Emotion in performances

My PERSONAL perspective of why i love what i do and to show my appreciation for being able to touch peoples lives, just doing what i love.

In the years I have been performing, I as an individual have experienced so many things good and bad. I have lost a partner and felt the enormity of the task of being a single parent. I have also met the someone who has become the love of my life and has lifted me to new heights. I have felt the most intense sadness, incredible happiness and the most powerful, consuming love. In the writing to follow I will try explain to the best of my limited writing ability, how this has helped me as a singer/artist.

For more than a decade that I have been performing for people from literally EVERY walk of life, something seemed to click in me during my performances over this weekend (28 – 30 Sep 2018). For some reason I watched every person in the 3 audiences for which I performed. Each venue was unique and completely different from the other. For some reason I seemed to be more attuned than ever before. I felt a close connection to each and every person in front of me. It was an incredibly emotional weekend and I was privileged enough to be the person chosen to provide them with music and I can honestly say it was the most genuine, emotional and satisfying performances to date. Through the most special moments like: The appreciation of a mother who tragically lost a child, to the love of a young girl (no more than 5 or 6) who so proudly gave me a little heart sweet and took a photo with me. Things like this, though incredibly emotional to me is why I do what I do.

The reason I feel this is music can be one of the most personally rewarding and satisfying pastimes or careers in which a person can be actively engaged. Some of us are musical connoisseurs, and others have had a passing or periodic infatuation with music, while others just have a inbuilt and genuine love of music. Those of us who are incredibly privileged to participate actively can either do so as amateurs or as professionals (both I feel are incredibly rewarding in their own right). So whether we are involved in music for love or for money (or even both!), most of us (artist or listener)would have to agree that music is basic to our human design, nature and behaviour that has a considerable emotional effect. Every day of our lives, the power of music is so visible. On a personal level I see this in the attention that my little girl gives to music and the movements and vocalizations that she makes at such a young age (one and a half). I see this in the way that my boys engage in music as part of their daily games and sometimes just without even realizing that they are doing it. I have also experienced this in how music shapes my identity during my teen years, and ultimately how the role music plays in my adult life and as a parent. I think that this is why so many choose to be involved with music more actively through learning to play an instrument or seeking opportunities to sing wherever possible.

As with any profession, motivation for involving yourself in music involves way more than just a feeling of wanting to do it. Musicians who complain that they are 'not motivated to practise' or that they won’t perform (and even sometimes try to learn and perfect) a specific song for a person in the audience are far more likely saying that it does not sound enjoyable to them or have just a lack of general motivation and a far more likely to sit stagnant and never progress a musical career. Personally I decide to practise in spite of this feeling at times, knowing I will feel the a sense of accomplishment or satisfaction afterward, especially if you get the response you were hoping for from that audience member. If the response isn’t what I was hoping for, I’ll take it as constructive criticism (though admittedly it’s easier said than done).

Performing for an audience seems to give me particularly intense and heightened emotional reward. This is why I personally love to make music the focus of a career, instead following another path of a music lover/enthusiast or amateur, even it is definitely true that playing music for the sheer love of it can be deeply satisfying. Basically the point of what I am rambling on is that this kind of love of performing (whatever mood one is in) completely distinguishes as the mark of a true performer whose engagement with music adds value to the listeners (young and old) quality of life lived while performing. I feel a deep connection with music both emotionally and intellectually and this is the core foundation from which I have choose to embark on an active, rollercoaster ride and lifelong involvement with music along with the success and recognition. And I promise to never give up even through had times and disappointment.

I just want to say thank you to each and every one of you that have shown appreciation, and have been a part of my journey over the years. You are all the reason I do what I love. No matter how small the part that someone has played (Like the mother and the little girl today) I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for allowing me this opportunity. Also to all the venues that have given me a chance even without knowing me.

Just keep watching this space. Special things to follow in the not too distant future 😊