Imposter Syndrome:Let's Talk About It The main takeaways:- Imposter Syndrome is born from a big mixture of things. Sometimes its bred by the industry, often its bred by misrepresentation- it's also just part of being an adult.-A big cause of Imposter Syndrome is the fact our industry is built on receiving validation from others. Audiences, reviewers and people we want to work with. We're constantly being judged and it can feel very pressuring sometimes.- A lot of pressure comes from how much we feel we need to know about theatre to be able to talk about it intelligently. There are so many plays we should read, plays we should see, work we should know. It's impossible to know everything and we often find ourselves focusing on the gaps in our knowledge.- Working part time/full time in a non-creative job can impact our ability to call ourselves artists. Does it really count if we're not working at the moment or all the time?-Although Imposter Syndrome is a huge hindrance, it also has its positives. It makes us challenge our work, and we would rather be unsure than be entitled.- Structures of feedback can be a big issue. The way we talk about others' work feels generic and false, and often leaves us questioning whether people really liked it or not.-It is difficult to talk about failure when we are collaborating with others- we do not want to discredit or under value their work.-Imposter syndrome can often be a self fulfilling prophecy, the things you tell yourself are true end up coming true because of the way it affects your behaviour.-Success and failure is not binary, things can succeed in one way and fail in another.-Self consciousness is the worst thing for creativity, and drama school structures can encourage actors to feel like Imposters because of the pressure and constant comparison to others.-Confidence often makes us feel like someone is knowledgeable- and we should look for other qualities as an indicator of ability.-The main thing Imposter Syndrome is linked to is power. The small ways we don't talk about failure (messing up a show, forgetting our lines etc) are linked to the ways we don't talk about failure on a much larger scale (cultures of abuse, lack of inclusion and diversity etc).How do we talk about ourselves more positively, and can we encourage positivity around other people?- Remember that questioning yourself can be intelligent and sensitive if you're specific.- Make a list of terminology and 'theatre talk' that people use assuming everyone knows what it means, but some of us may not.-Celebrate failure, and the failures of others. One teacher in the group actively cheers when her students fail and gets the others to do the same, which is awesome.-Find a mate who likes your work- and ask them to be specific about why they do- and return the favour. It is much easier to see what you like in someone else's work than your own.-Commit to mentoring others in your field- offer as much advice as possible and let them know its ok to ask stupid questions.-Ask for what you deserve. Especially when it comes to fees. Approach venues with a 'usual rate' (the rate you want) and work from there.-We will be starting a #TheatreConfessionBooth to encourage people to talk about failing in a non-pressurised way. Watch this space!