Every time I step on stage, I feel the same mix of nerves and excitement. No matter how many shows I play, there’s something magical about performing live. It’s unpredictable, raw, and full of energy you can’t get anywhere else. As a music mom, every show feels like a gift. Like a chance to share not only my songs but also the heart behind them.
Here are five things I love most about performing live and why I’m so grateful for the people who make it all possible.
1. Meeting the folks who have embraced my music
This is my favorite part by far. After shows, I get to chat with the people who’ve been listening, sharing, and connecting with my songs. Hearing how a lyric helped them through a hard time or reminded them of someone they love. It means everything. These conversations remind me why I write music in the first place. The hugs, the smiles, the stories—they’re the moments I carry with me long after the lights go down.
2. Feeling the energy of the crowd
There’s nothing like the connection that happens during a live show. The crowd sings back, claps along, and shares the moment with me. I can feel the energy rising with every song. That exchange of emotion is electric. It’s not just me performing; it’s all of us creating something together.
3. Sharing stories behind the songs
In the studio, songs live in a polished world. But on stage, I get to tell the stories behind them. I love explaining where a song came from, what inspired it, and why it matters to me. Seeing the audience react, nod, or even tear up—it makes the music feel alive in a whole new way.
4. Watching my kids see me do what I love
As a mom, my kids are my biggest audience—even if they’re just in the wings or in the crowd. They see me nervous before a show, they watch me step into my element, and they see me connect with others through music. I hope it shows them the importance of following their own passions.
5. Leaving it all on the stage
Performing live gives me the chance to pour every emotion into the moment. There’s no re-recording, no editing. It’s just me and the music. When I step off stage knowing I gave everything I had, I feel both exhausted and renewed. It really is the best kind of tired.
Live music is a conversation. It’s me offering my heart and the audience responding with theirs. Every show reminds me how lucky I am to have people who embrace not just the music, but the journey behind it.
To everyone who has come to a show, sung along, or simply listened, I have one message: thank you. You’re the reason I keep doing what I do. You make every note worth playing.
The Music Mom: Eileen Carey 