Todrick Hall

Lewis: This is 5-Minute Friday!!

Welcome everyone to the podcast I am very excited about our guest his name is Todrick Hall and he’s kind of incredible. This guy is a Phenom if you guys don’t know who he is, he became well known when he auditioned for the 9^th season of American idol where he made it the semi-finals, since then he’s been performing on Broadway and a superstar. He’s got a huge YouTube channel with some incredibly talented videos that he’s produced, he’s also featured in Forbes top 30 under 30 in the Hollywood category in 2014.

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So, you’ve been on Broadway, American idol, you got your own TV show, and done a lot of other performances in between. What is the mantra or process before a performance a big moment that you do for yourself? Is there a ritual that you do something weird or you ground yourself and pray? What’s something you do?

Todrick: Usually our life is so crazy we’re trying to do something that should take a normal team of people that is like a 50 man army, we will be doing with 4 people and we’re doing something that it would take that 50 man army 2 months to do, we’re doing it literally 2 to 3 days.

So usually there’s not a moment we’re literally rushing to that moment but right before I go on state I always just bow my head and pray. I am not the most crazy like overly religious person but I do believe that there’s no way I can be here without somebody much bigger than I watching over and being guided and making sure that I was in the room with the right people at the right time. So, I just have to pray and have to ground myself and get myself prepared, because otherwise I will go crazy and it’s like I always get this calming feeling like 30 seconds before I go on. I am a nervous wreck, 30 seconds before I go on and then I get calm and like ‘Okay, you can do this’ and we make magic.

Lewis: Well, I love that. What would you say to someone who feels overwhelmed and anxious and has a lot of pressure on themselves when they perform? Whether it’d be a business meeting or singing or dancing or whatever it maybe some type of performance going on their first date, what advice would you give to someone to overcome pressure?

Todrick: I would just say that this whole world is like a big game and you have to walk into room and at least have a great poker face. You can be nervous and that’s normal. I think a lot of people think that nerves are not normal and that means that they’re second guessing themselves or doubting the talent that they know that they have. But I don’t think that’s what it means, I think if you’re not nervous then you’re way to confident and you’re probably not gonna get the things that you are looking for. I think anybody who’s an artist or who is passionate about anything that they’re going for, a good amount of nerves is important I think put on a good poker face and go in there and remember every single person that is in the position to make decision to guide your career are all just people and people are attracted to confidence and if the idea is great or if the talent is truly there then I think ultimately in the end that will always prevail.

Lewis: What keeps you grounded with all the success you’re getting and the recognition and the YouTube crazies?

Todrick: What keeps me grounded is I have the most amazing mom in the world. There was no dance studio where I live, my mom got a new job and she drive me an hour and a half to dance class and an hour and a half home. She never let me miss class, she never let me late, and I don’t think without her telling me even though she had no idea what to do with the child like me because she has never seen anybody like this and for me to be her child, I think she really jumped on the bandwagon and just try to learn as much as she could about getting me out there. And also I have amazing friends who not only are there to support me at any day, any time but they also tell me when I’m wrong and I think that’s the most important thing to keep someone humble.

Lewis: And you are receptive to it.

Todrick: Because I know they wouldn’t leave me astray, even though sometimes I don’t want to hear it I am always so grateful that I have friends that will be like “Todrick I love you but you are being ridiculous right now and that this is not a good move.”

Lewis: Hey guys if you enjoyed this inspirational clip from a past episode of the show then you’ll love the free book I’m giving away right now It’s called the millionaire morning and it includes some of my best tips for starting off your day with a millionaire mindset. Get your free copy at the millionairemorning.com and just pay shipping, again check it out right now the millionairemorning.com.