Carmen McRae discusses inherent versus learned skill

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Carmen McRae talks about acting

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Carmen McRae discusses highlights of her career

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Q: “I wonder how much of your stagecraft is inherent and how much is learned and experience, because you make it so easy and yet you go to the average club and you see people up there singing, struggling to get an audience’s attention…”

A: “Well, I think that's within the person themself. You know if … I know myself, If I'm sitting in an audience and the performer is assured of themselves and they come out and it's no BS and they have a show to give you and they are not standing up there trying to play your intelligence cheap, I think they would give people all the attention in the world. Because as I said, the prerequisite is that they know who you are to begin with and know your talent and they're coming in to listen to you, you know. So that’s half … you've got half of the battle won already. Now, if you don't carry it on from there, then whose fault is that?”