Embracing Your Inner Rock Star
You realize that these girls are going either quietly or loudly sort of crazy. And you’re thinking, “Well, this is good. You know, this is something else.” At that age, you’re just so impressed, especially if you’ve been rather shy before. – Mick Jagger, 1995
I’ve got a rock star inside me, just waiting to be unleashed. Don’t you? According to my research, many of the greatest performers – from Mick Jagger to Michael Stipe – have struggled with shyness and insecurity, yet learned to channel that energy into an electrifying stage presence.
So how can we, as aspiring musical theater performers, tap into that same wild, uninhibited charisma? I’m about to share some insights I’ve gathered from the experts.
Break Free from Expectations
One key lesson I’ve learned is that rock stars aren’t naturally more confident or charismatic than the rest of us. They simply learn to push through their insecurities until the charisma starts to ooze out of their pores. My Forbes colleague Ruth Blatt explains that many of them are actually “painfully shy people who learned to embrace the stage as a refuge from a painful real world.”
I can totally relate to that. Sometimes, the stage feels like a safe space where I can be my true, unapologetic self – free from the constraints of everyday life. It’s like putting on a different persona, as Blatt describes with artists like Michael Stipe and Patti Smith.
The key is learning to push past those insecurities and let your inner rock star shine. As my friend Raph, a talented songwriter, tells me, “A lot of musicians are shy people…But for some reason, I have an easier time making an ass of myself onstage than making small talk with strangers at a party.”
Embrace the Spotlight (and the Criticism)
One of the hardest parts about being a performer is putting yourself out there, knowing you might be ignored or even booed. But that’s exactly what you have to do if you want to unleash your inner rock star.
As Raph says, “You do need thick skin both on stage and off. I’m not sure a sane person would do it.” I mean, he recounts the story of setting up to play at a coffee house, only to have one of the two audience members loudly announce that he had to leave because there was “some guy here with a guitar.”
Ouch. That’s enough to make anyone want to crawl back under a rock. But the true rock stars don’t let that stop them. As Martin Luther (kind of) said, “If you’re going to sin, at least sin boldly.”
Embrace Your Quirks
One of the things that makes rock stars so captivating is their willingness to embrace their quirks and flaws. They don’t try to smooth out their rough edges – they let them stick out and poke the rest of the world.
I love that idea of just going for it, even if it’s not “perfect.” As the drummer Ed Blackwell told my friend Raph, “If you’re gonna be wrong, at least be loud and wrong.”
It’s the same with musical theater. The audience doesn’t want to see a flawless, robotic performance. They want to see passion, energy, and a healthy dose of your own unique personality.
Make Some Noise
Speaking of going for it, let’s talk about volume. The Forbes article reminds us that “a rock star doesn’t sing better than you, but he does sing louder than you.”
I’ve experienced this firsthand. During my college jazz class, I was a timid bassist, trying to blend into the background. But when the great drummer Ed Blackwell came to sit in, he turned to me and said, “If you’re gonna be wrong, at least be loud and wrong.”
That piece of advice has stuck with me ever since. In musical theater, you can’t be afraid to really let loose and belt it out. Pump up the volume, even if your technique isn’t perfect. The energy and passion will more than make up for any flaws.
Channel Your Inner Firecracker
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “But I’m not a natural-born extrovert like Mick Jagger or Prince.” Well, guess what? Neither were they, at least not at first.
The Forbes article shares how even icons like Jimi Hendrix, Robert Plant, and Bruce Springsteen struggled with shyness, racism, and depression at the outset of their careers. Prince, in particular, “wasn’t even allowed by his record company to go on tour due to his lack of stage presence.”
But they all persisted, and eventually, their inner rock star came out. And so can yours. Even if you have to do a little dance backstage to “instantly turn on your fire,” as my flamenco teacher Rina does, the key is finding a way to tap into that wild, uninhibited energy.
Think of yourself as a firecracker, just waiting to explode onto the stage. Visualize it, feel it, then let it rip. Because when you unleash your inner performer, the results can be truly electric.
Bringing It All Together
Okay, let’s recap the key techniques for unleashing your inner musical theater performer:
- Break free from expectations: Realize that you don’t have to be a natural-born extrovert to be a captivating performer. Many of the greats started out shy, but learned to embrace the stage.
- Embrace the spotlight (and the criticism): Be willing to put yourself out there, even if it means facing rejection or ridicule. Develop a thick skin and let your inner rock star shine.
- Embrace your quirks: Don’t try to smooth out your rough edges. Lean into what makes you unique and let your personality shine through.
- Make some noise: Don’t be afraid to pump up the volume, even if your technique isn’t perfect. The energy and passion will more than make up for any flaws.
- Channel your inner firecracker: Visualize yourself as a wild, uninhibited performer. Do whatever it takes to tap into that energy and let it explode onto the stage.
Remember, you’ve got a rock star inside you, just waiting to be unleashed. So take a deep breath, step into the spotlight, and let your inner performer shine.
And if you ever need a little inspiration, just head over to the Musical Theater Center website. They’ve got all the resources you need to hone your skills and unleash your full performing potential.
