Have you been Gremlin'd? Part 1


by Lindsey Benton - Date: 2007-05-22 - Word Count: 516 Share This!

I was talking recently to a group of young artists when I asked them "what might stop you from focusing on your music career goals?" Amongst many other answers, they said "a loss of confidence". Now this isn't the first time that I have heard this response - it is one that I constantly come across working in the music industry.

Many of my clients come to me with this particular issue and want to know how to work through it. Are you also one of those artists, musicians, artist managers or someone else working in the music industry who find that when you lose your confidence, particular 'physical' things happen? For instance:

your throat constricts and you can't singyour hands get clammy and you can't play your guitaryou feel paralysed and you can't walk out on stageyou get a dry mouth and even talking gets to be an issue!your hands shake whilst you're negotiating 'the record deal of the century' for your bandYour loss of confidence can create many different responses on a physical level. But it is another response that I wanted to bring to your attention, which you can work through to ultimately stop those physical symptoms above. I am talking about the 'negative little voice in you head'* that plays on your lack or loss of confidence.

Do you recognise the little voice in your head that says things like:

"Who do you think you are, that you think you can become a great singer songwriter?"

"What makes you think that you can ever win a Brit Award for best female singer?"

"YOU'RE NO GOOD!"

"YOU CAN'T DO THIS!"

This voice in your head that speaks so abominably of your musical talents is, in my line of work, referred to as your 'Gremlin' and it can stop you from achieving and fulfilling your music career goals and dreams. So much so that many, many potential artists have been stopped in their tracks because they believed the little negative voice in their head that says you can't sing or play or that you are no good!

Let me tell you a bit more about your gremlin. Its sole purpose is to make you miserable. It plays on your little insecurities about yourself and/or your abilities, just to keep you in the comfort zone. It doesn't like change and therefore comes out to play whenever you are considering any kind of new venture or progress in your music career or life.

The not so good news is, is that it is nearly impossible to completely get rid of your gremlin. BUT (and it is a big positive but), you can do a lot to quieten the voice of your gremlin and keep it under your control. With you being in control of your gremlin you can safely stay focused, move closer to and achieve your ultimate music career goals.

In part two of this article, you can read my Tips on quietening the voice of your gremlin!

* the negative voice in your head is essentially your own negative thoughts, which you may recognize as an internal dialogue and should not be confused with any medical condition.


Related Tags: change, positive thinking, confidence, focus, music industry, self esteem, beliefs, musicians, negativity

Lindsey Benton runs her own coaching and mentoring business, Bravura, for musicians and non-performers in the music industry. Lindsey helps her clients work through solutions to succeed in their music career and life. Lindsey writes a monthly newsletter for musicians to give insight and helpful tips to make positive advancement in their music careers. Check out bravura-group.com to view coaching packages, reports and the newsletter.

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