Performing for a living as a musician has its challenges, among them assembling the self-confidence to perform in front of an audience. Audiences can be intimidating. Will you be able to hold their attention or will you be ignored? Will they listen at first but lose interest as you proceed? These are not only threats to your ego, they have been career-enders for musicians. Hey, a day job doesn’t look so bad given those possibilities.
Yes, it takes courage to get up in front of people and play. But I’ve always looked at another type of performing as even more challenging, that is, being a comedian. At least as a musician I have my piano to hide behind and my voice to carry a tune in a way that people find pleasurable. And I don’t have to rely on their full attention to be successful. They might be dancing, or perhaps at an event, there to be together with friends and talk with each other, and where my music is, by design, background.
On the other hand, comedians have nothing but their wits that stand between them and their audience, and between a successful engagement and sheer disaster. Being ignored is not an option. People are there to laugh, no other reason, and you better be able to make that happen. You don’t have to go to many comedy clubs to catch someone having a bad night or who just isn’t funny. It can be painful just watching them. Imagine how they feel as they leave the stage.
As a musician or comedian, performing is a challenge. It takes courage. As such while it can be intimidating it can also be one of the best lessons you learn learning music, how to connect with people in a way that reaches them and brings them joy.