As a singer, I have always dealt with performance anxiety at performances/auditions. The physical manifestations of the anxiety sometimes affect my voice (shortness of breath, tightness, tremors).
I have recently been given a perscrption for beta blockers (propanolol 10mg) I understand that this will help with the physical symptoms. I feel a bit guitly about this however, that it might give me an unfair advantage, especially at an audition, in that everybody else has to deal with the same anxiety. Is it like steroids or blood doping, or is it simply dealing with a condition. If a was offered a performing contract as a result of an audition done under a beta blocker, would I be doing it under false pretenses?
Have tried other stress reliever, i.e Yoga, deep breathing.
1 response so far ↓
1 locusfire // Jun 29, 2009 at 12:08 pm
No, there are no ethical concerns like this in the world of music… and if there were ethical concerns like this, 40 percent of the others auditions probably have done much more questionable stuff than this. Musicians are constantly learning tricks to get just a little better or further ahead. Some will spend thousands of dollars for camps to learn to feel heavy, or to meet somebody that may know somebody else, it's a dog eat dog sort of world. The only ethical concern you should have is how it effects you. Will this hurt you? Are you paying for today with tomorrows better health? Don't worry about the music side, you're just fine.
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