Is It Really so Bad to Frown After Making a Mistake?

The Bulletproof Musician

My daughter loved playing card games as a young child. And what was fun about playing with her was how completely transparent she was. Anytime she got a good hand, or picked up a special card, the glee was written all over her face. Her eyes lit up, and I knew something unfortunate was about to happen to me. 😆

This sort of emotional expressivity is an important part of communicating from the stage - but there’s a negative side of this too, of course.
Because I'm guessing we've all been told by a teacher at some point that we should walk out on stage confidently, with a smile. And that we should avoid frowning or expressing frustration when the performance isn’t going well.
Yet...how much does this really matter? Does any of it make a difference, as long as we play well?
A 2017 study by previous podcast guests Aaron Williamon and George Waddell provide some surprising answers.
Get all the nerdy details here:
Why Every Performer Needs a Good Poker Face

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Have you ever wondered why it is exactly that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If you’ve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a free 18-question quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses and figure out what to tweak in your preparation.
It’s 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and you’ll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get Pressure Proof, a 7-day email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies designed to help shrink the gap between practice and performance and play your best when it matters most.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa