Q&A for How to Mime

Start with a welcoming gesture, something like waving or pretending to walk against the wind. Once you’ve spotted someone in the crowd, make and maintain eye contact to create a connection. When they’re watching, keep your movements smooth and interesting, but remember to change up your actions to keep them curious, and add humor or familiar scenarios that feel relatable. Remember that as a mime, your charm is all in body language and expressions, so pour energy and enthusiasm into each move to really pull people into your performance.

Your act can be as long as you want, but avoid making it too long, or it will bore your audience. Several short acts, each a few minutes long, will be more entertaining than one long act.

It depends. If you are a street performer, you may get tipped for your performance. If you are being paid for a show, you will probably be paid a lot more. If you are volunteering, you don't except payment.

Smile. Open your eyes widely, hold both hands flat against your cheeks, tilting your head, then finish with a dreamy look.

Showing your teeth is completely fine but make sure not to talk during the process.

Flap your arms to 'put on the table cloth'. Try to flatten it out before you grab the plates from somewhere approximately five steps away. Place the plates down, then look around for the cutlery and place. If you want to, pretend to fill up a glass of water for each plate you got out. Then place. To end it, usher the guests to the table in readiness for their meal.

Pretend to take a brush and powder and start to 'spread' it and pretend to open a mascara bottle and apply it.

Music has no role in mime, as there is no sound in mime; you would call that "pantomime," where there often is music in the background to make for a dramatic performance.

When you mime there is no music. It is an act of using body language to get the story across to your audience, even though there is a lack of sound.

Try thinking of how you would ride one. First, you would mount it, making sure that you lift your leg up and over for effect. Stand on tiptoes in order to convey that you are stopping, and squat slightly to convey when you are driving. Then, curl your fingers around where the "handlebars" are. If you are riding a "bike" then you can move your knees up and down to mimic peddling.

You can wear any single color t-shirt and even use face powder and a little red lipstick to get a light mime look.

Pretend to beg for money and eat cereal or flip pancakes.

You should raise one or both eyebrows and lean your body and head towards the person. Give them a small smile and end with a wink. If you want to, you can snap your fingers and point at them when you wink.

First, you need to think about what you want to do. You could do the classic 'I'm stuck in a box!' or the 'Tree'.

Use body language. Have a larger, more confident stance when healthy. When you're sick, crumple up, have your hand over the "sick spot" (i.e. on your mouth, forehead, stomach, etc.), and have trouble keeping balance. Depending on your "sick spot", it may also help to inaudibly gag or moan.

This depends on your specific school project. Learn a few basic movements, create a routine, and wear a costume.

Act sassy. Put your hand on your hip, glare your eyes, scowl, and point at things and people.

You can mime alone, or perform in a miming group. There isn't a specific number of people who can mime in a group. It is up to you.

Typically you are just supposed to use facial expressions rather than mouthing words when you are miming.

You can be any age, really. Reach for the stars!

The old "person stuck in a box" routine is one of the most memorable miming routines, so I would suggest you go with that one. Make exaggerated facial expressions while you're doing it.

It depends on the individual competition, so you should check the rules before finalizing your act.

Pretend that you're holding a toothbrush. Then smile, showing your teeth and 'scrub' near your mouth.

Use a music box style in order to portray the mime's characteristics.

Just do not talk and act out something. Play charades with a friend or your spouse.

Smile, and hold out your hand, as if to shake the audience's hand.

If you are talking about during a performance, no. This is because when you mime, you should have no props at all.

Act like you were just walking around in very cold and snowy weather. You just walked into a nice warm cabin and you closed the door. You feel a relief. You take off your scarf, and then your coat, and then your other coat under that. You feel cozy, and still warm and nice. When you finally pull off your hat, you notice there is a fireplace. Warm your hands in front of it.

Wear all black if you don't have the clothes. Black is professional and good for almost any situation.

You could shrug your shoulders while gesturing or mimicking in a way that poses your question. It's hard to be more specific without knowing the nature of the question being asked.