appreciate your honesty at the end there about more focus on appearance than on performance – so relatable!
Your awareness of all this is awesome. Awareness is key to undo patterns. I look forward to working with you in class!
Til then,
Josh
To me, the connection between the two quotes is the unknown. The more we can tolerate the unknown, the more we welcome magic.
Well said, love that.
Rock on, Dan!
Best
Josh
Yes! I love the idea of adding, expanding, working with what’s available… in other words, is high definition presence. It’s the birth of truth and the witness of the story and as such is exciting and alive. I love watching your videos because even though I’m not in acting or public speaking you’re guiding me into revisiting some labels I picked up earlier on in life that don’t serve me anymore. Your presence (I’m back) invites me to show up with HD presence. Thanks!
Beautifully said, Franca. And, yea, Committed Impulse applies in some way to everyone. We all have habits that can be undone as we take our lives and open hearts and creativity into the world. I support your creativity – whatever it is that you do. 🤩
Wishing you a lovely day!
Josh
Valuable stuff!
You know what’s crazy is I’m thinking about how this has also worked for me when pitching or “selling”/enrolling… I used to try and get calm and comfy before a sales conversation, but found that actually if I leaned into that 20-30% “unknown” and was present to being “alive and real and truthful” in the convo, I always had more powerful, deeper, more connected conversations that wouldn’t you know it, ended up converting.
Then I started to play with this in my personal conversations as well, which has been transformational.
This goes beyond acting, so powerful!
This definitely goes beyond acting, as does all of Committed Impulse. Love how you are using these tools.
Wishing you a great day, Natasha!
Josh
I love this notion of letting the Unknown Elements come alive.
Being alive, open and “influencable”
Thanks for sharing you and your thoughts and a new word I can add to me vocabulary.
I collect quotes too!
I mean – the unknown is here – might as well play with it. It’s often where the magic, and inspiration, and intuition live.
Have an awesome day, Annette.
Josh
Hi Josh, thank you again for continuing to drive these points across. I’m guilty of this myself and now that my perspective is shifting I notice more and more in class and on sets. I still struggle with this but the newfound awareness, the tools provided in online course , the idea that we can take it from where we are and release the obligation of having to relax has really allowed me to be actually relax more and be more spontaneous with my work. It really has been liberating. Again, it’s a challenge for me every time but practicing with the tools and teachings of CI, has really helped to set me on a path that I’m really having more fun with and making things easier. Thank you as always for the value added.
I would take out the “guilty” piece of this. We have to recognize that all of us have a part of our nervous system that wants everything to be safe and the same. The only problem is – no one is interested in that – and it diminishes our aliveness if we let that dominate us. So be gentle with this. You’re doing great. Keep exploring.
All The Best!
Josh
Do your due diligence before the performance and then honor the unknown. It will be organic, spontaneous, and alive.
It’s the same principle in sports and in dance.
I like that Quincy qualifies his statement with the range of 20-30%. Seemingly, to warn against someone who would try to move this aspect of their performance into 100%. That would be completely devoid of ANY structure and leaving everything “up to Lord.”
Well, the “Lord” helps those who help themselves.
Conversely, 20-30 percent is enough of a percentage range to make an accountability difference, as opposed to say 3-5%.
Very good, Sensai Pais. Keep these pearls of wisdom flowing!
I’m not going to talk about the link between the two quotes, because every video I’m just watching you. That helps me come back into the moment. And I did, so your video did its job. Can’t wait to come to your class again.
I’m back!
My plan worked perfectly, I see.🤩
I look forward to working with ya in CI!
Best
Josh
Loving this video – big reminder for me – 30 % I do it in my diary but need to do it in other places…structure can be a gift or can strangle the vitality out of things.
Great fun reminder as ever 🙂 Thanking You 🙂
🙏🙏
Great hearing from you, Savannah.
Keep experimenting and bringing all your great work to the masses.
Best
Josh