Perspective… and Imposter Syndrome!
Well, here is something that I used to feel was isolated to me. Then I found out the others it effects and I thought it was isolated to musicians and artists, but come to find out, most of us suffer from imposter syndrome to some extent. A number of people don’t even know what imposter syndrome is or that they have it. So for those of you who don’t know…
Imposter Syndrome is the feeling that you may get that you do not deserve the position you are in, or maybe you feel you aren’t as good at something as your peers. Yet, when you look around, you have the qualifications—and that is the reason you are here.
To put it more clearly, Imposter Syndrome is the persistent feeling of self-doubt and inadequacy despite evident success or competence. People experiencing imposter syndrome often believe they are frauds, attributing their achievements to luck or external factors rather than their own abilities.
My Own Story
During my journey, I’ve had many bouts with Imposter Syndrome. I would say, “I’m just a guy with a guitar that can play a little music and likes to do it, but I’m not a musician.” Then, several years ago, I was in a session with my therapist when I said that, and she stopped me and said,
"No, you are a musician. You have a guitar, you have all this gear. You play gigs, host open mics, and whether you tell yourself you are a musician or not, everyone else calls you a musician. It’s only up to you to be right or wrong."
That was when I learned about Imposter Syndrome. Her incisive words just sat with me that day. It wasn't until I was ready to heal and grow that her words began to resonate.
This conversation happened about four years ago, and at the time, I was in a pretty dark place. As our sessions continued and I was healing and growing, her words continued to resonate. And that was when Otter River called. Within a month, the Brew Barn followed. I really began to accept that I am a musician.
I don’t want anybody to get me wrong—I never said I was the best or even good. But I will tell you that when I get to do what I do… I am the happiest musician/audio guy/host/promoter/content creator/booking manager/dude to do it. Taking and making every opportunity count.
Are You a Musician? Let’s Find Out.
If you are finding yourself nodding along right now, take a second and answer these two questions.
Do you own/play an instrument?
Have you ever taken the time to prepare and perform? (And yes, that certainly includes at an open mic.)
If you answered yes to either question, take a look at your circle of friends. Do you call them all musicians, or are you the only one with an almost inappropriate relationship with music? Either way… you are a musician.
Do you make time to play music with your friends, or are you happiest when you get the house to yourself to play your guitar or tickle your keys with reckless abandon? Sounds like a musician.
Are you late for everything and locked your keys in your van? Well, you, my friend, are a walking catastrophe—and there’s a good chance you are also a musician.
So Now What?
So now that you've recognized the truth—the problem is you're a musician—what do you do next?
Take some accountability. Start by saying it:
"I AM A MUSICIAN."
Every time you find that little voice in your head—you know, the one that sounds just like yours—giving you the slightest doubt, say it out loud:
"I AM A MUSICIAN."
And the best part is, the more you say it, the more you believe it. The more confident you become.
For me, once I had this realization, it didn’t happen overnight, but once the process started, I began to see... It turns out, there’s a lot more to it than just playing music. I was able to find my place here in my community and do what I love to do. You can too.
What to Do When That Doubt Creeps In
If you think you’re suffering from Imposter Syndrome, you probably are. Here are a few things that can help when that doubt creeps in.
Be professional. Every step of the way be professional, be respectful and stay humble. For every venue you try to get into, there are dozens of others trying to get in there as well. If you’re going to make yourself stand out, do it with professionalism and not by boasting or bragging about how good your are. No need to tell anyone you are the best, if you are indeed the best, they will notice.
Start looking at things outside of the music and performance. Get some promo done for your event. Include the What, When, Where, How (as in how much), and Why if there is a reason behind it! Share it with the venue, post it to your socials, and get it into groups where it will be seen. Be sure to post more than one week before the event. Make a little content. Have a little fun.
When You Do Have a Gig, Be professional. From the moment you arrive. Personally, unless I am familiar with the place and the parking lot doesn’t look overcrowded, I only take my guitar on my first trip into an establishment to see what I am walking into. Just bring the guitar. It gives the staff a heads-up that you are the one performing. And it’s just you and your guitar so you won’t be blocking the ins and outs with your gear.
Be mindful of your surroundings. Some gigs are in dive bars where unless you walk in on fire, nobody notices. Other times, you’re playing in a more polished venue or a private event where expectations are different. Be considerate of those people that came out to get a nice meal with the company they chose to join them. Do not yell across the venue, or be a disruption. Set up, get your cases out of the way, and be aware of how the staff operates. Take one last look before you’re done setting up. What doesn’t belong there? Get it out of the way and feel free to take a moment to yourself if time allows.
Jitters—we all get them. Before you step up to play your first note or sing your first word, take a look at your posture. Are your shoulders up high and tight? Drop them and relax. Feet too close together? Spread ‘em. Somewhere in the shoulder-width range where you feel comfortable. And here’s something weird but effective—is your tongue pressing against the roof of your mouth? Relax it. Now breathe in (1,2,3,4) and out (1,2,3,4) and you should feel exceptionally better.
You messed up!!!! There are three types of mistakes.
The ones only you notice.
The ones only you and a very select few people notice.
The ones that everybody knows it was you, and there is no escaping it.
They all happen. The first two? Don’t even mention or waste a second thinking about them. And if the third one happens, you will be the only one wasting any time worrying about it anyway. Hit the right note the next time around, and no one will even remember.
After Action Review and follow-up. This is a practice I took from the military. After an event, I do a mental rundown of the evening and look for better ways to do things and be more efficient. I once read that you should look at your gigs in groups of 10. One will be the best, one will be the worst, and eight will fall somewhere in between. Focus on learning from all of them, and you’ll be fine.
And be sure to follow up with the venue to thank them for the opportunity and inquire about additional opportunities. Be sure to include them in your social media posts as well.
That’s all I have for you right now, but it is a fascinating phenomenon (Doot doo dah doo doo).
I’ll just end on the power of perspective. Once I had this realization that I am indeed a musician, I got better. Again, not the best or anything like that, but I wholeheartedly believe that one conversation allowed me to tap into a very small part of my potential.
Hoping that maybe this will help just one other person on their journey.
