Acting is a regular part of our lives, beginning almost the day we are born. Children imitate a parent or some other grown-up as a way of learning how to function in the world. As we grow older, we assume social roles and personal roles which define our place in the world, and our relation to other people. Drama often illustrates such role playing in theater. While there are similarities between acting in everyday life and acting in theater, the differences are very important. Unlike in everyday life, on the stage actors and actresses are always being observed, and they may be required to play roles they do not play in life. Furthermore, a theatrical performance is always conscious, meaning that the presentation has been rehearsed extensively. Finally, it must always be remembered that dramatic characters are not real people. While there are opportunities for fame, glamour, and financial reward as a performer, these come only as a result of sacrifice, hard work, and discipline. The skills needed in order to make a performance appear natural and easy involve a great deal of training and preparation. Historically, acting has required exceptional vocal and physical skills, including the ability to project elaborate verse into a large auditorium, and the ability to move gracefully, dance, and fence as required.