Comments on: Performing is hard. http://www.fameorfamine.com/2006/12/performing-is-hard/ The Performing Arts Blog Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:25:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Heidi Miller http://www.fameorfamine.com/2006/12/performing-is-hard/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Heidi Miller Wed, 06 Dec 2006 18:48:47 +0000 http://www.fameorfamine.com/2006/12/05/performing-is-hard/#comment-91 Sorry, dude, but I gotta disagree with you 100%. Yes, public speaking is hard. Yes, it is a fear that one must work to get over. And one DOES have to get over it if one is going to perform for a living. Public speakers gets nervous and make mistakes. I've done it; I once froze in front of a public speaking class. And I developed techniques for dealing with it, much like a juggler develops witty banter to deal with drops or a Al Gore has a backup plan if the PowerPoint fails. I'm sorry she got nervous. But this is what she DOES FOR A LIVING. She should have done what all performers do--gone through the talk repeatedly beforehand, do some visualization, come up with worst-case scenarios and techniques for dealing with them. That's part of what she is paid for--to deal gracefully with inevitable mistakes. Sorry, dude, but I gotta disagree with you 100%. Yes, public speaking is hard. Yes, it is a fear that one must work to get over. And one DOES have to get over it if one is going to perform for a living.

Public speakers gets nervous and make mistakes. I’ve done it; I once froze in front of a public speaking class. And I developed techniques for dealing with it, much like a juggler develops witty banter to deal with drops or a Al Gore has a backup plan if the PowerPoint fails.

I’m sorry she got nervous. But this is what she DOES FOR A LIVING. She should have done what all performers do–gone through the talk repeatedly beforehand, do some visualization, come up with worst-case scenarios and techniques for dealing with them. That’s part of what she is paid for–to deal gracefully with inevitable mistakes.

]]> By: JPR http://www.fameorfamine.com/2006/12/performing-is-hard/comment-page-1/#comment-90 JPR Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:40:55 +0000 http://www.fameorfamine.com/2006/12/05/performing-is-hard/#comment-90 Stage fright happens, sure. Freezing happens. Corpse-ing happens. Performing in front of a large group, especially when the person whose material you're interpreting is IN that group, is going to be stressful. But, isn't that what rehearsal is for? Isn't that part of what these singers get paid a squillion dollars to do? To be able to step up and sing a song in front of a stadium, arena, hall, bar or living room of listeners? If she was nervous about singing that song specifically, she should have tried to change it. If she was nervous about singing in front of Dolly Parton, she should have addressed that BEFORE stepping out on stage. I'm not trying to put her down as a performer. I can't, really - I've never seen her perform. I just think there's something basic to when you choose to have performing be a part of your life. You do the work, whatever it takes, even if it's hard and unpleasant and sometimes a bit ego-shaking. You do the work, and you protect yourself, your audience & your art. Stage fright happens, sure. Freezing happens. Corpse-ing happens. Performing in front of a large group, especially when the person whose material you’re interpreting is IN that group, is going to be stressful.
But, isn’t that what rehearsal is for? Isn’t that part of what these singers get paid a squillion dollars to do? To be able to step up and sing a song in front of a stadium, arena, hall, bar or living room of listeners? If she was nervous about singing that song specifically, she should have tried to change it. If she was nervous about singing in front of Dolly Parton, she should have addressed that BEFORE stepping out on stage.
I’m not trying to put her down as a performer. I can’t, really – I’ve never seen her perform. I just think there’s something basic to when you choose to have performing be a part of your life. You do the work, whatever it takes, even if it’s hard and unpleasant and sometimes a bit ego-shaking. You do the work, and you protect yourself, your audience & your art.

]]> By: Karl http://www.fameorfamine.com/2006/12/performing-is-hard/comment-page-1/#comment-89 Karl Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:49:12 +0000 http://www.fameorfamine.com/2006/12/05/performing-is-hard/#comment-89 Good post...public speaking IS hard, and it sounds like it was a very different context than what she was used to. I'm just as guilty as the next guy for doing jokes from a bandwagon perspective, here's a raised glass for a different one... ~ K Good post…public speaking IS hard, and it sounds like it was a very different context than what she was used to. I’m just as guilty as the next guy for doing jokes from a bandwagon perspective, here’s a raised glass for a different one…

~ K

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