All the world's a
stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and
their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being
seven ages. ~ William Shakespeare
During sophomore year in High School I was challenged in
World History by one of the best teachers I would ever encounter. One day he asked if anyone wanted to teach a
class and I raised my hand. I was afraid I might stumble and get laughed at and
it did happen. But, at the end of my presentation, the class clapped for me and
I was hooked. I joined the drama club and performed one of the leads in our
club play.
I attended undergraduate school at the University of Miami
and received an incredible social education. Unfortunately, on the academic
side of the equation, I was placed on academic probation after my first
semester in school and entered my senior year in danger of not achieving the “
2.0 C” average needed to graduate. There was a drama professor who provided the
pathway that allowed me to graduate, raising my average to exactly one more
credit of B than D. I took every undergraduate course he taught and with
special permission, a graduate course in playwriting. In every first class he
announced that if a student missed a class their highest grade was a B, two
classes a C, three classes a D, four classes a failure, no exceptions. There
were no written tests. He evaluated by questioning and interacting with the
students. With perfect attendance, the lowest grade would be a B, and adequate
participation guaranteed an A! In all
his classes, he would call upon students, give them a scenario, and elicit an
impromptu display of “acting.” For
example, “Michael and Michele, you are 80 years old in rocking chairs on a
porch, reminiscing about your lives. Do it.” I ended up Minoring in Drama. In Playwriting,
I wrote a one man adaption of the play from High School, delivering a
performance to the class on the last day before winter break, including an
arranged and immediate upon completion, early exit from class, “to catch a
plane home.” I listened to a robust
accolade as I departed. When we are really good and capture an audience, it
feels fantastic and making a dramatic exit is showmanship!
I took the Graduate Record Examinations my junior year at
the University of Miami with quite pathetic results. Eight years later, with my
2.03 undergrad record, I was turned down for admission to graduate school at
Glassboro State College (now Rowan University). However, admissions allowed me
to take a couple of courses as a non-matriculated student to prove ability. One
of the courses was “History During the Time of Christ,” taught by a
non-Christian Scholar. We read the Gospels included in the New Testament and he
told us “what we know” about the authors and those to whom they were writing.
We also considered many of the apocryphal gospels, those not considered to
contain authentic information by the church leaders of the time. Of course I
was trying to prove myself so I was ready for the first exam and dutifully
constructed answers to the essay questions. I received a B minus with the
comment that what I wrote looked a lot like what he delivered during the
classes and he would not be so lenient in the future if I was unable to provide
my own thoughts about what we were exploring.
Heck, he has the ability to make topics I did not even
think I cared about interesting...that is talent. ~ C Katherine DeStefano PhD, describing
Michael C. Lazarchick
So Niels Bohr is credited with saying that an expert is a
person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field. I
took risks and started making my public speaking mistakes very early in life, and
evolved, each time finding new solutions to perfect my craft and build in
mechanisms to ensure outstanding results. My experience grew as I delivered
workshops and training sessions daily for years in my work helping people
explore employment, often more than one group a day.
I have spoken in a
wide variety of venues, from very short to hours long on a fairly wide of
topics. I have so much confidence that if asked, I will deliver a presentation
to virtually any audience on any topic, with a few minutes prep time, if that is all we have. I learned how to entertain, to be an actor
and draw from my truth about what that means. I have short humorous stories,
jokes, I am very experienced at delivering and do explore options when I have
information about those expected to attend. Laughter releases endorphins,
endogenous morphine, natural, healing, feel good drugs. I became familiar with
the basics of body
language and give thought to the environment and composition of each
audience. If people exhibit any type of distraction, I will interact and attempt
to bring them into the presentation with gentleness and skill.
There are many actions or situations that provide an
opportunity to “teach.” When I delivered
One Stop Orientations, mandatory for individuals collecting unemployment
insurance or on public assistance, the letter “inviting” participation
instructed people to come on time to avoid a possible disruption of their
benefits, in bold highlighted text. Because I had no idea what obstacles people
overcame to showing up late, I kept the door open for 15 minutes. When a new
person arrived they got my attention and I stared with why are you late? I
would address their circumstances and perhaps offer options to ensure being on
time for scheduled events. I might tell them they were creating a distraction
or showing disrespect for those who did show on time. I would always ask the
audience if we should let them in, of course adding the possible loss of
benefits, if we did not. I became quite capable of manipulating a suitable
level of discomfort and comfort, acting with honesty from the heart.
I continually explore the views of others on techniques that
improve delivery and capture the attention of audiences. One
of Many on the Subject. However, I embrace the non-traditional thoughts and
resources that offer to bring new ideas and sometimes healing into my work. For
example, Neurologic Music Therapy has shown remarkable positive results serving
people with disabilities, using rhythmic pattern of sound to turn on or
stimulate inactive areas in the brain. Some Research from the Institute for
Music and Neurologic Function I know
I get pleasant feeling listening to music that was popular at my high school
dances and there has been significant research for years about the value to
just about everybody of Listening to Music.
I was at a workshop with hearing impaired individuals, laughing with joy,
expressing wonder, feeling the vibrations on the floor from playing music. When
the right sounds are in the air, people move, people dance.
My Graduate School Professor gave me a B for one of, if not the greatest efforts, I have ever delivered in a classroom. He also gave me the understanding that everyone has their own unique understanding about reality. When we listen to others, it helps them understand as they express their thoughts. Ultimately however, we must form our own opinion and express our views, for our own understanding.
I love being on stage and I write often. Communications,
both written and verbal, come easy to me, with significant natural talent, lots
of experience and dedication to pursuing excellence. When we bring our gifts to
a level of artistry, we unleash magnificent creativity and honor the
consciousness of an evolving, living, energy filled universe.
Every action in our lives touches on some
chord that will vibrate in eternity. ~ Edwin Hubbel Chapin
