What is a good way to practice acting?

Question:I like acting, but I'm not in Drama class and I've really only been in one play(in the fourth grade, I'm in tenth now) And without much experience, I know I'm very, very unlikely to get a part. I love acting and one of my teachers told me I should be in drama. I just really lack experience. And I also have a problem with getting up on stage. What are some good ways to solve this?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I like acting, but I'm not in Drama class and I've really only been in one play(in the fourth grade, I'm in tenth now) And without much experience, I know I'm very, very unlikely to get a part. I love acting and one of my teachers told me I should be in drama. I just really lack experience. And I also have a problem with getting up on stage. What are some good ways to solve this?

Create characters in your normal day. When you go to the store, go to the store as someone else. It will get easier as you keep doing this. However dont play your characters at school or anywhere else that you are known because you risk being laughed at and discouraged.

When you are on stage, focus on the people on stage, not the audience. If you look at the audience, look at them in awe. Dont recognize they are looking at you, recognize you are looking at them. Stay in character. Let your character grow and dont stagnate your character.

Here are a couple things you could try.

There is an organization called Toastmasters, which gather to practice public speaking. This should help you get over your problem with getting up on a stage. Just type toastmasters and the name of the city you live in and you should get a number or contact info.

Also you can pick up scripts from just about any public library and practice memorizing and delivering the lines in front of family members.

Hope that helps!

Well confidence is something that builds with experience infront of an audience. So try and perform as often as you can, you can start infront of your parents, drama teachers, or friends.

When it comes to the material know it like the back of your hand, you should be able to perform your piece from any starting point and in any manner. Try your best to perform it in several different ways, like an old woman, like a extremely happy person etc..

Also When blocking your performance always try to find the intention for it, ex: if you walk across stage? just ask the simple question, why? My suggestion to you would be to work with some experienced actors, or teachers. Then Work with their feedback and do the best you can.

Oh and don't worry about experience, i started to move into drama during my 10th year of highschool and how it's my major in University. If you got any questions just give me a holler

Cheers and good luck

There is only one way. You have to do it. You have to get up on stage and you have to be in a play. For the only way to learn to act is by doing it. Classes and books can teach you about acting, but only acting teaches acting. Speech classes and speech competition might help. Try it.