Like many elementary schools, Livvey’s school puts on an annual talent show to give the students an opportunity to display their talents in front of their friends and family while helping to raise money for the school’s PTA. I think it is a great thing to encourage kids to participate in events like this whenever possible for all the wonderful things it can do for a child’s self confidence, given that they have support from family, friends or mentors in preparing for their act so that they can step onto the stage feeling prepared, and that the school and families have created a safe and nurturing environment in which the kids feel they can perform without peer criticism.
This was the third year that Livvey participated in the talent show and this year, she decided she would do a solo act. She would sing an Adele song that she has been singing around the house for months, Rolling In The Deep. Under no circumstances, would I have considered doing such a thing at her age, or been able to pull it off, but I can tell you know I wish I had. The experience did so much for Livvey’s self esteem.
I believe because of the popularity of shows like America Idol, Dancing with the Stars, The Voice, and all the other popular talent shows these days, the number of applications in this year’s talent show was twice what it was last year. In fact, there were eight girls that wanted to sing Rolling in the Deep, a testament to Adele’s popularity. In the end, Livvey and one other talented girl were allowed to sing it, because they both got their applications in on the same day and before all the others.
I am very proud of the job Livvey and all the kids did. They were just amazing. The acts ranged all over the board. Of course many of the kids sang and danced, played piano and guitar, told jokes, one girl even recited The Gettysburg Address, all with cool confidence on stage, or so it appeared. Apparently, according to Livvey, the real drama was back stage. Kids were crying, shaking, throwing up and hyperventilating. There was such a big disconnect with how they acted on stage and with how they acted behind stage that it almost seemed fabricated and I had to wonder what was really going on. Where the kids acting out the drama that they thought was suppose to happen based on all the reality tv shows they watch or were they feeling so much pressure to be great based on watching the drama on shows like American Idol, or was it just normal jitters of kids not used to performing? Adult are expected to perform so much in business life, running meetings, giving talks etc. that I think any time we can encourage our children to get up in front of an audience can be a valuable learning experience. I just wish that kids could get a more balanced message that a single performance doesn’t mean everything and it is alright to error, be human. My wish for all kids is that they can learn to be comfortable with who they are, embracing all of their silly little quarks that we adults find so endearing.
Please give us your thoughts and I hope you enjoy Livvey’s performance. If you do, please be sure to like and share with others.
livinlikelivvey 