Break a Leg

Hey its Hugo Martin (Tahko or alternatively Tacko- from Mint's Mint Condition Cover Band)

Instead of a boring analysis of my audition experiences, here’s something I wrote on…

“Talent”

Talented. Everyone wants everyone to acknowledge them as such. The very fiber of our self-esteem depends on this word, while goodness, character, or wisdom takes a backseat and rides bitch. (This isn’t offensive, because this seat was named after where we would put my dog.) I had a teacher who admitted that it took nearly thirty years before she felt that her self-esteem was not defined by her acting talent. It’s something that most people in the arts suffer from, an almost desperate need to have this word permanently emblazoned on their forehead.

At the conservatory I went to, where many people liked to be reminded daily how talented they were, myself included, talent was often the subtext of every bit of gossip. Did he/she have it? Was his/her behavior indicative of a poor amount of talent? Should we stay away from this person lest we catch some kind of talent-less plague? I struggled intensely my first year at school, feeling every moment that I was bereft of talent, and that I didn’t really belong. Was it the truth? Well, from the subjective experience of many people, including teachers, yes. I was told in my second year that I was not an actor, that I couldn’t make it; that I was, in so many words, worthless at what I came here to do. Though I was beaten down by this scathing evaluation, I chose to persist stupidly. When the teacher saw me in another play, she changed her mind and acknowledged that she was wrong. Ironically, she had been told the same thing as a student herself. She went on to become a successful stage/tv/film actress and a director. So, maybe there was a little hope for me.

What I learned from this experience is to take the word “Talent” with a grain of salt, and prompted me to redefine the word for myself

The Oxford English Dictionary’s(Online Edition) first definition defines it as

“Natural aptitude or skill.”

Pretty standard, but here’s how I would prefer for it to be defined.

“A natural aptitude to work at a skill.”

The difference being: “The work.” A so-called talented person can have all the aptitude in the world, but sit on their thumbs ten hours of the day instead of using it to develop their “talent”.

There are two factors in “Talent”: Natural Aptitude and Work. I’m not discounting natural aptitude, but my point is that work is greatly undervalued as a factor. Joe Average, may never have the natural aptitude of Mozart, but if he applied himself every day for fifty years, there is a good chance he could very well become a concert pianist, or a composer of note, if not of genius. Perhaps genius would take several lifetimes. However, as actors in the business, we’re not all trying to be Marlon Brando. Many of us would settle with being just a working actor, and its indeed disheartening when you hear that hard work can’t tip the scale in your favor. I’m here to tell you it can.

Well that’s about it. If ever your called untalented, and fear they might be partially right. They’re only...partially right? If that doesn’t make you feel better, remember this motto. “Talent is an abstract construction that misconstrues human potential and limits performance.” You’ll be right as rain.

Till next time…I am yours in the break-a-leg universe. Tahko.