How to Be a Mime
Being a mime is more difficult than you may imagine. There are certain skills that you must possess to be a mime, and it takes lots of practice to be good enough to perform. You have to learn the art of communication without words, and you have to be able to do your own makeup and come up with your own routines or skits.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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1
Practice being quiet. The first rule of pantomime is that you aren't allowed to talk, which can be a difficult task. Until you get used to it, you'll have to consciously stop yourself from talking or answering when someone asks you a question.
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2
Watch other mimes. If you want to be a mime, you should spend time seeing what others in the field are doing. Find street performers and pay attention to what works and what doesn't work in your act. You should be able to find a few things that you can duplicate or tweak to make them your own.
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3
Speak with your body, not your mouth. When at home, practice communicating with other family members with just gestures and body language. Pay attention to how others look when they talk, focusing on their facial expressions and hand gestures. With a little bit of practice, you'll get really good at getting your message across.
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4
Look like a mime. Anyone can talk with their hands, but to be a mime you need to look the part. Practice putting on the traditional mime makeup, and keep practicing until you have it perfected. You need to apply a white base and powder and then create the accents with black and red pencil. You can try out all sorts of different looks to match your routine and your mood.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If possible, perform with other mimes. That way, you can bounce things off each other and interact with the crowd more.
