Yesterday was the first band practice I took the mic out of the stand and sang with just the mic. It was a revelation. Eventually.
First it felt very scary and exposed. Then I realised I didn’t have to stand up straight, I didn’t have to hold my arms up across my ample busom. I could move around!
Movement is expression, I started smiling, moving my one arm out to my side, opening my chest, lifting my ribs. I could suddenly get more air and that high note I’d been drifting around for ages? I belted it out, I nailed it and the other folks in the band? They noticed (and complimented me, thanks guys 🙂 )
Hiding or propping myself up is easy and safe. It’s something we frequently do to make things ‘quicker’ or easier on ourselves. Props can be tools, practises, services and often people. Blindly relying on dodgy dropping if stands, unmaintained tools, ill fitting practises, out of date services is not going to help progress in the short term or the long run. Assuming that an expert in one field knows absolutely everything, is completely up to date and is senior in every field is darn risky to say the very least.
Not hiding ourselves is scary to start with, we are exposed and seem vulnerable: a bit like butterflies just hatching. But. Not hiding gives us so much more room to play, to experiment, presents us with the freedom to be the biggest and best form of ourselves. We can give so much more, share what we really know and understand.
Coming out from behind the mic stand is much easier than spending hours trying hit a note that a restricted set of lungs will never be able to produce.
So what are you hiding behind that holds you back?