My first attempt at a video blog is a short introduction to what you’ll find here. I have to admit, despite spending years on stage—at conferences, in pubs, playing in bands in front of one man and his dog, I discovered that creating a scripted video was surprisingly difficult. What it made me realise is that I’m probably far better suited to a more improvised, say‑it‑as‑it‑is style for the video blogs I plan to make in the future. It also reminded me how important humour is, especially the ability to laugh at oneself. So keep an eye out for an out‑takes video featuring my rather hopeless first attempt. Feel free to explore the site. It has been a real labour of love, and different parts of it will speak to different people. Whether you’re an academic, a performer, a musician, or someone looking for a speaker for your event, I hope something here resonates with you.
Author: admin
A Life on Stage: Why Performance Still Matters
For as long as I can remember, performance has been the thread running quietly — and sometimes loudly — through everything I do. Long before academic titles, professional roles, or even military service, there was music. A microphone. A crowd. And that unmistakable rush that only comes from stepping into the light and giving a piece of yourself away. Over the years, I’ve performed as a solo singer, played in more bands than I can reasonably count, acted in productions big and small, and spoken on stages where the only certainty was that anything could happen. Different settings, different audiences, different expectations — but at the heart of it all, it’s the same challenge: communicate something real. Music taught me how to listen.Acting taught me how to observe.Public speaking taught me how to connect.And performing with others taught me how to trust — in the moment, in the room, and in the people beside you. Those lessons have never left me. Whether I’m standing in front of a lecture hall, delivering a talk, or tuning up for another show, I still feel that same familiar electricity. Performance, at its best, is a conversation — even when you’re the only one with a microphone. You offer the audience your energy, your experience, your honesty, and they give something back: attention, emotion, belonging. It’s a quiet exchange, but a powerful one. This part of the website will become a space where I explore that world in more detail: the craft of performing, the discipline behind the art, the stories from decades of stages and soundchecks, as well as the moments that shaped me into the performer I am now. Some posts will be reflective, some practical, and some simply memories worth preserving before they fade into the noise. If the first blog post introduced the journey, this one introduces the heartbeat. Performance has always been my constant — and I’m looking forward to sharing more of it with you. — David