Tweet
eye contact in non western cultures
HIGH! FOLKS!
I subscribe to Bruce Johnson's Thought for the Week newsletter. This week's edition really got me thinking and wondering. I thought I would post my questions here, in case anyone here had any additional insights.
Walking tall and wondering,
Bill "Stretch" Coleman
Dear Bruce
As usual, I enjoyed your insightful newsletter on the importance of establishing eye contact with the audience. In an earlier newsletter you illustrate the effectiveness of a slower pace in timing one's routine.
The timing was particularly good this issue.
Yesterday I performed in the National Western Stock Show Parade. As usual I was a giant, 9 foot tall cowboy, complete with big heavy boots.
This is a warm up parade for me, lets me know how fat and lazy I've gotten over the holidays.
Well, I was slow, and breathing was a little ragged. So when I would approach a spectator and their dog and ask them about their greyhound and rabbit rescue, I couldn't speak without taking an extra breath between lines. While taking this breath, I would be sure and establish eye contact with the spectator, and the rest of the audience standing close by.
That extra breath gave them time to process the joke, and to laugh. The eye contact, seemed to let them know how "serious" I was in my question, as I play it real "straight". As the joke continued, the laughs would build and get stronger. Doing the routine this way I got an extra laugh, sometimes two extra laughs out of the bit.
Thinking back, I also remember Avner the Eccentric's "breath works" exercises. How the inhalation, and holding the inhalation would build tension and how the exhale allows the audience to feel safe, to relax. And participate in the release of that tension with laughter. Since I was out of shape, my breathing was particularly obvious, and slowed down my usually faster delivery.
Now, I'm wondering, is this experience with eye contact universal? What about in other countries, say, Korea, where they think of eye contact differently? Or with a Muslim or Hindu audience, where the gender of the entertainer is opposite of the audience. Anybody care to share their experience?
Walking tall and stretching imaginations!
Bill "Stretch" Coleman
CLOWNJUGLR@aol.com wrote:
> Thought For The Week January 12, 2004
> By Bruce "Charlie" Johnson
>
> "People feel welcome if you have made eye contact with them. Take time
> to see your audience and let them see you." - Larry Pisoni
>
> Eye contact establishes communication and a relationship. A clown act
> with Circus
snip
> How often do you make eye contact with members of your audience? How
> can you make sure that they realize you are making eye contact? How can
> you use eye contact to establish a relationship with others? How can
> you use eye contact and pauses to let your audience know your character
> is thinking and not just doing something by rote?
>
>
> Copyright 2004 by Bruce "Charlie" Johnson. All rights reserved.
> www.CharlieTheJugglingClown.com
> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to Clownjuglr@aol.com
I subscribe to Bruce Johnson's Thought for the Week newsletter. This week's edition really got me thinking and wondering. I thought I would post my questions here, in case anyone here had any additional insights.
Walking tall and wondering,
Bill "Stretch" Coleman
Dear Bruce
As usual, I enjoyed your insightful newsletter on the importance of establishing eye contact with the audience. In an earlier newsletter you illustrate the effectiveness of a slower pace in timing one's routine.
The timing was particularly good this issue.
Yesterday I performed in the National Western Stock Show Parade. As usual I was a giant, 9 foot tall cowboy, complete with big heavy boots.
This is a warm up parade for me, lets me know how fat and lazy I've gotten over the holidays.
Well, I was slow, and breathing was a little ragged. So when I would approach a spectator and their dog and ask them about their greyhound and rabbit rescue, I couldn't speak without taking an extra breath between lines. While taking this breath, I would be sure and establish eye contact with the spectator, and the rest of the audience standing close by.
That extra breath gave them time to process the joke, and to laugh. The eye contact, seemed to let them know how "serious" I was in my question, as I play it real "straight". As the joke continued, the laughs would build and get stronger. Doing the routine this way I got an extra laugh, sometimes two extra laughs out of the bit.
Thinking back, I also remember Avner the Eccentric's "breath works" exercises. How the inhalation, and holding the inhalation would build tension and how the exhale allows the audience to feel safe, to relax. And participate in the release of that tension with laughter. Since I was out of shape, my breathing was particularly obvious, and slowed down my usually faster delivery.
Now, I'm wondering, is this experience with eye contact universal? What about in other countries, say, Korea, where they think of eye contact differently? Or with a Muslim or Hindu audience, where the gender of the entertainer is opposite of the audience. Anybody care to share their experience?
Walking tall and stretching imaginations!
Bill "Stretch" Coleman
CLOWNJUGLR@aol.com wrote:
> Thought For The Week January 12, 2004
> By Bruce "Charlie" Johnson
>
> "People feel welcome if you have made eye contact with them. Take time
> to see your audience and let them see you." - Larry Pisoni
>
> Eye contact establishes communication and a relationship. A clown act
> with Circus
snip
> How often do you make eye contact with members of your audience? How
> can you make sure that they realize you are making eye contact? How can
> you use eye contact to establish a relationship with others? How can
> you use eye contact and pauses to let your audience know your character
> is thinking and not just doing something by rote?
>
>
> Copyright 2004 by Bruce "Charlie" Johnson. All rights reserved.
> www.CharlieTheJugglingClown.com
> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to Clownjuglr@aol.com
Comment