Are You Someone People WANT to Play With?

I've been exploring in a couple of my classes lately what does it mean to be a good scene partner. There's been lots of cool discoveries and I wanted to share a few here. I think most people want to be someone people want to play with. They want to be a good scene partner but they aren't always aware of how they play on stage or how their choices come across. Now, we all know there are some folks who know and don't care about others on stage but for the sake of this discussion, we're going to put those folks aside.

This isn't a new topic and folks like Billy Merritt and Will Hines even wrote a book about how people show up. Are they Pirates, Robots or Ninjas in an ensemble? These types were very insightful for me and I spent time working with some of my teams on their different approaches. But ultimately, I saw these classifications grounded more in personality and the person than the actions they take on stage.

I wanted to dig deeper into the actions, choices and behavioral patterns that a performer consistently can do to continue to be a person people want to play with. So, I came up with an inventory. It's not about achieving a number but about the process of self exploration.

As a scene partner, are you: 

·       Supportive?

·       Giving?

·       Compassionate?

·       Respectful?

·       Receptive?

·       Totally accepting of all that your partners do?

·       Participating with an open mind?

·       Willing to play?

·       Committed?

·       Confident?

·       Creative

·       Courageous?

·       Exploring and heightening?

·       Energetic?

·       Versatile?

·       Focused?

·       Vulnerable?

·       Honest?

·       Playing to the top of your intelligence?

·       Trusting and trustworthy?

·       A non-worrier?

·       Comfortable with yourself?

·       Intuitive with skills?

·       Acting on your instincts and associations?

·       Without judgment about yourself or your partner’s talent and abilities?

Give yourself a point for each item you feel applies but like "Whose Line is it Anyway", the points don't matter. What are you figuring out about yourself? What will you prioritize the next time you play?

Then, make a list of the ones that are most important to you for the people you play with. Choose 5-10 that are non-negotiables for you. Are you currently playing with the people who fulfill your wants and needs? If not, find them! If you're already on a team, discus why those attributes are critical for you and your performance.

Be the partner YOU want to PLAY with!