Practice, Prepare, Perform—Then What?

After a big performance or competition, performers can feel a little let down because what they have been striving for is completed.   Rather than move right on to the next goal, why not stop and assess?  After a major recital, competition, or audition is an excellent time for performers to check in with how they are doing.  If you’re thinking, I thought that’s what the performance or competition tells me, you’re partly right.  However, serious performers need to take time to reflect on their performing—time to assess whether the strategies they are currently using are allowing them the most growth or do they need to adjust or address various issues or challenges for future growth.   Post-performance is prime learning, refining, and growing time.

When reflecting on your performing, be sure to address the key mental skills that enable you to perform freely, easily, and expressively.  These include attitude, goal setting, motivation, commitment, focus, self-talk, imagery, emotional control, courage, trust, and acceptance.  To jump-start your assessment, start by answering the following questions about your recent performance, competition, or audition:

1. What was my mindset in preparing for and performing?  Am I focused on learning and improving or am I focused more on winning and proving myself or impressing others?  check out:   What Motivates You Scale
2. Am I in the habit of setting goals that are focused on my growth as a performer or goals that focus on the outcome of my performances?  Performance Anxiety and Supreme Goals
   
3. Am I really committed to sacrificing and doing whatever it takes to reach my goals?  check out:  Focus On What You Can Control
   
4. Do I maintain focus on what is within my control—my effort, effective practice and preparation strategies, good planning, and seeking help when I need it—or does my focus drift to uncontrollables such as what others are thinking, how I compare to others, and whether I am impressing others?  check out:  Focus for Peak Performing 
   
5. Do I regularly encourage and affirm myself when I am practicing and preparing for a performance or do I let my doubts take over my thinking?   check out:  The ABCs of Self-Talk  and Your Self-Talk—Friend or Foe?
   
6. Have I been using imagery or mental rehearsal—vividly visualizing (intensely seeing, hearing, feeling in real time) my practice and performing prior to my performances to help keep me calm or to increase my intensity? check out:  Mental Rehearsal Can Work for You, Pt. 1 and Mental Rehearsal Can Work for You, Pt. 2
   
7. When I start to feel anxious or fearful, do I embrace this feeling as excitement and readiness to perform or do I let it overtake me and cause me to doubt myself and my skills?
8. Do I consciously direct my will to overcome doubt and fear?  check out:  Take Control of Your Confidence
   
9. Do I usually rely on my preparation and shut off the practicing, critical voice while I am performing?  check out:  What About Your Inner Game?
   
10. Am I able to accept my performances without regard to “right” or “wrong” and afterwards determine what went well and what I need to attend to in order to improve?

The answers to these post-performance questions will give you a world of information and feedback that you need about yourself and your performing in order to take stock and determine the important next steps in your journey.  When performers compete or audition, it can so often be all about the destination—the outcome.  When we remind ourselves that our performing is a lifelong journey, we can keep these performances in perspective.

Want to learn more about how to develop your own unique pre-performance routine and the most effective mindset?  Then, check out The Relaxed Musician Program:  Mental Preparation for Confident Performances, A 14-Day Plan   Download Day 1 workbook and audio to see how the program can work for you.  With purchase, you will receive 2 great bonuses—Your Pre-Performance Checklist and the e-book, Letting Go of the Need to be Perfect!