Performance Mantras, Part One

An affirmation isn't only defined by "yes."

An affirmation can be a statement of intention or agreement with one's self.

Affirmations can also be negative. Many people affirm their own negative feelings or attributes on a daily/hourly basis.

Typically, those negative affirmations begin with the words "I'm too..." or "I can't..."

Got any of those?

A chant is something that gets repeated over and over. Chants can be fun. "We Will, We Will...Rock You!" comes to mind.

Kobe Bryant just got the MVP.

"M-V-P! M-V-P!"

That's fun, too. Easy for others to chant along.

"Nam Hyo Renge Kyo" for Buddhists...

Just before the cameras would roll, Jack Lemmon would say, "It's magic time."

We all can use a Performance Chant or "Mantra."

My personal one before each performance is "Energy, Attention, Awareness."

Let's see...to perform, I will need a ton of energy. Okay. Good. Got it.

I will also need to pay attention to what is going on at all times so I can stay in the scene, thus becoming an essential element of the storytelling. I need to pay attention so I can stay within the context of the song (no mental drifting). When I pay attention, creativity is present and spontaneous. Paying attention makes performing fun.

Finally, awareness. My consciousness needs to be fully aware of the stage, the lights, the building, the walls, the dimension, the audience, the front row, the back row. This awareness needs to be stored as ongoing background information. We're in the business of play and pretend, but we shouldn't be in denial of our surroundings. Awareness is crucial. Thirty years ago, I was at a live show about a guy in prison for murder. It was called "In The Belly Of The Beast" at the Taper, Too! Andrew Robinson was the star. About ten minutes into it, an audience member in the front row passed out and fell on the stage. Andrew, being in the midst of a very intense monologue, yet also being quite aware, came to the rescue of this person. He didn't try to improv with the guy on the floor. He certainly couldn't ignore it. He was aware. He was aware that he himself was acting, he was aware that he was on stage and he also was aware that another human being was in distress. Andrew even asked, "Is there a doctor in the house?"

Thirty years later, I remember him and his awareness much more distinctly than I can remember the play he was in.

More later.

Addendum: If you don't have a performance today or tonight, but would like to practice a mantra anyway, say this out loud every 30 minutes:

Ready?

"It's a good life."