Why Concentration Skills are a Must-have
Concentration is a must-have character trait of all successful actors. It takes an ability to concentrate to commit to memory many lines of dialogue as well as research all aspects of the character to be portrayed. So, it is important to up your concentration skills and bring your A-game.
How can you ensure your thoughts stay on track? A little self-care is in order. Meditate throughout the day and exercise to up your ability to focus. It’s also important to complete your memorization work in a quiet area with minimal distractions. In this digital age, it’s all too easy to get sidetracked thanks to texting, emails, and social media. Turn off your devices when you need to. Let others who regularly contact you know you have to practice getting into character, and you need some space.
When you’re able to improve your concentration skills, you’ll more readily be able to immerse yourself mentally into the role you’re assigned and pull it off naturally. In order to make it as an actor, you have to be able to focus long enough to build imaginary worlds in your mind to the point in which you convince yourself of their existence. Doing so will convince an audience.
Oftentimes, adults forget how to use their imaginations. This is second nature to children who engage regularly in imaginary play, but as you mature, the ability to do so can slip away. For actors, however, this is a critical skill to keep. Those who still have an active imagination in adulthood are able to create and wind up coming up with innovate ideas. They’re great at creative endeavors, including careers in entertainment. To be creative, you have to maintain an active imagination, and to do this, you have to be able to concentrate.
Other strategies that have proven to be effective for improving concentration levels include yoga, breathing classes, and practicing daily mindfulness. The ability to stay still, both physically and mentally, in the moment is, in many ways, counterintuitive, and it takes practice to master.
Once your concentration skills are on point, your acting skills will naturally follow. You will feel more prepared – both at auditions and after you’ve booked gigs – so, your performance will be on point. Truly being prepared is the best way to reduce feelings of anxiety and fear and build confidence. You’ll need this confidence to pull off what you’re hoping to accomplish.
