"Anyone who knew me then wondered what I was doing. I was about as shy and introverted as they come. Trying to be funny to a theater of strangers was not on anyone's bingo card for me. But I was a lawyer, a civil defense trial lawyer, in fact, and I had to overcome my stage fright and fear of public speaking or be relegated to a backstop role."
"First, breathe. We underestimate the power of breathing to relax us and to project our voices. We started each class with breathing and voice exercises to control our breath and projection. Yes, and. In improv, you're taught to take whatever the others on the stage give you. And someone says you're eating an octopus, you don't say, "No, I'm eating fries." You run with eating an octopus."
I took two consecutive eight-week improv classes in 2013 and performed in two shows for family and friends. The classes began with breathing and voice exercises to build relaxation and projection. The instructor and classmates created a supportive, authentic environment that encouraged play and experimentation. Improv teaching emphasized 'yes, and'—accepting and building on whatever others offer on stage—and adapting to unexpected circumstances. Practical lessons included controlling breath, projecting voice, embracing offers rather than rejecting them, and working with limited control in situations. The experience helped overcome stage fright and improved public speaking confidence for courtroom performance.
Read at Above the Law
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