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How to Mime
HOW TO 
Tags: Mime, Miming, Acting, The Arts, Silent Art
Miming is often called the "silent art" because it is acting without the use of words. This can be a challenging and very expressive artistic medium. Here is how you can learn how to mime.
| 1. | Use your body to speak. When miming, talk is not an option or you cross the line between acting and mime; use facial expressions and make use of your whole body to do the talking. Use a mirror to assess what movements are the most successful in conveying emotions, feelings, attitudes and reactions. |
| 2. | Discover the mime actions. There are some fairly standard techniques that mime artists begin with. These include manipulating imaginary objects (such as walls, balls, ropes, etc.), walking in place, climbing imaginary ladders, leaning, and so on. |
| 3. | Take on the wind. Pretend that it is very windy and that you are having a hard time standing up in it. Let the wind buffet you to and fro. For added amusement, include a struggle with an umbrella that keeps turning inside out. |
| 4. | Mime eating. It can very amusing to watch a mime of eating. Pretend to be consuming a very sloppy hamburger or hotdog, with all the contents slopping down the front of your clothing. Accidentally squirt some ketchup towards your eye. Or try peeling a banana and then slipping over on the peel. |
| 5. | Make the mime interesting. You can go for a one-off laugh or you can try to raise mime to a higher art form. If you create a story from your mime, you will be engaging your audience and providing true artistic resonance to the art of miming. Think in advance of a "tale" you would like to tell. |
| 6. | Make a dramatic mime. If you wish to mime something more serious, adopt a mood with your clothing, make-up and lighting. Think out a serious tale in advance. For instance, you may wish to highlight the plight of the homeless sleeping out in the cold during winter. Paint on a sad face, wear tattered clothing and use dim lighting. Think through a story that allows you to mime trudging despair as the homeless person seeks shelter for the night. Mime setting up a sleeping space under a bridge with only a cardboard box for a bed. Mime shivering and inability to sleep well. Project sadness to reflect the plight of this person. |
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