coach - don't catch

A writer I know, Kimberly, is a former pooh-bah with a major cosmetology academy.

As we enjoyed a light brunch with our friend and present academy pooh-bah Michelle, Kim shared her secret of supervising success: coach-don't catch.

I told her I think that's a perfect way to describe my coaching methods as well.

What she means is that a good coach does not micromanage or hover over our wards trying to "catch" them making a mistake, screwing up or taking the smallest misstep so the student can be villified for erring.

All that does is make them fearful, preventing them from enhancing their confidence, pursuing their original creations and individual ideas using the basics.

Coaching, on the other hand, encourages the student to excel beyond their expectations, using praise and guidance, while helping them understand how the basics must be considered first, even if - or especially when - your particular style breaks a few of those rules.

I recalled I once helped an entire group of my actors remember to always bring their 3x5 cards to our sessions (they have all the basics they need to remember for every audition and performance written out on them), and have them ready to review so we can begin the session fully prepared.

The cards were accepted as a huge help for my actors to deal with every sort of audition and performance. Each is filled out with personal notes unique for each individual actor to remind them of the basics and any idiosyncratic tips needed to help their portrayal, whether it be for a commercial, comedy, drama or animation character.

Trouble is, for some reason, as often as I reminded them to have them out and ready to use to start the session, they kept forgetting them. It cost us time when they started their coaching sessions.

What's a coach to do? I didn't want to "catch" them, I wanted them to be responsible for their own simple professional action.

So, one day, as they approached my door, one at a time, throughout the day and evening, they were greeted with a large sign: "If you don't have your 3x5 cards with you, ready to use when you come in, please do not enter ... and you will be charged for this session."

It was hard to see so many give themselves a "I coulda had a V-8!" head smack as they turned away - never to forget their cards again. But those who were prepared came in waving their cards were on top of the world and they absolutely excelled at their sessions.

I never had to mention the cards again, and they continued to perfect the information written on them as they encountered more and different challenges for which they needed a small reminder.

Gold stars also work.

I give the talented youngsters with whom I work a little gold star - sticking it on the middle of their forehead when they do a great job. Which, frankly, was every time I worked with them because I only work with talented, professional kids. I don't think most kids belong in the business - especially those with stage parents.

Interestingly, as the adults entered, they would see the kids leave with their little gold star proudly displayed above a glowing smile. At the end of my sessions with the adults, they'd linger just a moment longer than ... I wasn't sure what they were trying to tell me.

I wasn't picking up on something.

Finally, I would see them staring at the sheet of gold stars.

I asked, a little incredulously, "Would you like a gold star?"

They would beam, "Yes!" Then, haltingly, "At least, you know, if you think I deserve it."

At first I wondered if they were putting me on. But I went along, "Um, yeah, right. Absolutely. You do. Here..."

Smack. Gold star.

They would be so pleased. I'm talking full grown adults, here - older, all races, genders, political persuasions, sexual orientations-

Directors, are you listening? ;-)

It was so touching to see them eagerly await their "report card," and how they would smile brightly after it was bestowed. Believe me, they worked hard for those stars. I think they felt somehow accomplished, appreciated and nurtured with that little star.

The parents in the group would look forward to showing their kids what they had earned in their sessions.

Somehow, I felt a little nurtured myself.

And appreciated.

And feeling a bit like I was in an out-of-body episode of the camera acting coaching version of "Scrubs."

I imagined I played a really nice, non-catching version of Dr. Cox.

;-)

feels like home

I've joined a professional group of screenwriters in LA to become not just a better screenwriter, but a great one.

I'm working with them long distance from Seattle (with the possible trip to LA now and then), and have to say, it feels like home.

These folks are only interested in quality work, and after a long discussion with two of their leaders, I'm quite happy to be working with them.

It's going to mean far more intense devotion to my screenwriting, and I have to say it's time.

I do so many things - coach actors, writers, stand-up comics, singers and other performers, write (all sorts of things, including this near daily blog that enjoys a readership of tens of thousands of readers in 68 nations), direct, sing, and of course enjoy being a convivial, entertaining dinner party guest!

While I may be good at just about everything I do, I want to devote more of my life to writing and directing quality work. Having produced/written and directed some 16 short films and videos for the sake of improving my craft and my art, as well as written some 10 feature scripts, I want to get down and dirty and very serious about my writing and directing -- not to mention often produced.

The team I joined yesterday will help me make that happen and as I say, I'm thrilled they contacted me. One member who read my script Nothing But The Truth pronounced it "boffo!" It still has some improvements in store, but to start with that positive a review can't be a bad thing.

Anyway, I'm delighted, I'm organized and ready to work harder, learn quickly and continue to do what I love and love what I do but on a notably advanced professional level that will put me where I want to be in my career for the rest of my life.

When I speak of such things, my coachees have near heart attacks, fearful they're losing me -- nope, I'm still here for you! I'm just restricting new people I take so I can devote more time to writing and soon directing at a level I've prepared myself to perform - honing my craft, studying, researching, analyzing and doing the work - over the years.

For some reason I thought this experience would feel intimidating; overwhelming or scary.

Nope. It feels like home. The folks I've met speak my language. I feel like I'm right where I belong.

I'll take you on my journey with me, as always - only I may not be able to blog as often as I do now because of the changes in my schedule.

One major key to success ...

Chris Rock, recalling his early show biz days, said that he was the least funny stand-up comic in the group of comedians with whom he started.

"They were much funnier than I was," he told Oprah.

But what separated him, ultimately, from that talented bunch was his work ethic. He did his homework daily, diligently, faithfully.

Seeing themselves as funny, his pals didn't feel they needed to work as hard on their craft as Chris did.

So while they were out partying, Chris was busy working on finding his authentic voice, discovering and perfecting the minutiae and specifics of the craft so he could make us all laugh by telling us how he sees the world.

Ultimately, aside from a short stay on Saturday Night Live (which didn't do much for his career), he was able to hone his talent, writing and performing, to become the genuine genius we know and pay lots of money to laugh at/with today.

By comparison, it's clear that he hasn't devoted the same attention to studying camera acting for his films that he did stand-up comedy .. but if he did? Wow!

Meanwhile, his stand-up preparation story reminded me of camera acting classes I taught several years ago (today I generally only do special seminars and classes for the people who study with me one on one).

The noticably talented and more experienced people would come across much better than the total newbies and those who didn't seem as talented or who didn't know a thing about acting - let alone acting for the camera.

Because of this, the actors who thought they were better than "the rest" tended to slack off doing their homework, which I designed to help them build a strong foundation for all the work they would do in the future as well as teach them how to develop any type of material handed them, working for any visual medium.

The slackers made me reflect on my own experience as a kid in public school (that's private school for UK readers). If I felt I knew enough to skate (not do my homework and still get a good grade), I would.

That changed in college. Hugely.

But oh, my. I paid the price for not doing my homework when I was a kid and realized how much I cheated myself out of a lot of knowledge, especially building the crucial foundation of groundwork I would need for several college courses and, um, oh yeah - life.

Well, about halfway through the camera acting course I taught, the actors who had worked their butts off doing the homework started to surpass their talented classmates who had slacked off.

At this point, the talented folks started to recognize that "the rest" were doing better work than they were. And that the only difference between them was that the supposedly formerly lesser talented actors were doing the (boring, tedious to them) homework.

Trouble is, because the "lab work," as some came to call it, is organic and needs to be done almost daily in order to build on skills that grow naturally, concomitantly and exponentially, it was impossible to catch up.

You can't "catch up" by doing 100 push-ups if you were supposed to be doing 5 a day for 20 days to build strength and stamina.

Like a professional athlete has to work out properly and eat nutritiously every day to properly prepare to play for a sport. If those muscles are not exercised daily and built in a certain way, injury and incompetence can result.

Interestingly, I've discovered that many of the most successful artists with long careers I know and have read about were nerds in school - they established great work habits, did their homework and got good grades. This includes some who would prefer you thought they were raised in rough trade to get their "rap" street cred.

If you weren't - or are not - one of those kids, you can learn how to attain good work habits - there are lots of resources online, counselors at schools and books at the library to show you how.

It's never too late.

But before you do that - there has to be an unabiding desire to want to do the work - and to do it well. Then to keep growing personally and professionally because it's your passion.

It's not enough to want to be a star, an actor, rich and famous, or "somebody." It's not enough to want only to work.

The goal is to do your best.

For no other reason than to feel genuinely accomplished, content, proud and rewarded by knowing you've given it - whatever that is - your "all."

As I tell one of my talented clients, "Why settle for OK -- when you can do so much better?"

It's like asking, why would you settle for a life less lived when you're capable of making a difference - in someone else's life as well as your own.

Remember the best stories told are about ordinary people - doing extraordinary things.

"Ordinary" people - like Chris Rock. ;-)

NYC actors!

I've received several phone calls from actors in New York City interested in me coaching them there in person (I already coach two folks there long distance).

If you're interested in me coaching you in NYC, please email me -- cpcontacts@comcast.net --your contact information and what sort of coaching you'd like to receive.

I'm going to be making a trip to the Big Apple to coach actors who have contacted me as soon as my schedule permits!