Even though I’m an eternal optimist, I know that mistakes are inevitable. Live musical events
often happen in less than ideal conditions. There are many factors involved that can result in
random accidents and unforced musical errors.
Accidents are unwelcome events that happen due to external circumstances in the physical
world. They just happen. However, many musical mistakes in live performances and recording
sessions can be anticipated and hopefully prevented. Prevention requires a better
understanding of these unforced errors and exploring potential ways to diminish them.
Some of the mistakes that musicians make on stage or in a recording session are not accidents.
These mishaps are created consciously or unconsciously by individual performers, and what
they do, or fail to do, in the time leading up to the performance. A lack of readiness,
confidence, focus, emotional stability, and especially insufficient personal power, will cause you
to create mistakes in reality. For example, you might entertain thoughts about the worst
possible scenarios long before you show up to the gig. These potential errors will more likely
happen when thought about beforehand.
So what takes your personal power away? Many things, including fear, doubting yourself, not
trusting your talents/training/abilities, negative thinking, feeling helpless, or claiming that
things are out of your control. Those ideas argue against your own personal power and ability
to make the right things happen. Arguing against your capabilities will negatively affect your
inner drive, self-confidence, and perceived competence to accomplish the things that you need
to do to be successful.
You can strengthen your personal power by being accountable for all of your thoughts, beliefs,
emotions, actions, and results. Taking full responsibility for all of these things is not easy. It
takes a paradigm shift from thinking that many things are out of your control to believing that
you are solely responsible for bringing your conscious intentions into reality.
Choose to focus on doing your best regardless of external circumstances, or anyone else around
you. Realize that your real power does not come from outside of yourself, but from within. It is
fueled by a strong desire for excellence, with confidence in yourself beyond any doubt.
Decide that you are going to take full responsibility on a daily and continuing basis for
everything that you have control over. Focus on the specific activities, projects, tasks, thoughts,
beliefs, and behaviors that will lead to performing your best. These include your physical and
mental practice habits, your daily routine, are well as diet, exercise, sleep, and rest.
Once you become accountable for everything under your control, you can stop looking for
excuses or someone to blame for your mistakes. When you’re willing to acknowledge your role
in making mistakes, you will make less of them. Imagine ahead of time just the way that you
intend the performance to go. Create it flawlessly in your mind first then realize it in reality.
When you’re speaking to friends or colleagues about the upcoming event, use only optimistic
language. Don’t even joke about anything other than doing your best. Commit ahead of time to
being responsible for everything that will be under your control at the event, and accept the
rest. Arrive at the venue early. Get ready. Focus on performing your best. Trust yourself, as well
as your talent, training, and experience. Once you start, keep your mind in the continuing
present moment and on the music.
