A Chance to Fail

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

[font=Verdana][size=2]So I thought I pose this questions – what might you attempt to do, if you were given the “chance to fail” i.e. there would be no negative consequence to the act, other than you might not succeed in your "experiment?"

I am actually facing something like this in the near future. I've always wanted to do a solo lounge act, playing Billy Joel, Elton John-type piano and vocal songs. It is something that I am looking forward to but also something that intimidates the hell out of me. I've been performing in front of people since I was about 8 years old (about 30 years) but, for the most part, it has always been with a group. I've done a few weddings as a solo act but never a full night of entertaining.

The scary part is not being able to judge how it will go over with people that I don't know. My friends all tell me that I should do it and that I'll do well at it but they like me already. I'm a much better keyboard player than vocalist and that is where the fear comes in. I love to sing and some people like my voice. Still, do I take the chance, bear my soul, and risk falling flat on my face?

So, in this case, there really is no negative consequence, other than not being asked to perform again and some heckling, I suppose. Still, as much as I want to take the chance and see what comes of it. I am apprehensive. I keep telling myself that I just need a bit more practice but the fact is, I have about 50 songs ready and I know them all about as well as I ever will. It's just a matter of getting over the fear and taking the next step. I basically need a good shove.

And the thing that keeps popping into my mind is opportunities of the past that I never took advantage of because I didn't feel I was good enough. There are some that I still kick myself for not taking the risk. I don't want to be thinking "what if" one day over something that I have relatively nothing to lose. The one thing that I do know is that every time I have taken a chance, I have felt that I grew as a person. I also know that the people that succeed are generally the ones that have failed many times and bounced back. I know all of this and yet, I still haven't made the commitment to move forward.

Interesting thing, fear of failure is.

[scaeagles]

Mine is a bit along the line of MBC's.

I have a music theory/composition degree. I went to school on a vocal scholarship. Would have rather it been basketball, but there are about a million 6' white boys better than I am. Wasn't as gifted there as I would have liked, but I coach HS ball now, so it's OK. Anyway....

I don't know if this is a regret about something I should have tried long ago or something I'd like to do now.

I'd go the vocal performance route now. I went to school with people that now perform on broadway or sing in NY City opera, and I miss the performance. I paid my living expenses in college doing musical theater and as a singing waiter, and I miss that. It kills me when I see people performing now in a few traveling shows I've seen here in Phoenix when (this is probably pretty arrogant) I know I was better than they were at one point. I'd love to have the chance to perform on a big stage again. Loved it in HS, loved it in college, and I am pretty sure I'd love it now.

I just didn't have the desire then to do the work for vocal performance and loved the mathematical aspects of theory and composition. Counterpoint was so much more fun than private voice lessons. But now.....I don't compose anything and couldn't spell a French 6th chord anymore (much less respell it to change keys), so I almost feel like I wasted my abilities and 4 years of school (with the exception of the degree). But performing.....miss it. Wish I could do it again.