The Voice Kids: interview with sophrologist Alain Lancelot
Alain Lancelot (1) was part of the adventure of the last two editions of The Voice (the older version), the sophrologist also supports very young talents who participate in The Voice Kids. Sophrologie Actualité goes back with him on his experience in the program and on the practice of sophrology with children.
Hello Alain, you intervened 2 seasons in a row on The Voice, what lessons do you draw from this experience?
Hello, when I decided to train in sophrology while continuing my career as an animator, one of my goals was to bring into the media world another way of understanding professions that, while being exciting , generate a lot of pressure. The artistic and television world is making more and more young people dream, and some programs give the impression that it is easy to “make a name for yourself”. However, whether it is for someone who wants to sing or a career in the media, it is good to be aware of the stress that can litter the path to success. By identifying the difficulties from the start, this allows them to be overcome better. As in sophrology, to go to success, the work never stops, and it is passion and training that will always make the difference. This experience allows me to find the right balance between my two careers and bring well-being with sophrology practice at the very heart of the programs I like. This also allows me to perfect the practice of sophrology for the management of stage fright with artists under very different conditions than that which any sophrologist knows within his cabinet. The first lesson that this collaboration brought me is to learn not to take the ambient stress and to make the lodge where I work with the talents a real “airlock of decompression”. Behind the scenes of a program like The Voice, everything goes quickly and the artists need effective support immediately, it is sometimes a “challenge” but it is above all an exciting, human and enriching work. I take advantage of the opportunity you give me to thank the production for the confidence it once again gives me.
Do some of the talents you supported during the show continue to practice sophrology ?
Yes, I have the pleasure of keeping in touch with certain talents who, according to their feedback, continue to use the exercises that we have seen together or to practice sophrological techniques. The 6 weeks of coaching during the live shows of these last two seasons, allow, while remaining in a professional setting, to create true relationships with the talents who trust me. So I sometimes continue to provide some advice to some via social networks among others, failing sessions in “real life” because of their busy schedules, talent requires …
You are present in the first edition of The Voice Kids. Do we accompany children as we accompany young adults?
All sophrologists who have the joy of working with children know that the accompaniment of a child is a little different compared to that of an adult. The first meeting with him is very important. Above all, you have to create a feeling of trust. It should not be forgotten that the talent in front of you will come on stage to start a career full of promise, with sometimes strong ideas despite their young age. A child with the capacity to assimilate techniques or exercises very quickly, because you quickly trust them if you have immediately created a good “alliance” with them and they ask themselves less questions. If the exercise does him good, he doesn’t wonder why or how, he just adopts it. This allows effective support even in a fairly short time. I work mainly with exercises of “dynamic relaxation” in a rather playful spirit, that the young talent can redo when he wishes if he feels the need. The presence of parents unlike the adult version also requires different backstage support in agreement with them. But the work is just as rewarding.
Children sometimes seem to be less stalking than their elders. Is this really the case?
It depends a lot on the child. Some people think they are nervous because everyone around them asks the famous question “so not too stressed? But it’s more of an induced impression than a real feeling. For others, often the oldest, the stakes, the setting of the stage and the public cause real fright. A television set often impresses, whether one is young or an adult. To avoid letting them deconcentrate, I work among other things with the ventral breathing to teach them to refocus on them, on their body, their sensations and not to be distracted by everything that can happen around them. I also use visualization, because as you know, stage fright is fueled by what we don’t know. I can tell you that these young talents still have some nice surprises in store for the next bonuses.
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Alain Lancelot was trained inSophrology Training Institute. He is the author of Unleash your talent with sophrology , CD book on stress and stage fright management and which will be published on September 18 by Guy Trédaniel Editeur.
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