You’ll Never Stand Out by Blending In

''The safest path in the world is the one in which you blend into the crowd. Animals do it to avoid becoming the target of predators. Moving in packs, herds, or schools is an evolutionary reflex making it difficult for the lion or shark to mark any individual animal as prey. Blending in doesn’t guarantee safety in nature, but it certainly increases its likelihood.

Having taught well over 3,000 actors over the past 20 years, I know that most actors experience the same fear and display the same reflexive behavior.

As an actor, you may be afraid of failure. It’s possible that you’re worried you’ll be laughed at or thought untalented if you’re different or make unexpected choices. You no doubt enjoy being in the game, but sometimes wonder if the extra attention success may bring is going to make things better in some ways, but then negate the enjoyment due to the extra attention and pressure. Maybe it actually will, to a certain extent…

The greatest fear actors have is not failure, it’s success. It takes no effort or skill to maintain mediocrity. But jumping high bars every day? Now that requires some work and dedication...''

by Paul Barry