Getting on stage in front of a room full of people who want to be entertained and inspired is one of the hardest things in the world. It takes buckets of self-belief and resilience to perform and bare your soul to a crowd who is looking forward to a performance worth paying for. It’s no wonder many artists fail to live up to the hype on stage. Some are even paralyzed with fear before they get a chance to hit the microphone and show the skeptics what they’ve got. Veteran rapper Mb Longmoney knows all about overcoming stage fright and building self-confidence, and insists it’s all about having the right attitude.
“Show me an artist, actor, or athlete who doesn’t get nervous before they perform and I’ll show you a liar,” exclaims Mb Longmoney. “Performing is a very intimate affair. I don’t care if you’re standing in front of ten people or ten million, you’re still putting yourself under a spotlight and saying to the world, ‘This is me! What do you think?’ It takes a special kind of courage to do that and I’ve got nothing but maximum respect for those who fight their fears and take the leap. Remember, courage isn’t about not being afraid, it is about being afraid but refusing to let that fear get the better of you. Stage fright is just an obstacle, and like all obstacles, you can kick it clean out of your path with a bit of conviction and willpower.”
As someone who hit the scene way back in 2013 with Chicago-based rap outfit Team Long Money, and has recently collaborated with platinum rapper 147 Calboy on his global hit EP single “Humble,” Mb Longmoney is no stranger to the rap game and believes the secret to longevity is building self-confidence and overcoming stage fright.
“You’ll be surprised how many rappers never make it past the first hurdle and take to the stage because of stage fright,” says Mb Longmoney. “It’s a common enemy of any artist. But if you don’t face down those fears, you’ll spend a lifetime of regret wondering what could have been possible. My advice to any aspiring artist is to build your self-confidence to impregnable levels before taking to the stage. When you’re up there, you have to stand tall and believe 100% in yourself, else the crowd will sense something’s not quite right and punish you. Stage fright is there for a reason; it keeps you focused, keeps you sharp, and keeps your eye on the money and the ball. It’s there to inspire us to give your everything on the stage and not leave anything in the locker room. The more you perform, the more confident you’ll become and vice versa. So my advice is to go out there and hit them with everything you’ve got. Anything less is disrespectful to you and your audience.”