Making Faces
Set a timer for five minutes, sit in front of a mirror, and make the strangest faces you can.
The Details
When you’re finding a time and space to do this make sure that you will be uninterrupted. Having someone walk in on you while you’re practicing your faces might be awkward and that awkwardness might make it harder for you to try again. On the other hand, this act could be a lot of fun if you did it with someone. That way the two of you will be able to play off of each others faces.
Push yourself as far as you can with your faces. Use your hands, twist your head to weird angles, and do whatever else contorts your face into new expressions. If you’re having trouble starting think of various emotions, happy, sad, angry, etc. and make the faces for each emotion.
What’s the Point?
The majority of communication happens not through words but through body language. Face expressions are an important part of this. Everyone makes facial expressions and reads into facial expressions that other people use. By watching the way your face works you will not only have better control of your face, you’ll be better at understanding the emotions you convey with your face and the emotions you read from others.
Having control and being aware of your facial expressions can also help in public speaking, meeting new people, and telling jokes. Timing is especially important when using facial expressions, so when you’re making faces at yourself in the mirror make sure that you surprise yourself with big expressions or move slowly from on expression to the next.
The Next Step
Choose a comedian and watch them specifically paying attention to their facial expressions. You’ll notice that professional comedians can do the most incredible things with their faces on demand. Once you’ve watch them for awhile, practice your expressions again and try to create the same combination of timing and facial expressions that most good comedians utilize.