Being Centered
We can begin with the most basic awareness skill, being centered. The experience of many actors and singers is that they suffer from terrible stage fright until the moment they walk on stage, when suddenly they fall into a groove – despite their nerves, great performers like Olivier and Pavarotti, two notable sufferers from stage fright, showed total command of their art before the public. What causes such an instantaneous transformation? A combination of things:
1. They became self-possessed.
2. Nervousness turned to calmness inside.
3. A practiced skill took over, as if on its own.
4. They found themselves totally focused in the moment.
These are the ingredients of being centered. The last one is probably the most important. Before a performer steps on stage, there’s no demand to be present, to live in the moment. This gives wiggle room for nerves, queasiness, pacing back and forth – all signs of distraction. But to sing or act before an audience demands that you be present; it’s make or break. If your mind/body knows this, and if you have learned through repetition to meet the demand of the present moment, getting centered comes automatically.
How the stage terrible fright disappeared or transform into performance? Singer drop all their fright and focus in the present moment what he need to act. His energy of fright transform into performance.
How should we train ourselves to be centered, so we can transform our energy? First, take an objective look at the traits you’d see in someone who is very good at it already. Such a person
– Puts his entire attention on the action at hand
– Remains calm in the midst of crisis and chaos.
– Rises to our best under pressure.
– Absorbs new information quickly.
– Keeps ourselves self-possession.
– Doesn’t retreat from the moment.
– Isn’t easily distracted.
– Finds it easy to stay in the flow
