In the entertainment business most entertainers will tell you that they have their onstage character and their offstage personality. The two can differ but can also be similar in many ways. No matter what the setting, it is important for all types of performers to understand when and how to differentiate those personas.
Who the audience sees on stage consists of a number of elements. What the performer is wearing, what they are saying and even how they move on stage all plays into that character being portrayed for the audience. A good example of an onstage character would be Teller, the famous Magician and Magic Creator who is the silent half of world famous magic duo Penn & Teller. Saying nothing while he is performing is part of the character he has created. Because he can not speak out loud while on stage, Teller communicates through beautifully crafted pieces of magic. People see him on stage as an intelligent, slightly whimsical gentlemen, yet they never hear him utter a sound. However, he does speak off stage.
If Teller were to give a radio interview, he would have to speak which is outside of his performance character. He could not act the same way he would on stage, it would not make sense given the setting he is now in. This is a dramatic difference from his on stage persona, but a necessary change in order to give the radio audience a chance to hear him.
While onstage persona is important, entertainers must carry themselves a certain way even when not performing. You never know who's eyes are on you when you are in public. That stranger on the bus may be a major producer. The person behind you at the store could be a talent agent. Those same characteristics that are displayed by performers in entertainment can also be applied to the professional in the business world. Who are you when nobody is looking?
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While onstage persona is important, entertainers must carry themselves a certain way even when not performing. You never know who's eyes are on you when you are in public. That stranger on the bus may be a major producer. The person behind you at the store could be a talent agent. Those same characteristics that are displayed by performers in entertainment can also be applied to the professional in the business world. Who are you when nobody is looking?
Onstage and offstage characters are just a small part of a performers professional image. If you are interested in learning more, we are making this a running series here on the Mystifyed Live Blog. If you would like to know more about Mystifyed Live you can check us out on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, download past episodes of our Podcast on iTunes and visit JustinTheMystifyer.com
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