IdahoRose wrote:
I admit it, I love getting attention and praise for the things I do, no matter how minor of an accomplishment it is.
I'm kind of like this but at the same time I feel pretty vulnerable when I do get praise.
When I first started playing music in pubs, it was a bit challenging for me. It wasn't because I was unnerved playing for a crowd. In fact, I
never get stage fright, mostly because I'm really doing it for myself and to have a good time. It would be the times that people would come up to me during our break or at the end of the evening, telling me how awesome I sounded, how much they enjoyed it, etc. While I loved to know that people enjoy or appreciate what I am doing, I have generally found it difficult to receive direct praise for it... at least in person. At first, I would somewhat ungracious accept the praise, then I would go find a stairwell or something and keep playing music by myself until the break ended. I've gotten better about this, partly because I've learned what to say. I still try to avoid the situations, though.
It's one of the reason I like playing for dances a lot. You often get a lot of positive feedback (in the form of whoops and hollers) but you don't necessarily have to deal with a lot of direct praise.
The vulnerability may be due to the emotional/sensory intensity.
For example, when I won some art prizes, I enjoyed receiving emails and praise for the work in that written form. I did not however, bother going to the awards ceremonies because I do not enjoy the intensity of face to face contact and the direct and verbal praise. I still enjoy successes and praise. And there is a distinction here. When my work is on exhibition, I am frequently not at the openings. I am renowned for not turning up. But I still enjoy the praise that people give me in written form or by way of phone or email or note etc. I like the fact people can respect and respond to what I do. I like that very much.
05 Apr 2010, 12:49 am
