The Renewed Meaning of Success
I have written this article with mature singers in mind, but you singers who are just starting out may also be interested in this story about the struggle to be discovered.
This week I received notice from several older singers (in their 50′s and 60′s) who were planning to do big-scale auditions and competitions.
Three of them wrote to me with a similar theme. They were wondering why they were still pursuing the wild dream to sing so late in life. One person in particular seemed to be having quite a struggle with her need to be finally recognized for her great talent.
I think it is a common feeling among musical artists.
If you have enjoyed some singing success early in life, you understand the enormous pleasure that comes with performance: the great joy of singing with deep feeling, the thrill of filling a packed room with musical energy, the excitement that comes with the sound of spontaneous applause, the nearly unmatchable feeling when waves of love and admiration pour over you from an appreciative audience. You give your all. And it comes back to you with powerful immediacy.
You imagine that this could be your life! Here is the unique opportunity to do something you love with all your heart, while enjoying some measure of fame and fortune.
It is a powerful and seductive tug at a person’s heart. Especially if you are pretty certain that you have what it takes, – if only that big break could come in time.
Few of us ever hit the big time, and it is not necessarily due to a lack of worthy talent. Instead, it could be due to a combination of other issues that were beyond our control: bad timing, wrong location (we did not live in the right city), family pressures, lack of funding, or ill health at the wrong time.
It could also be due to early-made decisions: a reluctance to be constantly on the road, the fear of taking a major risk, the desire to be free of big-time artistic constraints, or even the fear of eventual success.
And one day, perhaps many years into the career struggle, you realize that you must get practical. You shift gears and move on. Your life changes and it may be a great life. You do well in another job, – have a wonderful family. Your life is full and deep. But somewhere inside, the dream of vocal stardom still sits and waits.
