If you’ve been in your profession for some time, you probably think you have cornered the market in knowing all about your vocation. For example, voice actors with decades of experience are willing to share their knowledge through VO coaching and teaching. But sometimes, you must step back from your smarts and be open to learning new things and embracing new encounters. It’s no drama. Being open to unexpected experiences can enrich you in beneficial and marvelous ways.
We Know What We Know
In December 2023, I participated in a Christmas musical. When I was chosen for the cast, I planned to become the voice or announcer for the upcoming performances in commercials and perhaps do a little singing. Well, that plan quickly went out of the window. I never even got the chance to inquire about becoming the voiceover for the commercials. The production hit the ground running by teaching the entire cast of about 70 people all the dance routines.
Wait. Dancing was outside of my plan. I had no intention of becoming a Triple Threat. I was just looking for a voice-over gig. The game was changing.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were sure you would be the teacher but quickly learned you would be more of a student? This was my turn. I know about voice acting, but I never envisioned myself as a dancer in a musical (especially at this age). You would think that I would have considered the possibility; after all, it was a musical. I was so sure of my knowledge and talent as a voice actor, I immediately limited myself to a certain level of participation. In my mind, my part was to help with the commercials and other public information.
My advice here is to never limit yourself to what you know. Opportunities to gain experience and growth can occur when you least expect it. Never limit yourself to what is currently in your wheelhouse. New involvements can enhance what you already know and give your vocation an expected refresh.
Learn From the Young And Young at Heart
As I started trudging along in rehearsal after rehearsal for months with folks of all ages, I often thought about quitting. Some of the cast members were young enough to be my grandchildren. There I was, trying to learn routines, jumps, and turns by endless repetition. Conversely, many of my younger cast mates were picking up the dance moves with only a few examples. Talk about depressing.
Then one day during rehearsal, a young woman from the cast came over and complimented me on my dancing. (My dancing?) At first, I thought she was kidding, but she was sincere. The young woman mentioned she admired how hard I was trying to learn the steps in the routines. She told me that even though I was not a young troupe member, I was dancing and trying just as hard as the others. From then on, I opened myself up to learn from the young and young at heart.
“Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination.”
Enjoy The Simple Lessons
Even though the dance routines became progressively challenging, I started to see myself as a part of the something more than a group of performers. Now, I was listening to others and noticing their struggles as well as what made them laugh and what frustrated them. We were experiencing the same things. Many cast members had my same intention of only acting, singing, or dancing in the play. Many wanted the opportunity to work with the Grammy award-winning actors who joined in the final performances, and some just wanted to be a part of a Christian event. No matter the reason, we all seemed very much committed to doing our best and not giving up.
Not giving up meant there was a price to be paid. A number of the younger cast members were in school and made great sacrifices juggling homework, class time, and two-hour rehearsals three times a week. Still, few left the production. At almost every practice, a cast member would have to talk another cast member out of leaving the production. We all regularly shared tears of joy and frustration between the young and old. We were no longer a cast. By showtime, we were a family.
The simple lessons we learned involved empathy, caring, hard work, and developing an optimistic view of what was beyond the horizon. As a result, the play was a huge success.
There were a few speaking roles in the musical, and I was chosen for a part. I was so proud to see my name on the Playbill; it was my first. Moreover, I learned simple lessons about people that I would not have learned had I not been in the production.
Hopefully, you can participate in something that may be farther away from your wheelhouse than you thought. And perhaps you, too, can have unexpected experiences that enrich your life and vocation in beneficial and marvelous ways. #Breakthatlip on purpose.
