I’m at an Improv class doing a scene with a partner when the instructor stops us. He says to me, “When you think about your character you just acted out, what was their point of view? What was their philosophy?”

I’m thinking, “Philosophy?! This is Improv! I barely know my character’s name, let alone what my character’s philosophy is.” I tell him that I have no idea.

And then he gives me a piece of advice that has stuck with me: knowing your character’s philosophy, point of view, or how they see the world will influence what you say, how you say it, your voice, your body language – everything.

Even though in Improv we don’t have any time to set up a whole backstory for our character, just having that awareness of their philosophy helps you as a performer. It changed me. And my special guest today, Jillian Paige, lives in the world of perspective from the point of view of a classically-trained singer, actress, and instructor.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll hear about how you can take performance training to a whole new level in your storytelling (or anything you do). We’ll also answer questions like:

What is the Meisner technique, and how is it similar and different to Improv? How can repetition help ground and calm you before a performance or audition? How can you practice avoiding inattentional blindness when speaking or performing? And what is the “liking gap” and how can you use it in your storytelling to take it to the next level?

Along the way, you’ll hear about Marlon Brando’s influence on Hollywood acting, the operatic singer who cried from letting go, the 90-second audition gone wrong, and so much more!

• How using the Meisner technique can affect the story you experience
• How Meisner can help you move past the story of not feeling good enough
• Why a “f*$% it” mentality can be crucial to keeping your audience engaged

Jillian Paige is the Founder of Meisner in Music, the premier class to infuse the Meisner technique with singing. Jillian received her master’s in music theatre from Oklahoma City University, her bachelor’s in classical vocal performance from Belmont University, and studied Meisner under Terry Martin (a direct pupil of Meisner’s) and Ted Wold.

Jillian is based out of New York City and has performed with companies such as Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Nashville Opera, and Kentucky Opera. She is passionate about helping singers maintain beautiful singing while achieving emotional freedom and impulsivity in the moment.