There are many and varied acting classes in London. Choosing the one that works for you is so important in your journey as an actor. Thinking about the different aspects of acting and where you need to strengthen your acting muscle is a good place to start. One of the things that is often missed is active listening.
ACTIVE LISTENING
What is active listening? How does it apply to you as an actor?
Active listening is really listening and reacting and responding by formulating a reply if a reply is required.
How many times have you heard something when in a group and when the person has finished speaking someone asks question that was already answered if they had been really listening?
How many times have you been listening to someone talk then realize that you have no idea what they’re saying?
When most people talk to each other, they’re not fully listening. They are thinking about what they are going to say. They are distracted and not focused solely on the speaker. Communication is not a one way street. It’s not just the job of the speaker to say something. Communication needs an audience. A real listening audience.
Acting Classes in London
We all want to be around friends who really listen to us. When we are listened to we grow, unfold and learn to trust.
Acting class is a great place to work on listening skills. Scenes gain the most impact and benefit from active listening:
- Improv works best when students listen and respond to each other, rather than trying to come up with something funny.
- Scene work takes on a new life when actors actively listen to each other instead of just waiting to say their next line. All scenes should be a conversation.
- To be an engaged actor you have to listen to what’s going on around you, even if you’re not engaged in the dialogue in the scene.
To be an active listener you need to be fully focused on what the speaker is saying. Let them know you are listening by:-
- Eye contact
- Body language (head nod or shake)
- Smiling
- Not interrupting
- Asking questions that show you are interested and engaged
You may not agree with what the other person is saying but listen to what they have to say before you respond to them. Let us build a community of active listeners that makes us all feel included, important and listened to.
To find out more about acting classes in London with Carol, click here
