Why Can't Singers Act? (Or vice-versa)

If you are in the world of song performance, you’ve seen the following: a fabulous singer who is, nevertheless, boring on stage. Or, the wonderful actor who, when singing, suddenly looks like he’s never been on stage before. What is it about the act of singing that turns even the most accomplished performer and expressive person into a stiff, awkward, untruthful, and less than human being on stage? And is it the singing or the acting that needs the attention?

Well, if you are a trained singer, chances are that you are at least somewhat comfortable with the singing aspect of your performance. If you are not yet at the level you wish to be, at least you have some sense of control over your voice and what is expected of you. However, the acting of the song often leaves something to be desired because, as singers, we are not trained in what to do. We are left to our instincts rather than a methodology for buiding an effective performance.

On the flip side is the trained actor who, robbed of his usual timing and vocal contr0l (let alone an acting partner), is left to flop his way through a territory that he is already terrified of — singing.

What is little known to both the singer and actor is that there IS a method for building one’s performance. All of the elements of good acting: point of view, objective, obstacle, tactics, etc. are involved. But above and beyond that is how to apply them to song in an interesting, rather than cliched way, and to move with appropriate timing.

My premise here is that the singer who “can’t” act, as well as the actor who performs dismally when singing, are both simply the victims of a lack of the appropriate tools. The singer must learn the language and methodology of acting. The actor must become confident that what eminates from his mouth when he opens it to sing is something he has control over – achieved through technique and training. And both must learn how things are different in a song from any other type of performance. The timing is different.

With that said, it is my intention to post articles here that relate to the topics of voice training and to performance training for singers. Stay tuned for more....