“When I got on stage I still remember how much my hands were sweating and how nervous I was. But, because of that experience, I am now so comfortable playing guitar and singing!”
– Ayla Brown, Artist, Singer
Trying new things is surely uncomfortable, probably downright scary for a few. It, however, keeps life exciting and fresh and might also open new doors for you. Until you push the envelope to do things you have never done before, you just don’t know what you are capable of. Singer Ayla Brown’s amazing story proves that there is much to gain in life by stepping outside of your comfort zone.
Doing Something Way Outside of Her Comfort Zone
When Ayla first moved to Nashville, she didn’t know how to play guitar and had just written a handful of songs. She got a call from her agent asking her if she wanted to open for Josh Turner in Lancaster, PA for an audience of 2,000. Ayla says, “The only kicker was that it had to be solo-acoustic. So, I committed to the gig, not knowing how to accompany myself.”
She learned 40 minutes worth of music to play and sing and nothing more! Ayla still remembers how much her hands were sweating and how nervous she was getting on stage. It was her first time in front of so many people, making the entire experience very uncomfortable and unnerving for her. That, however, was the stepping stone for her to become more comfortable playing in front of a crowd.
Taking Risks
Ayla reveals how precarious the situation was. She says, “The risk was taking the gig in the first place. I was given $200 to open for Josh Turner and I had to pay for a flight, car rental, and hotel.” She was hundreds of dollars in the red before walking into the venue. Ayla, however, didn’t want to miss the opportunity and prove that she could do it.
Now Ayla is comfortable playing and singing in front of anyone. Sometimes she still gets nervous, but it’s a “good nervous” as she describes it.
Ayla advises people to put themselves in such uncomfortable situations because these kind of experiences help you grow and reach newer heights.
About Ayla Brown
Ayla Brown is a rising country artist and performed at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. She is the owner and founder of the record company, Ambient Entertainment. A finalist at American Idol, Ayla has released two critically acclaimed full length albums, Heroes & Hometowns and Let Love In. Ayla is a go-to artist for singing the National Anthem at sporting events and has featured in some of the biggest events. Check out her latest album Label on Spotify.
