Aspie performers; performing live, for crowds up to 100,000?

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A topic I responded to in the Members Discussion forum made me suddenly curious.

Are there any other AS performers out there? I refer to professional/semi-professional televised/stage performers, not just youtube videos (as I already know of a few WP members who do these, but they sort of fall under a different category to what I'm looking at as these can be done from the comfort of your bedroom).

Like I said in my other post, (a brief summary) I have performed (singing and dancing and musical theatre-eske) for over 11 years, live/stage/filmed, for crowds ranging from intimate gatherings of 20-30 up to 100,000 televised live to several million.

I've noticed that nearly everyone on here is people and public shy in a way that I am not. I am wondering why this is...

Not for crowds of thousands, but I have been performing on stage for crowds of various sizes since I was around 11. I have done musical theater and then I was in a working band for 10 years. We never got on major television, but on public access and whatnot. I perform live by myself sometimes...got in the paper for it not too long ago. I am in a couple of bands right now.
I performed at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans a few years ago.

It doesn't mean that I am not shy.

am in the minority on here if most are shy,[am not 'shy' or aspie],but people physically and visually mean nothing to am until am in a regular routine with them so am neither bothered or aware of them when walking in/around community/wherever,though have to build up routine with people who have to be with am all the time,eg, support staff as would go crazy having new sounds,new smells,new touch etc in home,guess thats not the same thing as what are saying though.

there are a few performers on here [not sure on what form of autism they have] PoopyLungStuffing does it for her job,am remember one whos a rapper [cant remember name].

I'm not shy in the way you describe. I have no problem getting up in front of large crowds and giving somewhat rehearsed presentations or performances. I find it to be quite easy since the person on stage can limit the audience interaction in these environments.

It's the unscripted interactive events I have trouble with.

If you can do it, that's great. I also make music and have played in front of crowd once that was way over what I felt comfortable with but it wasn't in the thousands.

It wasn't a pleasant experience and couldn't wait for it to be over with. I enjoy writing music but don't really care much for playing in front of big crowds. I've never been able to speak in front of even a classroom. Always just handed in the paper and got a lower grade as a result.

I have performed "live" for much smaller audiences.

I can be "shy" but it is not my temperamental inclination to be.

Also like t0, I am rather comfortable with "scripted" performance.

I've been performing in community theater since 2004, both musicals and straight plays.

Acting was one of my major interests when I was a kid...it never panned out beyond a few auditions..but for years, I collected books of scripts and monologues that I would practice.

I do semi pro work for a local theaters. It is fun. I am more of a movement based actor then method. I love the theater

national television a few times in my home country talking about art and painting. National public broadcaster radio --(numerous live interviews....talking onm,y special interests) in newspapers.
can monologue in front of ten or ten thousand. people are objects. what are people to us but a glob of strange beings??

Some of us were talking the other day in another thread about ASD people in the public eye or in the spotlight. there are quite a few.

go sunshower.

make sure you perform at the BIG DAY OUT one day. I will be the old boiler in the cowgirl hat at the back with tattoos and ear muffs cheering you on before leaving abruptly (after having decked someone sho stood too close ) due to sensory problems.

Big Day Out - I wish... I'll need to finish writing several more original songs first, then get known for my own music At the moment my performing experience is with choir, and some small individual stuff but nothing on a large scale individually.

It's great to hear there are so many other aspie performers; it's true that performing is very different to socializing in big crowds, and that people in large crowds are just like objects really.

I found the hardest thing I've done was not performing in front of big crowds, but being filmed for a documentary during a music tour. We were filmed from the minute we left our cabins till late at night, filmed eating, practicing, travelling on the bus, talking, everything for 3 days. It was unbelievably stressful for me after about the first few hours of it.

I've done speaking parts in civic theatre ("Harvey", "Steambath", "Rocky Horror Picture Show", and the like). I'm also a guild member, but the only roles I get in movies are non-speaking walk-ons, with character names like "Man With Camera" or "Lone Diner Near Kitchen Door."

I need to get an agent, and to spend 18 hours a day hitting every audition and cattle-call I can manage, if I ever want a speaking role ... a little talent would hurt, either ...

I've performed theatre roles and given presentations on occasion, even while having severe social anxiety. However, some years I find myself completely incapable of such things. It helps when there's a routine or script to follow.

I've heard Robin Williams is shy and awkward around people. I've also heard he's an aspie.

I am a performer of a different kind - business presentations.

I would rather be in front of a bunch of people waving a laser pointer than be in the car alone with one person for longer than 15 minutes (except my daughter, but she's 5) - unless that person is talkative and self-aborbed.

That is one of the unique benefits of being an aspie. Even though we can be socially awkward - we barely care what other people think about us - unless its applause or laughter.

Applause and/or laughter is like an energy-boost for an aspie - therefore we've become adept at seeking it and refining our talents to get more. Like mice pressing the foodbar.

Wow, so many people here who can perform in front of others. In school I did a few choir and band performances in front of people, but aside from that the thought of it scares the crud out of me.

Interesting thread.
There does seem to be a significant difference between being shy around a few people, as in conversation, and being shy giving while a performance in front of large groups.

I've always been very shy around individuals and small groups, usually wanting to avoid direct conversation. I feel like there is too much at stake in terms of making social errors and damaging relationships.

Performing in front of large groups has never been a problem for me. It's like an entirely different part of my brain is switched on when I am playing music or acting or teaching in front of a group, however large.

I've played in lots of different bands and ensembles, in many different venues, playing various styles of music (jazz, rock, blues, folk, orchestral, symphonic), for many different kinds of audiences. When I am performing, I am in control, expressive, and vibrantly alive. But as soon as I'm done, Lord help me if someone comes up to me and tries to have a conversation. I freeze up and have nothing to say.

I have similar tendencies with acting and teaching, which are similar activities to me. I can get really into character, mimicking voices and gestures, to achieve a dramatic effect. But take me out of the performance context, and I am clueless as to how to speak and behave.

This is a really curious phenomenon. I can't wait to hear from more aspie performers...