1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: Have you ever wondered how Broadway stars maintain peak performance 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:08,479 Speaker 1: night after night, how they keep things fresh when they're 3 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 1: doing the exact same routine every single day. Broadway theater 4 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:17,799 Speaker 1: star Andy Carl pulls back the curtains on what it's 5 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: really like to perform eight shows a week, and more importantly, 6 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: how he keeps his performances exciting for himself and his 7 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: audience for every single show. Welcome to How I Work, 8 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: a show about habits, rituals, and strategies for optimizing your day. 9 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Doctor Amantha Imber. On today's Quick Win episode, 10 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 1: we go back to an interview from the past and 11 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:47,880 Speaker 1: I pick out a quick win that you can apply today. 12 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:51,199 Speaker 1: In today's show, I speak with Andy Carl about his 13 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: rituals and processes for maintaining peak performance for months on end. 14 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 2: I think you know, inherent in the nature of theater 15 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 2: and specifically musical theater, repetition is paramount. 16 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,320 Speaker 3: It's eight shows a week. It is a lot of grind. 17 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 2: So you try to get into the repetition of how 18 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 2: you can judge how well you're going to be that day, 19 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 2: whether at eighty percent or one hundred and twenty percent. 20 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 2: As far as vocally physically. So there is the gym, 21 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 2: there is vocal warm ups, so I do a very 22 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:27,479 Speaker 2: strict vocal warm up every day. But I also then 23 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 2: go sing three very different types of songs specifically for 24 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 2: this show because it is so varied in its vocal identity. 25 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 2: So I'll sing a little bit of Sinatra, and then 26 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 2: I'll sing a little Occubis, and then I'll sing a 27 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 2: regular old school tune called Wonderful from and it gets 28 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 2: your gun. So I just can utilize every inch of 29 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 2: my vocal range because this show does take a lot, 30 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 2: and I do that every day. I need being to 31 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 2: get through to give me some excitement. It really gets 32 00:01:57,480 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 2: my adrenaline going at the beginning, and it gets me. 33 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 3: It gets me. 34 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 2: Excited to say the words and be active and know 35 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 2: how flexible I am for certain moves that I'll do 36 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 2: on stage because it's very physically active as well. For 37 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 2: any of your listeners who are speakers who have to 38 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:14,920 Speaker 2: do lots of speeches, I'm sure you do a lot 39 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 2: of speaking. You realize the caffeine's great, but you got 40 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 2: to have a glass of water nearby, so. 41 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 4: You're singing those three songs. 42 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: Are there any little vocal warm up hacks that like me, 43 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 1: immortals like may. 44 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 2: To discover during one show in Jersey Boys, that if 45 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:34,679 Speaker 2: I can warm my voice by going as deep as 46 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 2: I possibly can, because you know, the show is very high. 47 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 2: But if you extend the ranges of your voice and 48 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 2: really make sure that you know how deep you can go, 49 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 2: and then start building up and going as high, it 50 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 2: really gives the flexibility of your entire vocal cord. Your 51 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:52,080 Speaker 2: vocal cords are a muscle, and they do need exercise, 52 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 2: and they do need to stay lubricated and loose as well, 53 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 2: So it's really important to extend the upper range and 54 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 2: the lower range. 55 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,639 Speaker 4: There any exercises that you do to improve the fitness 56 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 4: of your diaphragm and just breath work and he routines 57 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 4: around that, Yeah. 58 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 3: Certainly, crunches, you do those. 59 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:16,639 Speaker 2: I find all my physical activity just inherently helps everything 60 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:20,919 Speaker 2: about my voice, everything my posture, everything about my ability 61 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 2: to present myself well on stage. I think Phil Connor's 62 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 2: the role that I'm playing, changes posture due to the 63 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 2: circumstances that he's in. I certainly stand pretty stoic in 64 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 2: the beginning and then proud when I'm delivering a Weatherman speech, 65 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 2: and when he falls into the repetition. 66 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 3: Of each day that he is. 67 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 2: Now finding to be a nightmare, I start to hunt 68 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 2: over as Phil and sort of lose my ability to 69 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 2: stand up straight and be presentable and powerful. So do 70 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 2: those crunches lift those weights. I'm not saying you have 71 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 2: to be a bodybuilder. I find weightlifting to be very helpful, 72 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 2: and yoga I do free other day, So elasticity and 73 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 2: strength and power is where I come from. 74 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: Now, I feel like an obvious question to ask, given 75 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: you are in Groundhog Day, which involves repeating the same 76 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 1: thing the same day, many many times, how do you. 77 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 4: Keep it fresh? 78 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: I was at a Christmas party chatting to a performer 79 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: and he'd been doing The mouse Trap for the whole 80 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 1: of the year, and he said that every night is 81 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: a different show because it's a different audience and it's 82 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 1: a completely new experience. 83 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 4: And really I love that answer because I. 84 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:34,600 Speaker 1: You know, the certain keynotes that I deliver as part 85 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 1: of my work, and sometimes before a keynote, I'm like, oh, 86 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 1: my goodes, this is the hundredth time I've delivered this, 87 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 1: and I have to somehow mentally reframe the situation, and 88 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: I'd love to know how do you get yourself into 89 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 1: the zone and make it exciting when it's like the 90 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 1: seven hundredth performance of Groundhog Day that you've done in 91 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: your career. 92 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 3: It is a fresh audience. 93 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 2: Every note so or is an undying passion for an 94 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 2: audience to understand what I understand, which is how funny 95 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 2: things are and the sum up parts will eventually tell 96 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,720 Speaker 2: this story, which I find so profound, which is why 97 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 2: I'm doing it so much. It's another level of repetition 98 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 2: to perform a show that is about repetition, and the 99 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 2: philosophy behind it is if you are stuck in the 100 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 2: same thing, doing it over and over again, what can 101 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 2: you find? Just by sheer storytelling, we end in a 102 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:33,480 Speaker 2: place of finding presence and happiness in the moment, And 103 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 2: in order for me to get there, I have to 104 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 2: have the intention of the entire story or I'm not 105 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 2: going to end in the place that is what the 106 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 2: story is really about. 107 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: Ah Andy, I'm so glad we could make this interview happen. 108 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 1: As I moved through my life, I'm always just trying 109 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: to take note of the people that I'm super impressed 110 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: by or that move me in some way, and when 111 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,600 Speaker 1: I saw you perform in Groundhole Day few weeks ago, 112 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 1: I just thought I need to interview him. I want 113 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:05,599 Speaker 1: to hear more about his story. And for anyone that 114 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 1: is listening at the right time and is in Melbourne 115 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 1: or can get to Melbourne, you just you have to 116 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 1: see Groundhog Day. It's one of the best musicals I've 117 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: ever seen. I'll be back again in the audience in a. 118 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 4: Few weeks time. 119 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: Andy, thank you so much for sharing your fascinating strategies 120 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 1: and amazing stories with me here today. 121 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 3: I appreciate Amantha, thanks so much for having me. 122 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 2: It comes to you the show and you'll see somebody 123 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 2: who's actually a little bit Groundhog Dan side of Groundhog Dan, 124 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 2: and I'm having fun with it. 125 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 1: I hope you enjoyed today's quick Win episode. If you 126 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 1: would like to hear the full chat with Andy, you 127 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: can find a link to that in the show notes. 128 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: If you're looking for more tips to improve the way 129 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:47,479 Speaker 1: you work can live. I write a short weekly newsletter 130 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 1: that contains tactics I've discovered that have helped me personally. 131 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 1: You can sign up for that at Amantha dot com. 132 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: That's Amantha dot com. If you like today's show, make 133 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: sure you hit full on your podcast app to be 134 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: alerted when new episodes drop. How I Work was recorded 135 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 1: on the traditional land of the Warrangery people, part of 136 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: the Kulan Nation. A big thank you to my editor 137 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: Rowena Murray and Martinimma for doing the sound mix.