[NoHo Arts District, CA] – In this month’s Soaring Solo blog, Jessica Lynn Johnson talks about “Busting the Myths of Solo Theatre.”
“Most things are myths, but there’s a shred of truth in every story.” -Emma Hamm
As a solo show director, I have heard many upsetting myths about solo theatre over the two decades I have been in this field.
Oftentimes, these misunderstandings can be really destructive and put false ideas and expectations into the minds of audiences and solo artists alike. These misrepresentations about this powerful genre can even intimidate solo artists and repel audiences from solo theatre before they have had exposure to it.
That’s why in today’s blog, I think it is important to unpack some of these myths, look for any shred of truth within them, and offer you a truer, more well-rounded, perspective.
Let’s dig in with 10 common solo theatre myths:
MYTH #1: Solo shows are narcissistic.
THE TRUTH: Yes, it’s true that some solo artists have a tendency to navel gaze in their one-person plays. However, I find that the majority of solo artists aim to vulnerably share their truth from stage with their primary motivation being to change and improve the world around them. If you are concerned that you may fall into the trap of narcissism, then I encourage you to look for the universal themes in your story. How can you make your show accessible to your audience even if they do not relate to your specific storyline? Ask yourself what your show contributes to the world? Are you educating people? Entertaining them? Helping them feel less alone because of your honesty on stage? Raising awareness about an important issue? There are infinite ways to keep your solo show from being self-centered, and it starts with the awareness of wanting to create a show that touches hearts, minds and lives – beyond your own.
MYTH #2: Solo shows do not have many technical needs or design.
THE TRUTH: People often assume that a solo show is just lights up and lights down with very little technical enhancement, yet with solo artists like John Leguizamo and Spalding Grey incorporating multimedia into their one-man shows, the art form has changed considerably from its humble beginnings. Today, many solo artists enhance the entertainment value of their one-person plays by utilizing pictures, videos, sound design, music, and lighting design.
MYTH #3: Solo shows are always autobiographical.
THE TRUTH: It is quite common for solo artists to want to tell their own story from stage, but having worked with hundreds of solo artists from all over the globe, I can tell you that many of them enjoy becoming historical figures, impersonating celebrities, creating fantasy characters or simply taking fictitious liberties. The fact is, there are many styles of solo theatre and autobiographical is just one of many.
MYTH #4: It’s impressive to be the writer, performer, director and producer of your own solo show.
THE TRUTH: It may sound impressive to learn that a solo performer is wearing all of the hats in their solo production, but the truth is when industry professionals see just one name on a playbill or a flyer for a solo show, they see red flags. If you are playing all of the roles off stage as well as on stage, the odds are good that one or more of those roles is not going to be up to par. While you may be a Jack or Jane of all trades, delegation is a key element to having a solid solo show. Otherwise, you will probably experience burnout and your show will suffer. Not only that, if you are the only person on your creative team, it’s impossible for you to really have other eyes and ears on your script, your performance, your promotional materials, etc. Without some outside perspective, you will fall victim to blind spots that someone else could have pointed out to you if they were given your trust and a position on your team. It may be a solo show, but do not do it alone.
MYTH #5: You have to have experienced major trauma such as cancer, rape or bigotry to create a powerful solo show.
THE TRUTH: There are several solo shows on traumatic topics because trauma typically changes people’s lives in astounding ways, and solo theatre is often about the events that change us for better or worse. That being said, there are millions of other topics that solo artists explore in their shows beyond surviving trauma. I’ve had the pleasure of working with solo artists who have created one-person plays about sexual exploration, motherhood, the immigrant experience, learning to say no and create boundaries, spiritual quests and much more. The most important thing is telling your story in your own way. No two solo shows are identical because no two people are identical. That’s the beauty of it.
MYTH #6: Solo shows are therapy on stage.
THE TRUTH: We have all seen solo shows where, unfortunately, the person has not worked through their traumas and we as the audience become their involuntary therapist. However, while this misstep does happen from time to time, I would encourage you not to make a sweeping generalization that all solo artists do this or that you will end up doing this. I always encourage my clients to surround themselves with a lot of support during the process of creating and performing a solo show, especially if it centers around trauma. Having a therapist, a support group, friends, family or a significant other who can be there for you as you touch upon painful memories from your past is essential in preparing you to share your story on stage from a scar rather than an open, bleeding wound. If you find that you are triggered often during your creative or rehearsal process, that is likely an indication that you are not quite ready to share this particular subject on stage and that is ok.
MYTH #7: Solow shows are just like stand-up comedy or storytelling.
THE TRUTH: Solo shows can definitely incorporate elements of standup comedy or storytelling, but a solo show is a theatrical play. As such, a solo show should have a story arc, characters, technical design, blocking, a set and props, and many other theatrical devices. I am not saying that you have to have all of the aforementioned elements in order to have a proper solo show, but you will certainly want to infuse many of them. Too often, people forget that solo shows are plays and plays need drama, structure and theatricality.
MYTH #8: You cannot make money doing a solo show.
THE TRUTH: We all know that it can be challenging to bridge the gap between our artistry and our finances, but I am here to tell you that it is not impossible. After all, I have been fortunate enough to get to do what I absolutely love every single day as a solo theatre director. So, I am living proof that there is abundance in this genre. As a solo artist, start looking into grants, sponsors, crowdfunding, or pursuing gigs in the college market as a guest artist. You may have special knowledge that you could use to create a workshop that complements the themes of your solo show and sell these as a package deal. All to say, think outside of the box, don’t limit yourself, listen to your intuition and keep yourself wide open to the possibility of making money with your solo show.
MYTH #9: It’s hard to get an audience for a solo show.
THE TRUTH: Ensembles absolutely have the advantage of a full cast and often a large crew to help spread the word and get butts in seats. As a solo performer, you may feel quite alone in your efforts to fill the theatre. Yet, there are many things you can do to increase the turnout to your solo show.
Be sure to start your marketing campaign very early on. Bring the audience along on the journey from the process of writing the script, scouting the theatres, trying on costumes, rehearsing with a director, buying props and setting the stage. All of these things can be great content for social media posts, a blog or email blasts to get your audience involved in every step along the way. You may also look into hiring a publicist, taking out Facebook or Instagram ads and going to networking events leading up to your show. While it can sometimes be more challenging to gather an audience as a solo artist, it is absolutely something you can empower yourself to do by being proactive and thinking ahead.
MYTH #10: You have to be an actor and a writer to do a good solo show.
THE TRUTH: The beauty of solo theatre is that truly anyone can do it because everyone has a meaningful story that they can tell. This genre is all about authentic expression, and therefore, there are limitless ways to create and perform a solo show, and there are limitless people who can participate in this art form. Anyone with a desire to tell their story and a willingness to seek guidance from professionals within the solo theatre industry can successfully write and perform a solo show. I have had the honor of working with army vets, cancer survivors, stay-at-home moms, musicians, spiritual healers and many other individuals who do not fit the typical actor or writer mold, and yet they have created some of the most compelling solo theatre that I have ever witnessed.
I could certainly go on busting the myths and misunderstandings about solo theatre, but I think we have covered enough ground for today. Hopefully, you were able to identify your own false thinking around solo theatre and experience a different perspective through today’s blog.
Please continue to persist along on your solo journey. It may not be easy, but it is so worth it!
Jessica Lynn Johnson
Founder & CEO of Soaring Solo LLC
SoaringSoloArtist@gmail.com
www.SoaringSoloStudios.com
Enjoy these Solo Theatre Resources to Further Guide You on Your Solo Journey!
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A one-person play is not typically written in one fell swoop. Rather, the Soaring Solo Methodology teaches that the creation of solo art is much like that of creating a Mosaic…one beautiful piece at a time.
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Jessica brings her 15+ years of solo theatre expertise to work privately with solo artists from all over the world on an as needed basis.
A 1 on 1 Consultation is for you if…
-You are curious about creating a solo show, but you need writing prompts to help you generate material.
– You are tossing around ideas for your solo show, but you need some accountability and encouragement to commit those ideas to the page.
-You have already written some material, but you need expert feedback on editing, story structure and play formatting.
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-You already premiered your solo show and now you want some tips on how to tour colleges and festivals, and garner accolades and great reviews!
-You have heard great things about Jessica’s work and you’re curious about hiring her as a Director & Developer for your solo show, but first, you want to feel her out and see if she is the right fit for you and your project.
Wherever you may find yourself on your solo journey, Jessica will help you overcome whatever immediate obstacle stands between you and your solo success.
If you resonate with many of the things on this list, then take the next step by emailing SoaringSoloArtist@gmail.com for more information.