Who hasn't at one time or another dreamt of being a performer, an actor, dancer or singer. The rewards are certainly tempting. Fame, fortune and your name up in lights. Your picture plastered all over someone's bedroom wall. It sounds good.

Just as importantly, whether you want to be a pop idol and movie star or not, performing is great fun. Not only is it fun, it's good for you. The same cannot be said of many things. It's builds confidence, teaches you skills that benefit you in many other areas. We all, at sometimes in our lives are faced with the scary task of giving a speech or presentation. For some the fear of blushing, stumbling over words or just being the centre of attention creates almost a state of panic. Performing, particularly acting can help you over come these very real fears. You learn that people looking and listening to you is not the "ground open up and swallow me" experience you've always feared it was. 

Performing is also not just about showing off and meeting members of the opposite sex. (Although that does come into it) No, it's about having something to say about the world we live in. It doesn't matter old you are, how clever you think are, or how popular believe you might be, because everyone has a unique view of life, everyone has a story of their own. 

You might at this point be thinking, well that's all very well, but I don't have any talent. 
Rubbish I reply. 
All of the skills you need to get up on a stage and do your 'thang', can be taught. 
I used to believe I couldn't sing, that I was tone deaf. For years if I opened my mouth and let rip, people would run for cover. They would plead with me, "for the sake of the child, please stop". Even worse they would laugh. But now after singing lessons, it is not uncommon for me to sing out loud in front of a paying audience and actually receive applause. Now I can't claim to be a Pavarotti or Craig David, but I can, and do, sing. And so can you. You can also act and dance. You just might not know it yet. 

By the way have I mentioned showing off and meeting members of the opposite sex? I have, good. Not that, that is any reason to join a band, or to become a member of a drama or dance company.
I merely mention it in passing.

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