Development By Imitation

Development By Imitation

by Randy Christensen

How does an individual develop his own personal performance style?    How does a person excel in a specific genre of art?  One of the keys to development is imitation.

Often, experienced magicians and clowns chaff at the beginners whose only routines are store bought “canned” replicas of others.  But, where are beginners supposed to begin?  If a new clown is imitating someone else, or using material that someone else has developed, give him credit.  At least he is out there doing it!  Most people would never dare to put on the greasepaint.  This person has a desire to make a difference in people’s lives and is making a sincere effort to do it well.

How did each one of us begin?  As clowns, where did we get the idea to put make-up on our faces?  We saw someone somewhere...in a book, on t.v., in person...and determined that we would imitate that clown.  Where do people learn slapstick?  Watching Abbott & Costello, Charlie Chaplin, Chevy Chase or an instructor at a clown conference. Imitating someone who knows what he is doing is wise as a person begins.

What about prop construction?  To learn from an instructor, whether in person or in book form, saves a lot of time, effort and money! 

Where does one learn sleight of hand or juggling or unicycling?  The easiest way to learn is to have a mentor who demonstrates, and then you strive to imitate the same moves, pacing, and manipulations.

Years ago I was a part of Advanced Studies on the Performance Art of Clown with Frosty Little and Leon McBride.  One of the most impacting experiences of my clown career occurred during the mime sessions with Jose’ Rivera.  As he led through the mime exercises, we imitated him, and words cannot do justice to what was experienced and learned in those mime sessions.

Imitation is what apprenticeship was all about.  How does one learn to drive a car?  bake a cake?  play an instrument?  By imitating someone else who does it well.  Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery and is an incredible educational tool.  

A word about performance material:  There is a difference between duplicating and imitating.  Standard dealers items and routines in book form, etc., are open to all for use.  Other performer’s original material is not open for duplicating.  They worked hard to hone their material to bring it to the point of excellence they’ve achieved.  They’ve invested much.  Don’t simply take their material and act like its yours!   It’s fine to imitate another’s style, but please don’t take their material.

Realize, a smart person learns from his own mistakes.  But, a wise person learns from the mistakes of others.  Listen to others.  Learn from others.  Be a student.  Copy a master to learn the techniques you may combine with the talents and insights God has gifted you with.

Christians should take this same advice to heart.  Paul said that he tried to provide an example for the believers to follow (2 Thessalonians 3:9, Philippians 3:17).  Jesus said, “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19).   Ephesians 5:1 instructs us to  “..be imitators of God....”   We don’t have to try to figure this whole spiritual thing out on our own.  Jesus came to give us the example.  He’s the Master Teacher.  Read about him.  Talk with him.  Spend time with him.  Imitate him in all you do!

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...” (Hebrews 11:2).