Whoops! You’re in a directed session for a dream client and you just flubbed up the one line that matters most. One of three scenarios begins to play out. Which one do see yourself slipping into?
Scenario #1
“Nice going!” your inner critic chides. Immediately, you reset because you’re a professional and–Did you even prep the copy before the session? That inner critic’s icy voice intones. You did prep. Of course you did. All ears are waiting for you to continue. You take a drink of water, adjust your cans, take a deep breath and – remember, it’s, “for a limited time” not, “forthimited mick” your inner critic disdainfully directs.
Scenario #2
“After this, I have set up some time with my coach,” you tell yourself. You are, after all, a professional. And don’t forget: You also need to send off that invoice…OH! And, you need to change the batteries in the family room smoke detector. You make note of these things because if you don’t you’ll forget and then that’ll be a whole thing in the next session which is at 11:00 am Pacific – is Pacific one hour behind me or two? Meanwhile, the producer and engineer have returned from their side conversation with the client and are patiently waiting for you to resume.
What is happening in these scenarios? You’re time-traveling – you are a victim of what I call the Marty McFly Effect. But, instead of escaping the past and getting back to the future, you have to fight the pull of both to remain in the present.
The past is chock full of “shoulda-coulda-woulda”, while the future is a pothole-laden highway of what-ifs, maybes, and hopes. In both scenarios, your mind is allowing mistakes to weigh you down in the past or catapult you into a future – and you cannot control either one. And yet, you will try and in so doing, you will remain displaced from the present moment.
Say “flux capacitor” five times fast – now that’s a good vocal warmup!
So, how do you avoid the Marty McFly Effect?
Scenario #3
“I’m a professional,” you remind yourself. “I can do this – remember: choose to live in and with your mistakes, not let them weigh you down or distract you with their shininess.” your inner coach says calmly.
“Forthiming mick!”, you say aloud, chuckling. “That’d be a good one to submit for the One Voice Awards. Okay, let me come at this a little differently.”
“Whenever you’re ready,” the engineer says. “Dream Client, take two…”
And off you go.
Finding Your Present & Taking the First Thing
I’m not going to lie: this isn’t easy. It takes practice and effort and faith in yourself. Mistakes are not the enemy – they are opportunities. When a flub happens, most humans will either hold on to the anchor of the past weighing themselves down in it, or try to drive the moment into their most enviable future. Instead, try to acknowledge the mistake – briefly examine it to see if there’s any gems to take away from it – and then, move on into the present moment. Putting 100% of your attention on the right now is powerful, cathartic, and full of magic.
Here’s a little exercise I like to use with my students to help them practice being in the moment. I call it “Taking the First Thing”.
Next time you’re out and about or you’re in the studio and you’re feeling displaced, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and allow your mind to clear. Then, count to three and when you open your eyes you’re going to say (outloud) the very first thing you see. Now here’s the important part: you cannot get this wrong – there’s no such thing as a mistake with this exercise – nobody is coming around to check over your shoulder to see that you chose the correct first thing you see.
What usually happens is that my students want to please me by being clever or right. They’ll take a deep breath, close their eyes, and then open them to say…nothing, or they hesitate, searching for the thing they think I’m looking at or a thing that no one else would think to say. In both cases they are seeking to change the past or anticipate a future.
Try it right now: close your eyes, take a deep breath, then open your eyes and say the very first thing your attention is drawn to out loud. I’ll go first…KEYCHAIN!
Be Human
Acting is the name of the job, but no one wants to see you acting. Being human is what audiences want to experience. Being the best human you can be on stage, on camera, or behind a microphone requires that you’re 100% in the moment, ignorant of the silent faces watching you on stage or the gear and lights and booms all over the set or of yourself in your booth staring at your pop-filter wondering if you said “forthimited mick”.
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