What acting can teach us about advertising
I gravitated towards performing at a young age, and most people aren’t surprised when they find out I’m a former theater kid. Although I have since moved from telling stories on the stage to telling stories for brands through my passion for advertising, my experience in the performing arts was transformative.
Becoming Shelby, the strong-willed diabetic from Steel Magnolias, Babette, the flirtatious feather duster from Beauty and the Beast, or Cassie, the struggling dancer from A Chorus Line helped me let go of my inhibitions and become the empathetic person that I am today. If an actor does their job well, they become the character. For an authentic performance, great actors must dig deep to understand what motivates their character and makes them tick. In advertising, we must do our research and seek the same level of empathy for the target audience to reach them amidst the clutter of today’s marketplace. This skill of looking beyond myself has aided me in class campaign projects and job experiences and improved my ability to communicate and connect with others.
Acting is a mix of preparation and improvisation. As much as you rehearse, the scene doesn’t always unfold as planned. If things go off course, you must roll with the punches and improvise. The irony is that great improvisation is actually based on great preparation. I’ve found this true in life and my advertising studies. Adaptability is crucial, especially in today’s rapidly evolving media landscape. Just as actors lean on their castmates, I’ve gained valuable collaboration experience working with a diverse range of teams for group projects.
As an actor, once you decide to take the scene in a certain direction, you can’t do it halfway. Once you commit to something, you have to put your all into it. I am passionate, bold, and fearless; I have many interests but go full out in everything I do. Committing means daring to play and releasing the fear of looking stupid or messing up.
Acting taught me valuable lessons. Develop empathy. Be prepared. Adapt easily. Commit fully. The perspective I gained on stage is an essential ingredient in my secret sauce, which I’m eager to apply to my career in advertising.
‘Til next time,