𝗜𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘀: why being difficult isn't always about ego.

Van Halen demanding bowls of M&Ms with all the brown ones removed. 

Beyoncé needing her room at exactly 78 degrees.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘀!

But sometimes 'divaish' behaviour is just about setting the right stage to perform at your best.

Van Halen's M&Ms clause wasn't about being difficult, it was a test.

If the organisers couldn't get the M&Ms right, what else might they miss? Safety, maybe.

Beyoncé's temperature requirement keeps her voice in top shape for her show.

What looks like indulgence is often — but not always — 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

On a much smaller scale and on much, much smaller stages, I also have my 'divaish' moments, which I know conference organisers dislike.

I won't, for example, send them my slides in advance.

Not because I'm trying to be difficult, but because if I do, they'll be '𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴' and not my final or best content.

I'm often inspired by ideas at the last minute or heard a previous speaker say something I can riff off; it's more work for me, but it means a better performance.

I also won't provide my slides in PowerPoint.

I don't use it, not because I theoretically couldn't, but because I don't find the software conducive to creative thinking.

Converting my content to PPT often corrupts it. 

I'm not trying to break rules or receive special treatment; I just want to create an environment that gets the best out of me. 

Which, in turn, increases the chance of the audience having a much better time, enjoying the show and loving the performance.

Isn't that ultimately what all divas want?