Optimal anxiety: measuring heart rates during my acting debut

Wearing an heart rate monitor during my debut performance

Apr. 18, 2018 - Willem L. Middelkoop

This month I made my debut as amateur actor. I am no Hollywood star, nor do I envy to become one. But I do like crazy experiments and operating outside of my comfort zone often leads to new and refreshing insights. I took part in an amateur drama play and - in the name of science and fun - strapped myself with sensors to measure what happened to my body.

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Flyer announcing the play — Flyer announcing the play "Zusters in Zaken" by "De Opregte Amateur"

Oh boy... there is no way back when you're face is all around town!

Heart rate during my debut - with annotations explaining what happened

Me playing — Me playing "Broeder Gerard" in "Zusters in Zaken" during my debut as amateur actor

Heart rates during the two performance nights, left my debut, right the second performance

Part from the script with my first few lines of text, me playing — Part from the script with my first few lines of text, me playing "Gerard"

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Creativity Data Experiment Lifestyle Heart People Sensors

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