The awesome thing about being an actor is that we get to put ourselves into our work in a way that’s unlike any other profession. And while acting means putting a great bit of who we are into our work, hosting is about putting your entire essence into your work. As an actor, you may be wondering why you would need to learn about hosting but chances are that when you’re a big success, you’ll be asked to host or present in one form or another. As such, I’ve come up with three effective ways that will put you at the top of your game if you’re ever called on to host a project, show, or event.
Be true to yourself.
When you’re hosting, people want one thing: you! They want all of your energy, mannerisms, and essence to come forth and be a part of whatever it is you’re presenting. This allows the experience to be more natural and less robotic. To make it more authentic, act as if you’re having a thrilling conversation with all of your friends and family. Envision whoever it is that you feel you can be your true self around. This conversation will be cool, calm, relaxed, and intriguing. If funny is your thing, be funny! If you’re awkward, feel free to let loose. The key is that there will always be a large group of people who love who you are when you are true to yourself. That’s all you ever need to be.
READ: How Branding Can Boost a Hosting Career
Care less about what you say and more about how you say it.
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned as a host is that words don’t really matter all that much. People don’t remember what you said, they remember how they felt when you said it. A perfect example of this happened early on in my career when I shot a video for a marketing company and said the same word five times in a segment that was less than three minutes long. I was so nervous that I blew the opportunity...until I found out how much the client loved it because of the energy and enthusiasm I had behind it. I learned that as long as my delivery and intention were clear and direct I would be in a great place (much like acting). Focus on speaking from a genuine, heart-centered place and what you say won’t matter as much as how you say it.
Have fun with your hosting.
Fun is likely the most infectious concept in any arena. But to be able to have fun as a host means that you’ll likely to engage with more people as an audience. Why? Because human beings love to have fun and enjoy themselves. Even more importantly, people enjoy being a part of that fun. You can do this by just staying true to the moment. Observe what’s happening around you. Refuse to get caught up in your own head but accept what inner insights are being offered and act upon them. Some of the greatest MC’s and comedians have mastered this ability and you can as well. Just accept the flow! Before you get on stage or in front of the camera, set the intention to just have fun.
In the end, hosting is only going to be what you make of it. In order to make the most of it, you have to be who you truly are and allow people to connect to the awesome talent that is your ability and potential to be the next big thing in the arena of hosting and presenting.
Shaun Grant is a dynamic “entreperformer” that is a recognized authority in personal performance and transformation. He is the author of “Prosperity Secrets: How To Live the Life of Your Dreams.” He is also the creator of The Vibrational Actor and hosts his own podcast called The Actor's Area. Shaun has been acting, writing, and coaching for the past ten years. He teaches the concept of vibrational acting and vibrational consciousness to performers around the world. His soul purpose is to inspire, uplift and motivate actors through cutting edge mental and spiritual practices. He's at his happiest when his students experience successful breakthroughs in mind, body, and spirit as it relates to their acting careers. Shaun has acted in over forty projects, working alongside some of Hollywood's brightest stars, and has written and produced his own projects as well. When Shaun isn't acting, writing or coaching, he enjoys engaging in his love of travel and creating life-changing content through his blogs.
Visit www.shaungrantacting.com and www.uplifterentertainment.com for more career information. Find Shaun on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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