3 Important Acting Tips for Beginners

Are you interested in acting on stage but don't know where to begin? Maybe you just want to play a small role in a school play or the local community theater, but you've never taken an acting class. Don't worry, the following tips will help you get started preparing yourself as an actor.

1. Speak loud and clear
Fifty percent of being a good actor is speaking loud enough for the audience to hear you. Your voice is a crucial element in your acting, unless you want to be a mime. You use your voice everyday and probably don't give it much thought, but on stage, the voice is used in a very controlled and focused manner.

On the stage, pronunciation is very important. Pronouncing each consonant of each word may seem strange in regular conversation, but in the theater, it's a necessity. When you pronounce every syllable clearly and loud, the audience can understand you. If the audience cannot understand you, the story of the play is lost.

Practice pronunciation by reading out loud and annunciation every consonant. Record yourself and play it back. Listen to how well you read and make notes on what you need to practice.

2. Get comfortable with your body
The way you carry yourself on stage says a lot about your character. You can let the audience know what type of character you're playing without ever speaking a word. Your posture and movement alone can speak volumes.

First, check your own natural posture by standing in front of a mirror. Do your shoulders slouch forward or do you have an arched spine? Try standing so that you are very straight. Now close your eyes and feel the muscles that are working to hold you in this position. Use this stance to show confidence. Try different postures and discover the many ways you can transform your body into a different persona.

3. Watch other people
The best way to study different types of body languages and how they represent character types is to people watch. Sit somewhere in a busy place and watch how people act and react to one another. Watch how they walk and act and how it pertains to their character. Take notes and use other people's mannerisms for your own on stage use.

Study the meaning of body language. When someone has their arms crossed, they are usually feeling defensive. When someone is leaning into another person, it shows interest. If someone is humble and quiet, they usually have their shoulders forward and they pull their arms and legs close to them.

Bonus tip:
Practice is the best way to become a good actor. The perfect place to practice all of these tips is in front of a mirror. What is your face really expressing? You can see it in the mirror. Did you find the perfect expression? Close your eyes and memorize the muscles in your face that are working. Are your eyes acting, too? They should be. Practice using your eyes to make your entire expression believable.