[NoHo Arts District, CA] – This month’s Soaring Solo blog focuses on ”The Power of Gratitude for a Solo Artist.”
“Gratitude opens the door to… the power, the wisdom, the creativity of the universe. You open the door through gratitude.” -Deepak Chopra
As we enter into this season of gratitude, I want to take a moment to point out why having a grateful spirit is essential to the solo artist’s journey.
There are many difficulties that will arise during the creative process of a solo artist. Whether you are sitting down to write the script, standing up to rehearse the show, stepping onto stage to deliver your performance, or taking your final bow to receive the world’s feedback; learning how to access thankfulness will be an invaluable superpower that you can wield to fend off any challenge.
Here are 5 Stages of the Solo Theatre Journey in which practicing gratitude will be your saving grace.
- Gratitude in the Writing process.
Have you ever seen a solo show where the performer simply complains, vents, and has therapy on stage in front of you? Those types of performances typically leave the audience feeling worse than they did when they arrived at the theater. While I completely believe in creative catharsis and vulnerably sharing the pain of our past, it is crucial that we write our solo scripts from a scar rather than an open wound. Gratitude is a wonderful tool to help us heal the injuries that life has thrust upon us. Looking at life through a lens of gratefulness can help us to find a silver lining even in the worst of circumstances. This reframe can be a powerful gift to give our audience. Yes, it is brave and bold to write about our personal traumas and dramas; however, if we can identify and share a meaningful lesson that we learned, character we were able to build, or a fortuitous change we experienced in our life trajectory, then we can help our audience see life through a new paradigm.
- Gratitude in the Rehearsal process.
Rehearsing a one-person play is incredibly hard work. It’s easy to develop a bad attitude when you’re having to memorize an hour’s worth of content, bring an entire cast of characters to life alone in your living room, continue drilling content that you are likely getting bored with, and repeatedly meet with your Director to receive constructive criticism on the myriad of ways you need to improve your performance. When sheer willpower and discipline begin to wane, having a grateful disposition will help you to remember that there are so many people who are not fortunate enough to be able to express their creativity freely. For so many, unfortunately, creative expression is a luxury rather than a reality. So, if you are one of the lucky ones who has the time, resources, and talents to prioritize your creativity, allow that blessing to elicit thankfulness. Thank your body for being fit enough to execute your blocking. Thank your vocal cords for producing sound so that you can say your lines. Thank your mind for being agile enough to retain so much content. Thank your emotions for being available to you to express. Thank your director for caring enough about you and the show to tell you when something is not working and encourage you to try harder. Thank your script for being written so that you can take your story off of the page and onto the stage. Thank the clock for giving you time to practice so that you can deliver a great show to your audience. There are a million and one things to be grateful for. Start with the smallest recognition, and let the appreciation grow. Soon, gratitude will become the fuel that gets you through the rehearsal process and ready for opening night.
- Gratitude in the Producing process.
As a solo artist, you will be wearing multiple hats far beyond the roles of writer and performer. In many ways, you will serve as your own producer. This means you will often have to do administrative work that doesn’t feel as creatively fulfilling as the writing and performing process. Even if you are in a position to delegate responsibilities, there will still be some level of production that falls at your feet. Here is where you can take the opportunity to be grateful for everything it takes to bring a play to fruition. Once you get a glimpse behind the curtain, so to speak, it’s very hard to take anything for granted. Practice saying thank you to the universe for every piece of the theatrical puzzle. Thank the contract that you signed with the theater for giving you structure and standards. Thank all of the social media posts that you created for putting your promotional materials out there in the world. Thank every member of your creative team for bringing their best efforts to manifest your vision. Thank the ticketing agent for keeping track of your audience reservations. Thank the crowdfunding platform for helping you pay for this incredible experience. There are so many moving parts involved in producing a solo show, and the more you can be thankful for every step along the way, the more energy you will have to continue putting one foot in front of the other to get it all done.
- Gratitude in the Performance.
Most solo artists do all of the aforementioned work, and then as opening night approaches, they battle a great deal of fear, insecurity, and intimidation. After all, vulnerably sharing your story from stage can be a terrifying feat. Once again, gratitude is the best tool in your box to ward off trepidation. Thank yourself for all of the hard work you have done to prepare adequately for this moment. Thank your audience for valuing you and your story enough to show up on the special day. Thank the theater for its beautiful lighting instruments, booming sound system, sacred stage, and ample seating to support this theatrical production. Thank the characters you’ve written, the dances you’ve choreographed, the songs you’ll sing, the monologues you’ll deliver, for adding to the entertainment value of your show. Once more, thank your body and your voice for equipping you to tell your story. Thank the dynamic life you’ve lived, and the resilience you possess to be able to speak your truth creatively. Finally, let your authentic performance be an act of gratitude.
- Gratitude Post Performance.
After you take your bow, greet your audience and go home to rest, it’s easy to immediately replay any mistakes you may have made. It’s tempting to get caught up in what the reviewer thought. You might start to focus on just how many tickets you sold, or that line you forgot to say, or that cue your technician missed. Instead, I implore you to stop the criticism and thank yourself for being braver than most people would ever dare to be. Be grateful that you did not quit when you had so many opportunities to walk away. Have gratitude for the countless hours you put into preparing for this event. Even if there were aspects of the production that did not meet your standards, be grateful for what you learned so that you can do it better next time. Maybe there were criticisms of your show that are hard to digest. Still give thanks for the chance to develop a thicker skin and stand strong in your own point of view as a playwright and an artist.
I know that remaining grateful during these 5 stages of the solo theatre process is very challenging. In fact, this is some of the hardest work we can do as solo artists. However, I hope that today’s blog will illuminate just how vital and powerful the tool of gratitude is when stepping into the genre of solo theatre.
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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Utilizing thought-provoking writing prompts, Jessica will lead you in writing exercises that are sure to assist you in the development of your solo show.
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 one-on-one 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.
-You have a great first draft, but need guidance on how to utilize multimedia and solo theatre technique in order to make your show a dynamic piece of solo theatre.
-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.