I want to thank
@Rob Edwards for inspiring this post.
So when it comes to performance,the main problem I found artist have a hard time with is letting go during performance.
What I found from my own experience is there are three problems that are going on.Also,I have provided solutions that you can apply right now.So here are three mistakes,and how to solve them.
Attachment: One is attached to their work because its theirs.Understandable,since no one understands us more than us,right?Issue comes when you worry about anything really.For sake of example,peoples approval.And your worry about how they perceive your work to be.One way to balance this is practice art of detachment.When your fully detach,work is no longer yours to control.Its yours to play.Your work is your world.Detach by observing your work,and know people will cherish you,as long as you don't take anything personally.
Pride:Were very prideful of our work.And makes sense,after all we created them.Believe in your work,yet don't let it consume you.I remember my last performance,long story short,I was imagining every cool detail possible.I was in theatre two years prior.And what I never realized at the time,was how I set myself up for failure.And I was the kind of guy that would literally re write the same piece until day of showtime.Yes,be proud of your work,just don't let it consume you.You do this by humbling yourself.This is an opportunity to let your soul speak.And when you remain humble,without settling you become grateful.With that,trust the journey your on. When you let go of pride,burden is lifted and load feels lighter.Mainly because your not your creation.Your the creator of all your creations.
Preparation:Honestly,more you prepare for literally anything you want to do,more calm you are.Imagine an actor going into an audition,being shit scare.What could have happen?Maybe their morning routine was off,forgotten tools they learn,don't know their lines,they haven't read affirmations,Husky ran over their homework.Then second actor who does all those things,AND does everything they needed to stay focus,calm,relax.Who would the Casting Director hire and why?If you chose the answer,isn't it the same as performing poetry?However,do it as a level see saw.Too high,over prepare,could result in stress,and if you cannot handle stress,then don't over prepare.Otherwise,you'll over think.Lack of preparation goes back to the example.Not only stress,but over whelm,not breathing,talking very very fast.In otherwards,just right being you did all you could.So apply any generic self advice you probably heard on the internet.You don't need me to tell you what to apply,since you know you more than I know you.
Now,what if your just doing this for fun?Same rules apply.If your attach and prideful to your work,and don't prepare,how would your performance be?This comes down to the poet,for me,because my desire career path is being an actor,and spoken word artist,I take it seriously.However,because this is fun for me,I enjoy myself alot more by the things I mention. I care about my work,but it doesn't define being human,just enhances me as a human being.And as long as I prepare,remain humble,I'm cool.And ready to let my soul dance by speaking the words I've long search for.
This is a great reflection of what you've learned thus far, Bendy. I don't perform myself, but I definitely apply recitation of a poem to grasp the tone of a poem better. That, and you may have heard the common statement that we hear our voices when we read inside our head. So it only makes sense to recite the poem aloud to yourself in order to hear how others might read the poem.
Also, something worth thinking about when it comes to performance is breathing. It seems like such an intricate and obvious thing, but being able to measure the meter and mix that in with appropriate breathing takes practice. You might have experienced this when reading a line and jumbling up your train of though or mispronouncing something, etc. The best example I can give of this is what rappers do. If you play an Eminem song for example, listen to the pauses in his breathing and for how long he breathes, how much he takes in, and how quickly, or slowly he does it.