The Notes Are A Gift

One more post about feedback (sorry, I couldn’t help myself). This one’s culled from personal experience…

When I was a younger actor and directors would give the cast notes after rehearsals, I’d sit there and silently hope I wouldn’t receive any. Or that I’d be the exception and get praise…”Johnny, I have no notes. That was perfect!” (My insecurity and ego both talking to each other.)

Of course that wasn’t the case.

I’d get notes, sometimes a whole lot of them, and upon receiving them, I’d either defend/explain what I was doing in the rehearsal or shut down because I felt like the worst actor in the world.

One day sensing my poor body language, a wise director pulled me aside and asked me what was going on. After several minutes of explaining myself, he stopped me and said (paraphrasing):

“You’re thinking about this all wrong…If I don’t give praise, that means you’re doing it right. So you don’t need to look for it. I cast you in this play because you’re a great actor and right for this part. I assume you know that…I only give notes on what needs work. And that’s because I care about you and the cast as well as this play and the audience…And by the way, if I didn’t care, then I wouldn’t say anything. Then, you really should be worried.”

That conversation changed me. Not that I’m perfect. I still get insecure and still have to battle my ego. But in those moments, I remind myself to actively seek out those notes. Because the notes are a gift. They are the only way to get better. To do the kind of meaningful and impactful work that we as artists all strive to do.