Speaker 1Shut up, and sit down. Welcome to Being On Stage, the only podcast that gives you motivation, inspiration, and confidence to be better on stage. No matter how you entertain, sing, dance, band, comedian, public speaking, MC, drag, burlesque, performance art, or street performer, this is the show for you.
Speaker 2Hey Rockstars, Reggie Dawson, host of the Being On Stage podcast. I used to work so hard at perfecting what I was doing on stage. As a matter of fact, seeking out that perfection, it ended up holding me back a little bit because it was never good enough. I felt like it was never quite perfect enough for this contest or that contest. Or it wasn't quite, I wasn't good enough for, you know, to reach that next level or to contact. That venue or to perform in the bigger city. I just was never good enough because I was always striving for perfection. And when I took a step back and I really analyzed and really took a look at what I was doing, I was holding myself back. That drive and that push for perfection, it was crushing my dreams. So I decided that there is no such thing as perfect. There is absolutely no such thing as perfection when it comes to performing. I'm going to tell you why. Perfect means there is no flaws. Perfect means that there is no mistakes. Perfect also means that it's boring. Because the flaws and the mistakes and the little quirks that make it unique and that make it ours, that's what makes it a performance. And that's what creates a connection with the audience. The audience doesn't seek perfection when they come to these shows. If you are trying to be perfect, then you don't need to be perfect. It doesn't give you an excuse to not rehearse. much have to rehearse. You can't go out there and figure, well, if I make a mistake, it is what it is. I'll just get over it. That's not the point of this episode. The point of this episode is while you're working and while you're rehearsing, work on the things that you can work on, but it does not have to be perfect to be put on stage. And once you're on stage, if it's not perfect and the mistakes happen and it is flawed, that's okay. Perfection cannot exist at the same time as your art. If you're so focused on perfection and not on the art and the emotion that goes into it, you might as well be a ballerina in a box. You know, those musical boxes you wind up and the little ballerina just spins in a circle. It's fun to watch for like the first 20 seconds, but then after a while, it's like, all right, I'm done. Close the box. That's what your performance becomes when you're so focused on perfection. It becomes a music box. And you don't want to be a music box because as cute as they are, they only are cute and entertaining for a very short period of time. And your performance is beyond that. Your performance is an extension of you. And my friend, you're not perfect. You can't be perfect. Perfection cannot exist if you're an artist. There's no such thing as perfection on stage. You've got to stop chasing perfection. And start putting yourself out there as you are, who you are, because again, you are not perfect and that's okay. Nobody wants you to be. So stop trying to be perfect and just try being you on stage. Keep on shining.
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