The Courage to Reflect

If you were brushing your hair this morning, odds are, that you used a mirror. Mirrors are useful in that they reflect back your image in a way that allows you to change your presentation in a helpful way. (You know, removing the lettuce from your teeth, the bird’s nest from your hair and the pimple from your cheek.)  Without the mirror, you will require the feedback of others who can see you better than you can see yourself. (ie that caring friend always brave and loving enough to tell you about that lettuce.)

BUT check out the order that you sought and received the feedback. Mirror first, friend second. (I know it’s a brilliant and obvious metaphor!!!)

It’s awesome to seek feedback on your performance but not if you’re asking someone else to do your work for you. Afterall, would you go to your friend and ask them to waste their time identifying the lettuce if you can take a minute and do it yourself, more effectively.  

We support all of our young actors with feedback but this is no replacement for self-reflection, because our feedback is available for a couple of hours a week, whereas your own self-reflection tools are available 24/7.

A few months ago, we were in the middle of tweaking a show for our ‘Alice Series’ I was giving director’s notes and I decided to flip the process. I asked the actors what they had to work on before the next rehearsal. Every single one of the actors in that cast said exactly what I would have said as feedback. They each knew the next step. So, by all means ask the director for feedback but make sure that you don’t silence the most important voice you have – your own!

Ask yourself honestly,

“Am I proud of this work?”

If yes. Great!

If not, what would it take to be proud of it? 

Listen and learn from trusted others but don’t stop listening and learning from that person in the mirror!

(Cue: Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror”)

Just a reflection!

Andrew ‘Remove the Lettuce Yourself’ Wright