DIFFERENCES BETWEEN 'ACTORS' AND 'PERFORMERS'

IN MY OPINION:

WILLIAM REYNOLDS:

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN 'ACTORS' AND 'PERFORMERS'

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THIS IS ONE OF THREE>>TWO MORE TO COME

1. Focus. For the most part, performers are very aware of their audience and their reactions, whereas actors, whether it is in class, auditions, onstage or on a set, are focused and involved in their scene and their connection to the material. They are not focusing on entertaining an audience. That is usually a result of how well they do their job. Actors may have an awareness of the audience, technical issues, and/or direction—especially when working on a set or onstage—but their main focus is on being in the moment and the other actors, not on the audience’s reaction.

When actors are focused on anything but their work, it is very difficult to be “present” and in their scene. Also, when thinking about how you are doing or the response you are or are not getting from those watching, you are “in your head.” No actor can do their best when “in their head,’ whereas performers must focus on other things: objects, animals, music, audience response, technical issues, etc.