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Writer's pictureJonathan Burns

'Owning It'

When it comes to 'owning' something, we normally refer to 'ownership'. You received a material possession via a transaction. You gave money to someone else and in return, they allow you to own the item you have purchased. This may be a car, a house, clothes, etc, whatever you can afford. This type of owning is a contract, it is agreed between people that you own that thing. If it is stolen, you can phone the police and they may (cough) help you retrieve your stolen items.



However, we are performers, 'owning it' means something completely different to us (as it should for everyone else). When we own something, we do not buy it with money, we claim it as our own. We may perform a role, we may dance, or sing a song. We may wear costumes or quirky clothing and have unique appearances. We may be weird or unusual to the general public outside of a theatre. To compensate, we must claim these things, we must wear them with confidence, we must 'own it'. To 'own it' begins with reclaiming yourself. You must be comfortable in your own skin. You must own everything about you. Everything that can be turned against you. Everything you have to offer that is unique. When you wear your ego, you must 'own it', you must wear the ego as if it is your own skin. When you play a character, you own the role as if it is yourself, you 'own it'. Owning it is when you sing in public. If the audience is convinced, they will tell you "you nailed it". You 'nailed it', you made it part of yourself, you 'owned it'. To 'own it' takes time and some learn faster than others. Some will not even ever understand the concept of 'owning it', either because 'ownership' is more important or simply because the concept alone is beyond their horizon.



People cannot steal what you 'own, in the same way that material goods are stolen. What you 'own' is purely a mental concept and exists within your own mind. To steal from you, is to suffer the consequence of trolling. Trolls are essentially the opposite of performers, with our job being to metaphorical steal the hearts and minds of the audience via entertainment, theirs is to take yours. Sure, your confidence can be affected momentarily, but it is your own thoughts that allow you to suffer because of the thieves. By 'Owning it', you should not be concerned of others negativity towards you, because you own your mind, you know you 'own it' and you are unwilling to give it away. Once the troll knows they cannot take from you what they desire, your confidence, you win. To become a performer, a person needs the mental discipline to overcome such attempts at grand larceny and the most effective technique I have found so far is 'owning it'

I own me, its through owning myself can I then go forward and open my cake shop and sell myself to the world.....

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