Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Theatre

I am copying this from the blog of an old colleague of mine, Brian Robert Burns, because I think it's fun. Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Theatre:

You MUST commit.
Hold your character.
Turn off your cell phone.
Dont give away the ending.
Know your history.
Create relationships.
Constructively criticize.
Because you don't like it, that doesn't make it bad.
Respect people's choices.
If someone makes a different choice than you would, that doesn't make them wrong.
Be on time.
Know what you want, where you are, what time of day it is and why you're saying what you're saying.
Don't pull focus.
Believe in your projects.
You don't always have to speak.
Absence does not mean death--presence does not insinuate life.
There is always someone listening.
Move with purpose.
If things go wrong, improvise.
Trust.
Don't limit yourself.
In order to see someone completely, you have to show them all of yourself.
Feel everything.
Release your tensions; and judgment is just another form of tension.
Be prepared.
Let the moment take you.
Feel it out unless you have specific direction.
Think about what you are doing.
Sometimes you kiss people you don't like.
Talent isn't everything.
You will not succeed at every attempt.
READ.
Sometimes, it just hits so hard.
Just keep going. Most times they can't tell unless its really obvious.
Sometimes, it feels so wrong.
If it works, keep it.
Constantly develop your character.
You don't always know what you're getting yourself into.
A good counterpart can cover for you if you flub.
Don't manipulate your audience.
If you can't make it, call.
If you're not comfortable, let them know.
There is nothing more important than what's happening right now.
Energy up.
Shake it off.
Fuck critics.
Work against stereotypes.
Learn to take direction well.
You will not always get what you earn, and vice versa.
Appreciate honesty.
Things can get awkward.
No matter how hard you've worked, someone will hate it.
Don't rely on your bag of tricks.
Do your best and let go of the outcome.
Very few will take you seriously.
Your mom is your number one fan.

Nice, huh? Brian is in the MFA acting program at Yale in New Haven, CT. (I'm back from New Orleans, by the way. Update soon.)