Tue, 29th April 2025
Make sure they hear your steps
My singing teacher once told me: “When you are about to go on stage, make sure they can hear your steps before you come in. The audience needs to hear your confidence before they can see you.”
At the time, I thought she was being dramatic – very “diva.” But I was a good student and to this day, I still put my foot down with intent every time I walk onto a stage. It’s an automatic pilot thing. The routine goes: I put one foot down and I immediately think: “Was that too loud? Oops, too late now.”
The irony is that I totally get my teacher’s advice now. And I choose to continue doing this symbolic step not to be heard – but to arrive fully. To claim the space that holds the work, the nerves, the power, the message.
Because the real preparation for stepping into any spotlight – whether that’s a stage, a conversation, or a new chapter – starts long before we get there. Before the first word or note, there’s breath work, grounding, presence, intention, sometimes tears, and many times (almost all the time) voices in your head trying to remind you of a million reasons things that could go wrong…
Showing up begins long before we are seen. And the preparation for the next one starts immediately after we leave the stage.
There are no guaranteed great next performances, I’m afraid. But that’s the nature of being a performer: put your face out there every time, share your best, and reset for a new day tomorrow.
And maybe that’s the real art—not just performing, but choosing, again and again, to step into our own “stages” fully, well-prepared, and with courage.
Loud steps or soft ones, I believe the lesson here is to make sure they are – unapologetically – our steps!
Try This Practice.
Before your next big moment, ask yourself: What energy do I want to walk in with?
A Note from the Greats
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realise this, and you will find strength.”
– Marcus Aurelius
Backstage Picks
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance | Angela Lee Duckworth | TED
Quote You Didn’t Know You Needed
“I really like being human, but sometimes I wish I could be a fairy.” – Greta, age 4.
Until next time. Remember to breathe deeply and sing boldly.
Forward this to someone who could use a little more courage before they take their next leap.
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