I didn’t mean to imply that performers are necessarily egotistical, in the common sense of needing to be the center of attention all the time. (However, in my experience with performers, the exceptions you cite tend to prove the rule, I think.)

But when I say that performers need approval, that does seem universal. Even modest and retiring performers need that audience reaction–the applause or laughter–and when it’s not there they feel as if they’ve failed.

This is, I think, a necessary element of the whole performance scheme, and what makes live theater essentially different from recorded or filmed “performance.” It’s a two-way street.

If an audience reacts negatively–or worse still, if there is no audience, thus indicating mass indifference–then every serious performer I’ve ever met goes into a blue funk. Even if they don’t express it, I think it happens.

And I know narcissistic, egotistical folks that are performance averse.

So I’m not buying the egotism theory. But something I’ve noted is that most performers I know are deeply concerned with making connections with other people. This does not mean they are extroverts, indeed most performers I know are introverts (my family excepted) and the best performers I know are often the most introverted.

So I wonder if these are not just people who like connecting with a lot of people - but maybe are not as good, or don’t feel that they are as good, at connecting with people in, say the usual way. Or maybe they are but they just have a need for human interaction that is higher than non-performers. I’ll note that some performers (Barbara comes to mind immediately) are also superb listeners.

- Julie

Dave your thoughts are very interesting here today. I come from a family where everyone performs, some more publicly than others - and I’ve known I’m a bit of a performer myself (though not on your level)- I’m the person at work always called on to give presentations, teach classes, etc. Since I’m married to someone who is mostly performance-averse I have also wondered about this, but more on the lines of whether this is a good thing (i.e. am I sharing some level of gift) or a bad thing (i.e. am I egotisical, or insecure enough to need everyone to look at me?)

I don’t know, either, but it is interesting.

-Julie