Rememberthe days when you dreamed about being an astronaut or fire fighter or how most girls invariably said they would be the next Mad¬huri Dixit? I recall my cousin saying he wanted to be Elvis and we all made fun of him the rest of the summer. Our answers might seem juvenile to a wiser, older us. But today, even “childish” dreams are taken very seriously.

The arts are not alien to our culture. Indian culture is largely epitomised in the works of performing artists. Dance in its various forms, vocal and instrumental music in its different styles, acting on the stage and on the screen, choreography of dance and music shows, along with stage planners, managers, prop designers and make-up artists form a very large group of professionals on the scene.

Today the traditional setup of guru-shishya has changed drastically. We associate the performing arts with being the next big face on televi¬sion, more with the concept of fame than art. But per¬forming arts are a demand¬ing discipline if you wish to scratch beyond the surface. To perform, you’ll require tal¬ent, commitment, discipline and an abundance of energy, a passion for performing, the ability to learn quickly, cre¬ativity, poise and charisma. It is patience, perseverance, stamina and a thick skin – all essential attributes you’ll need to inculcate to be a part of the entertainment industry. This comes naturally to some people, but for most, these need to be learned. So you have to ask yourself, is formal education essential to achieve your potential as a performer?

“My first tryst with mu¬sic began when my school teacher, Ms Stevens divided our class into three groups and taught us some of The Beatles’ songs,” recalls Paresh Kamath, guitarist/ music com¬poser, Kailasa and Hipnotribe. “Little did I realise then that she divided us to teach us harmony. But she stoked the spark of music in me.”

The artof performing
Today, there are multiple avenues to learn, present and broadcast your talent. From reality shows to specialised training institutes, the hunt for the next big thing is always on. Popular reality shows like Indian Idol or Dance Premier League are now giving young talent a platform to show off their skills and be noticed.

The fame and fortune as¬sociated with those who suc¬ceed in Bollywood, television channels, in theatre and in concert halls, draw count¬less youth toward careers in the performing arts. Very few succeed financially. Only those with determination, talent, discipline and luck manage to find careers in the performing arts in which they can support themselves. MTV VJ Ranvijay Singh believes, “If you have a passion for performing, nothing should stop you from pursuing your dreams. With the way things are in the country, the differ¬ent platforms or avenues to realise your potential, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t do what you love.”

“The idea of being suc¬cessful or not shouldn’t deter anybody,” says Luis Chico, keyboardist, Something Relevant. “You should always do what you want and when you work towards master¬ing that craft, the money will come.” Performing artists find genuine satisfaction in pleas¬ing their audiences. And they are willing to sacrifice to do it. They sacrifice money be¬cause they won’t make much, particularly when starting out and they invest time.

All performers embody the challenge of communi¬cating certain emotions and moods. When performing, they have to make countless decisions at many conscious and unconscious levels. Determination is what mat¬ters. Successful performers possess that drive to succeed. They practice every nuance repeatedly, until they have it right. “When it came to mas¬tering my craft, my experi¬ence was a mixture of plenty of hard work, sacrifices, late nights, complete dedication laced with fun interactions with musicians, understand¬ing the different genres of music and a whole lot of prac¬ticing. It was a very rewarding experience and the best part is, I still continue to learn,” explains Luis.