Postcard Pointers to the Performer

by Bob May

What is Postcard Pointers to the Performer? Just what the title suggests...what the postcard is to the letter (a brief account of important events). It's a Cliff's Notes version of an acting book. It is a brief, but to-the-point approach to the craft of acting. It's a checklist for the veteran actor, and a quick how-to for the beginning actor who wants to learn some of the tricks of the trade. But at the heart of this book is a brief reflection of an actor's thoughts after forty-three years in the theatre.

83 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Bob May began directing professionally in 1972 after graduating with a B. A. in Theatre from St. Cloud State University (MN), and since that time has directed over four hundred productions across the country.

In 1994 Bob earned an M. F. A. in Playwriting from The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and directing took a backseat to writing.

Twenty-five of his plays are published and have been produced around the world. The most popular are Beanie and the Bamboozling Book Machine, Elson – The First Christmas Elf, and Jack and Bella: From Beanstalk to Broadway.

He wrote The Gulf Coastal Plains Region episode for the Arkansas Educational Television Network (PBS) program The Great Experience of Arkansas: An Amazing Journey Through Six Regions. His book on acting Postcard Pointers to the Performer is published by Dominion Publications.

Currently Mr. May teaches playwriting and screenwriting at The University of Central Arkansas.

He and his wife, Cathy, have five children and four grandchildren. Mr. May is a member of The Dramatists Guild of America.

Reviews

[D.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Acting. Public Speaking. In both instances, people are staring at you. Bob May has written a postcard sized booklet to help you get through both. Good for refreshing actors before they hit the stage, and good for a nervous speaker before a professional presentation. This book is just the right size to fit in your purse, attaché, binder, or slip it under your shirt before a meeting because you are going to need it. More than once.

Mixed in with Bob’s postcard pointers you will learn a bit about him, enjoy his gentle humor, and wish you could invite him over for a cup of coffee just to chat. In one such pointer, Bob May covers the five Ws, and illustrates the Where of a conversation. For example, “If you are mad at your spouse for some stupid reason . . . the conversation you have . . . would be totally different in the living room of your in-laws’ house than it would be in the privacy of your own bedroom.” I’m guessing it would be toned down a bit around those in-laws. Similarly, a presentation in a small conference room with lumberjacks would be different from a black suit presentation in an auditorium. Bob May tells us which of the Ws are the most important. I should keep you in suspense so you will buy the book. Okay I’ll tell you. The Why is the most important. Why are you doing this presentation? Why is the character doing this activity? To impress? To entertain? To inform? Your approach will be different based on which why you want! So all actors and speakers, gather up a few coins and buy the little book. As someone famous said, “All the world’s a stage . . .” Even conference rooms.