Disrupt: Whose Line Is This Anyway

All too often, I coach someone preparing for a speech or a performance with which they have little or no engagement.

A little digging leads to well-meaning friends, mentors, bosses, and/or teachers. People who have designed the experience to the point that you have no idea why you are opening with that story, or why on earth you are singing this song. Which means it is time to take a minute.

Autonomy is not a fad, and consent is not just for romance.

You get to decide how much to share and what is important to you. A coach can help you craft a clearer message, or clarify a line of delivery but they cannot be an expert in your experience. A song that you despise can teach you many things but when it comes to performance, what exactly is the point. You must be in command of your connection or it will always fail. Sometimes it will fail the audience but mostly it will fail you.

Gina Razón is the principal voice specialist at GROW Voice LLC, a full-service voice and speech studio in Boston’s Back Bay.  She has over 16 years of experience both as a teacher of voice and speech, and a voraciously curious voice user.  Gina has worked professionally as a classical singer for over a decade and more recently as a professional public speaker.  For more information on the studio or to book Gina visit www.growvoice.com.