I was checking my email this evening and found a curious message- someone had posted a comment regarding a video I posted on YouTube years ago. It was not a very nice message, and it shook me to my core.
This person said that I was singing a song, not reading a letter, and that I needed to entertain. First of all, why entertain? That is not the purpose of art. The purpose of art is to confess, to tell a story, and I believe I did that in the best way possible.
Still, that didn't keep me from scouring the internet trying to find out who wrote the message. My attempts were in vain- while I had a few ideas, I had absolutely no firm evidence.
Eventually I was left asking myself, 'Why? Why do I care so much? Why does one person's opinion have so much weight?', and I realized that it's because that criticism could have been coming from me. Those are the kinds of things I tell myself day in and day out, despite the fact that they are lies. Not every performer is the same; while it is certainly important to find your own voice (which I had not yet done at the time of recording the video), not everyone has to 'sell the song', so to speak.
Over the years (and especially over the past few months), I have developed a performance style that is uniquely my own by acknowledging, accepting, and embracing those very things the commenter criticized. I am not comfortable being in the spotlight, forced to entertain, and I embrace that by bringing my quiet energy to the audience.
I believe that this commenter made a mistake by commenting on such an old video and judging me where I was in the past.
And I almost made a grave mistake by allowing the comment to unravel me. I am not the same person I was then.
So what did I eventually do? I re-watched the video and allowed no judgment but my own, which I am proud to say was encouragement for being true to myself even then and also for having come so far, then I posted a simple reply: michagoolsby.bandcamp.com
I am who I am becoming.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Triumph and Grief
It wouldn't be a real blog, or at least a real chronicle of my life if I didn't share the heartbreak as well as the triumphs. So here goes.
I auditioned for a show the other day, and I got a callback! It was awesome. Then yesterday, I completely fell apart at the callback (I'm exaggerating- but I sang too operatically, I didn't connect to the character I was playing, etc.). Needless to say, I didn't get the part (not even an understudy). I'm not sure yet what this experience has taught me. I kind of want to just give up on acting altogether. And that may not be a bad thing, for now.
Maybe part of being a self-nurturing artist is knowing when to cut your losses and go home. Maybe I'm giving up too easily. l don't really know where to go from here. I gave so much of myself for that audition, and I feel so empty now. It's the same way I feel after I play a show and no one tells me I did a good job, except with shows I've received enough positive feedback and I am confident enough in myself that I just go out and book another show (although that's not entirely true- Boston was a real setback for me, and I haven't booked any shows since because of my experiences there- even though I got some positive feedback).
My boyfriend tells me I should do my own thing. But isn't that too easy? Isn't that taking the easy way out? If I do something that comes easily and naturally, I feel like I'm cheating. And besides, I'm so afraid of being labeled a singer-songwriter. It makes me feel as though I'm a jack of all trades and master of none.
I want so much to be great at SOMETHING. Something I value. Today I feel as though I'm not great at anything, I'm just mediocre and probably less than that. So what do I do now? What is the most self-nurturing thing to do?
Well, I played piano and wrote a little song... that was nice. I have been presented with the opportunity to take piano lessons with a friend who is currently studying Chopin and Rachmaninoff. Maybe that's where I should go next. I think I still want to act, eventually, but I don't have any idea how I can do it without the trials of auditioning. And right now, I don't know how to process a bad audition. I guess I'll leave it alone for now.
I actually feel a little better now. Still very much daunted, but at least I'm trying my best to take care of my unbelievably sensitive artist's soul.
I auditioned for a show the other day, and I got a callback! It was awesome. Then yesterday, I completely fell apart at the callback (I'm exaggerating- but I sang too operatically, I didn't connect to the character I was playing, etc.). Needless to say, I didn't get the part (not even an understudy). I'm not sure yet what this experience has taught me. I kind of want to just give up on acting altogether. And that may not be a bad thing, for now.
Maybe part of being a self-nurturing artist is knowing when to cut your losses and go home. Maybe I'm giving up too easily. l don't really know where to go from here. I gave so much of myself for that audition, and I feel so empty now. It's the same way I feel after I play a show and no one tells me I did a good job, except with shows I've received enough positive feedback and I am confident enough in myself that I just go out and book another show (although that's not entirely true- Boston was a real setback for me, and I haven't booked any shows since because of my experiences there- even though I got some positive feedback).
My boyfriend tells me I should do my own thing. But isn't that too easy? Isn't that taking the easy way out? If I do something that comes easily and naturally, I feel like I'm cheating. And besides, I'm so afraid of being labeled a singer-songwriter. It makes me feel as though I'm a jack of all trades and master of none.
I want so much to be great at SOMETHING. Something I value. Today I feel as though I'm not great at anything, I'm just mediocre and probably less than that. So what do I do now? What is the most self-nurturing thing to do?
Well, I played piano and wrote a little song... that was nice. I have been presented with the opportunity to take piano lessons with a friend who is currently studying Chopin and Rachmaninoff. Maybe that's where I should go next. I think I still want to act, eventually, but I don't have any idea how I can do it without the trials of auditioning. And right now, I don't know how to process a bad audition. I guess I'll leave it alone for now.
I actually feel a little better now. Still very much daunted, but at least I'm trying my best to take care of my unbelievably sensitive artist's soul.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Beyond the Critcism, then Beyond the Accolades
Wow- it has been a long time since I've last written a post.
There are two reasons for this:
1. I haven't had much to say.
2. When I have had something to say, I have been fearful of judgement.
I feel lost and directionless most of the time, except recently. As of late, I have been finding a more sure footing and I feel grounded. Grounded while allowing myself to keep my head in the clouds. :-)
Still, though, I've been judging myself, and far too harshly. I haven't allowed myself to release any new recordings because they're not 'good enough'. I haven't written any new blog posts because I'm afraid of negative response, or worse, no response at all. I haven't been playing any new shows because of the same things. And one different thing.
I haven't been able to figure out the problem until recently, well, today, actually. I had a conversation with a student that offered me a very new perspective.
It's not just criticism that I'm afraid of. More than that- it's the lack of accolades. You see, criticism is fairly easy to deal with- just develop a thick skin. But there is something far more insidious that strikes truly talented and smart people- the praise.
From a very young age, I have been showered with compliments about my artistic and intellectual talents. At first, I felt embarrassed by them, but then over time, I began to seek them out, more and more and more. They were like a drug. I could never have enough. Until now- I've been working at my career for twenty years and I have, during this time, had episodes of extreme depression and feelings of worthlessness which I am beginning to see are usually triggered by a lack of praise).
So I'm learning now that I have to see not only beyond the criticism, but also beyond the accolades. What does this mean? Well, it means I have to do things out of sheer love for doing them, not because I want to gain anything from them. This is not actually as difficult as it sounds- it's actually much easier than constantly criticising myself for not meeting certain benchmarks I've placed or criticising others for accomplishing their goals faster than I have. It takes away the need for praise so I can write this article and release it like a bird into the wild internet. And it gives me strength to FINALLY finish my recordings and keep in touch with people on my mailing list. Not only that, it gives me the courage to try new things to see if I like them. It gives me permission to fail. Love is a powerful thing, the most powerful thing. And now that I have found and am finding what it is that I love, I don't feel so strong of a need to be accomplished. :-)
I hope this blog post finds you well.
-micha
There are two reasons for this:
1. I haven't had much to say.
2. When I have had something to say, I have been fearful of judgement.
I feel lost and directionless most of the time, except recently. As of late, I have been finding a more sure footing and I feel grounded. Grounded while allowing myself to keep my head in the clouds. :-)
Still, though, I've been judging myself, and far too harshly. I haven't allowed myself to release any new recordings because they're not 'good enough'. I haven't written any new blog posts because I'm afraid of negative response, or worse, no response at all. I haven't been playing any new shows because of the same things. And one different thing.
I haven't been able to figure out the problem until recently, well, today, actually. I had a conversation with a student that offered me a very new perspective.
It's not just criticism that I'm afraid of. More than that- it's the lack of accolades. You see, criticism is fairly easy to deal with- just develop a thick skin. But there is something far more insidious that strikes truly talented and smart people- the praise.
From a very young age, I have been showered with compliments about my artistic and intellectual talents. At first, I felt embarrassed by them, but then over time, I began to seek them out, more and more and more. They were like a drug. I could never have enough. Until now- I've been working at my career for twenty years and I have, during this time, had episodes of extreme depression and feelings of worthlessness which I am beginning to see are usually triggered by a lack of praise).
So I'm learning now that I have to see not only beyond the criticism, but also beyond the accolades. What does this mean? Well, it means I have to do things out of sheer love for doing them, not because I want to gain anything from them. This is not actually as difficult as it sounds- it's actually much easier than constantly criticising myself for not meeting certain benchmarks I've placed or criticising others for accomplishing their goals faster than I have. It takes away the need for praise so I can write this article and release it like a bird into the wild internet. And it gives me strength to FINALLY finish my recordings and keep in touch with people on my mailing list. Not only that, it gives me the courage to try new things to see if I like them. It gives me permission to fail. Love is a powerful thing, the most powerful thing. And now that I have found and am finding what it is that I love, I don't feel so strong of a need to be accomplished. :-)
I hope this blog post finds you well.
-micha
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