Music is such a universal expression. There is a chord that binds every heart in the world. I remember when I went to see Bobby McFerrin in concert. All that he needed to “wow” the crowd was these three things: himself, the mic and the spotlight. I have never had as much fun at a concert as I did that evening.
I realized that you must find that confidence in yourself to trust. It can be difficult but it can be done. In our lives, we must own every one of our failures and every one of our successes. These become the voices in our head that haunt us when we perform before an audience. Trust or confidence comes when we are prepared to dare and not compare the two.
The “Mic” as we singers call it or microphone to others is the conduit or the channel to our audience. This is our connection. Ever notice that when were young and if see a microphone, we always wanted to say something in it and hear ourselves “out loud”? You are fortunate if you have never lost that curiosity or have never separated yourself from that child-likeness. Sadly, some of us lose that along the way as life plays its game on us. This is never meant to hurt us. We all want to succeed at anything that we do. Singing is just such an innate experience and sometimes we have to be shielded from the insults and onslaughts of others who really don’t understand the joy and satisfaction that singing in the “mic” brings.
The spotlights make everything so personal. Shakespeare once wrote that “the whole world is a stage”. The spotlight follows you everywhere on stage that you go. If you’ve ever been there, the light is so bright on you that you cannot see the audience. However, you can feel that there is something out there beyond the floor lights-an energy that encourages you to dare to be loud and courageous. Sometimes you just don’t realize that everyone in the audience wants to have the courage that you have. Every mistake that you will make, someone in the audience can relate and is pulling for you to come through and sing your best. That is something that you can trust is true.
Yes, you need yourself, the mic and the spotlight but most importantly, you need an audience that cheers and pushes you to be the best singer that you can be. Please know that I am that person for you. I can relate to your mistakes because I have made many, I know your struggle. I am that audience of one beyond the spotlight. Sing on.
S.LIFE 