I will always remember that huge bag of mixed feelings that I was carrying around, and that was really getting in the way of my singing career, at the beginning.
There would be joyful anticipation for sure, looking forward to being in those venues, to wearing those dresses, to singing those pieces, to being appreciated and celebrated, all of it so sparkling and glamorous and exciting.
But also, there would be fear. Or fears, in the plural. So many of them!
Like
● fear of failure for example, what if you get it wrong, what if you don’t live up to your own, and other people’s expectations? What if you forget your lyrics, what if you get your timing wrong, what if you can’t hit that high note? This often comes from a fear – or awareness – of being unprepared or under-rehearsed;
● self-doubt, when you don’t believe in your abilities or performing skills in general;
● fear of judgement, and therefore of rejection, the concern about being criticised by the audience, by your friends and family, by your teachers, your colleagues, the people who gave you the gig, critics from the press, or people who might – or might not – offer you future engagements;
● perfectionism, which can be crippling. It usually comes from unrealistic expectations, from chasing an idea of perfection that’s only in your head, and often doesn’t match anyone else’s idea of a good performance;
● fear of embarrassment, when you’re scared you’re going to look ridiculous and make a fool of yourself;
● fear of comparison, when you feel inadequate because you’re comparing yourself to other performers;
● fear of vulnerability, when you’re scared to expose your emotions, your speaking voice, your body language, your looks, in front of others;
● negative self-talk, all those damaging words and thoughts about yourself, that have the power to drag you down, and destroy your confidence;
● negative experiences from past performances, when something went wrong, and you’re scared it will happen again;
● fear of the unknown, when you’re anxious about unforeseen circumstances during the performance…
There might be more, fears and doubts and limiting beliefs can be very personal, and they will vary in intensity from one individual to another. Some will be wide-spread and relatable, some might be yours only, but all of them need to be dealt with in a conscious way, if you are to become a singer, an instrumentalist, a dancer, an actor, and enjoy you career!
When you decide to become a performing artist, you take on a challenge that will help you grow, and transform you.
It will gradually turn you into a superhero version of yourself, because it will force you to outgrow the narrow space of your fears, your doubts, and your barriers.
So, how do you deal with all of that?
You need a combination of tools. First of all, as a classical singer
● you need to build a bullet-proof singing technique. You need to know for sure that your voice won’t let you down, ever, and that your technical skills will allow you to cope with all the many demands of the repertoire;
● you need to learn how to choose your repertoire correctly. Your repertoire needs to be perfect for your voice, and it can literally make you or break you;
● you need a reliable method for learning your music, and polishing it to a point where you can go to rehearsals feeling confident. Rehearsals are for interacting with the other artists, not for learning your stuff!
● you need to start exposing yourself to performance situations in a gradual and logical way.
● you need to work on your mindset. The same way that all the previous points will deal with the physical, objective reality of performing, you will need tools for dealing with the mental and emotional reality of it. Your mindset is exactly as important as your technical skills.
None of them will take you anywhere without the other, they truly are the two facets of an accomplished performer.
Back in the day, when I was spinning around looking for answers and for ways of gaining some confidence, I swore that if ever I got there, I would help others do the same.
My singing journey started 27 years ago. I wasn’t one of those huge natural talents, I had to discover, learn, and conquer every little bit of it. It’s been an amazing journey, and I’ve mapped out all the bumps and the holes of the path. I know where the gremlins hide, I know all the dangerous bends, so if you’re going that way too, let’s have a chat. I’d be honoured to be your guide.