Critical Skills To Becoming a Performance Artist

Since the advent of the internet, becoming a performance artist has been the dream of many people, both young and old. Both can achieve the goal since the young have the years ahead of them to develop the talent, and the old have the time without family and work obligations getting in the way. Every artist needs time to develop and practice.

There are many kinds of performance art, with the most widely known being acting, music, dance, and poetry. Talent is essential, as is having tough skin. Like it or not, audiences can be brutal critics, and artists must be prepared. If you have a strong desire to put yourself out in the world and perform for others, here are some critical skills needed to help you achieve that goal. 

Develop Skills

Every artist has to have some training, even those seemingly born gifted. The most successful artists are those generally with the greatest desire. They take classes, find a mentor, and stay current on trends. And then they study the history. A solid foundation allows the artist to develop their own style. Before you ever get in front of an audience, you must have a solid understanding of what you are doing and why.

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Identify Your Talents

If you've studied and taken advanced classes, you've probably dabbled in many aspects of your chosen field. Get a feel for what you are good at and continue to study and develop the skill. 

Practice

Practice every day, maybe even for several hours every day. Your passion should drive you to learn and develop your craft. You need your skills highly developed before you get in front of an audience. Once you feel good enough, increase your practice hours. 

Perform

After you’ve achieved a high level of skill and you feel ready, find a small audience. This can be family and friends, church, or even on the street. The goal here is to get some experience performing in front of others. It takes practice to overcome stage fright, but with enough opportunity, you can come to enjoy being in front of others. 

Test the Waters

After you've practiced in front of small audiences and gained some confidence, enter a contest. Local talent shows have nominal prizes, but the real prize is the experience in front of a wider audience and feedback. You must be confident in your desire because you will receive critiques.

Learn to Take Criticism

You'll never make it as a performance artist if you can't handle criticism. This doesn't mean you won't be hurt or angry. It means learning to decipher the good suggestions from the bad. Sometimes critiques are bad because of personal taste, and the person didn't connect with your presentation. But others, though harsh, can have some nuggets of advice. In the early years of performing, it can be hard to distinguish between the two. Reach out to others in your medium, and discuss your concerns. Outside advice can be invaluable. Sometimes it helps to step away from the feedback for a while and then come back and relook at the comments. With distance, things tend to become clearer. 

Continue to Practice

Continue to learn and develop your skills. Even those who perform professionally practice every day. Always stay current on trends. This is not to copy but to learn. New techniques and methods are being developed all the time. Everything you learn becomes a part of your experience, and it will make you a stronger performer. It is commonly quoted; it takes years to become an overnight success. 

Sharing your talents with the world is a wonderful gift. Audiences may not understand the personal sacrifice of time and money you put into learning your craft when giving feedback. The feedback may be direct, and that can sting. But if you are confident in your ability and enjoy performing, you will survive.