Calibrated Words https://loopvids.s3.amazonaws.com/2022/22Nov22_Post.mp3 One of the most important parts of humor is timing. To put in the pauses in the right places, to deliver the punch lines at the right times. It works very much like music. Timing is everything. Even in pure serious dialogue, timing is everything. For example, […]
Groucho Marx Seduction
Be Real https://loopvids.s3.amazonaws.com/2022/22Nov18_Post.mp3 Groucho Marx famously said that sincerity is the most important thing in the world. And if you can fake that, you’ve got it made. The reason A list actors get paid so much is they are believable. When they say their lines, we BELIEVE them. They are absolutely […]
Improv Party Skills
Get Into Character https://loopvids.s3.amazonaws.com/2022/22Nov15_Post.mp3 I took an acting class once. It was pretty fun, and apparently I did pretty good. The teacher recommended I take an improv class. Which I thought was only for comedy. But it was for much, much more. How to be spontaneous, even when performing a […]
Intuitively Pleasing Communication
Nice To Meet You https://loopvids.s3.amazonaws.com/2022/22Jan27_Post.mp4 When two boxers start a match, they often “feel each other out.” (Unless one guy is trying to knock out the other guy in world record time…) During a first few dates, couples tend to do the same thing. During the mid nineties, the Lakers spent a […]
Eject Fakeness and Fear
Not Funny https://loopvids.s3.amazonaws.com/Aug17_Post.mp4 I took an improv class once. I had not idea what it was, it was recommended to me. I thought it was going to be about comedy. But it was about improv in the context of any kind of stage acting. Plays are based on memorized lines. […]
The Best Acting Role Ever
Never Assume https://loopvids.s3.amazonaws.com/Aug05_Post.mp4 If you study game theory, one of the prime directives is to never assume what the other person’s intentions are. In sports, teams and players do everything they can to fake out their opponents. Even in chess, there are plenty of strategies based on trickery. Why do we humans […]
Two Critical Strategies For Life
Two Easy Rules https://loopvids.s3.amazonaws.com/Jun11_Post.mp4 There are two critical ideas for any kind of social success. And when I say social success, I mean ANYTHING that requires a one-on-one conversation. Even if you have the perfect degree, nobody is going to hire you if you come across as a socially inept goof. Even […]
The Super Hero Frame
Believable Storytelling https://loopvids.s3.amazonaws.com/Jun03_Post.mp4 A long time ago, I took an acting class. And one of the exercises was to bring in two items. And each item had to have a story. But only one story was true. The game was to try and make BOTH stories sound so believable, that nobody […]
Open Your Unconscious
Improv A while ago I took an improv class on the recommendation of my then acting teacher. I had no idea what to expect, but it turned out to be a class on how to open your subconscious communication. Most of the exercises were non verbal, so you can learn to use your […]
Whose The Director Of Your Life?
I’ve taken a few acting classes at local community colleges in the past. They’re great for a lot of reasons. One is you get to meet some interesting people who aren’t afraid to get out of their comfort zone. They also help you uncover lots of issues about expressing yourself. The best actors are the […]