Performing Entertainment Artist
Josh Piterman is the definition of a performer. He's done work as a performing artist, musical theater and in the entertainment industry. The bloke has a fantastic voice and is an even better mate!
Josh's Website:
www.joshpiterman.com.au
Josh on Instagram:
@joshpiterman
Josh on Spotify:
Josh Piterman
Verbatim from the transcripts — each quote links to the moment.
“Mask life is epic.”
“This too shall pass, and control what, you know, the controllables.”
“You need to go to a place where you feel deeply in order for 1,500 or 15,000 or 150,000 people to feel as well.”
“I think now I, I basically say that it's, um, it's so much more hard work, persistence, uh, dedication, mindset than it is talent.”
“I made so many little turds my pants before I went on. I was so nervous.”
“It wasn't actually anyone who's put that on us. It's not an external, it's an internal. And what we lack doing often is actually taking responsibility for that. And it's confronting.”
“I think we still have mega, mega issues with what it is to be a vulnerable man.”
“So really I'm like a bong and opera is like smack.”
How do you cope mentally with major life disruption, like losing your job overnight?
Piterman describes reaching an 'acceptance' after two to three weeks by surrendering control, focusing on what happens 'between one's ears,' and not spending each day fretting over finances or trying to control everything.
How should you respond when someone asks you for career advice about getting into musical theatre?
Be honest rather than purely motivational: emphasize that hard work, persistence, dedication and mindset matter more than raw talent, and let the honesty prompt an internal conversation so people genuinely weigh whether they want to pursue a tough, highly competitive industry rather than just hyping them up.
How do you handle the pressure and nerves of a high-stakes live performance?
Use repeated personal mantras (e.g. 'I'm grounded, I'm free, I'm powerful') combined with meditation practice to center yourself before going on stage, and try to stay present and observe the moment as it happens rather than anticipating what's coming.
What's a good daily practice for staying grounded and intentional?
Keep a gratitude journal each morning listing three things you're grateful for, one thing you'd change from yesterday, affirming 'I am' mantras, and three intentions for the day, then review the next day whether you achieved those intentions.
How should you respond to people who don't understand or seem skeptical of your non-traditional creative career?
Recognize that people who've only known a 9-to-5 system often can't understand the complexity and joy of self-created creative work, so you don't owe them a full explanation; it's more productive to stay grounded in your own sense of purpose and direction rather than seeking their validation or getting defensive.
Should you celebrate wins and successes, or just move on to the next goal?
Celebrate completed projects and wins regardless of external outcome, because the hard work deserves acknowledgment — failing to celebrate means you're not fully experiencing the process you put the effort into.
Josh Piterman explains he knew about being cast as the Phantom of the Opera two months before leaving Australia but was sworn to secrecy, surprising the hosts who had seen him shortly before his departure.
After emailing the Australian Treasurer about artists being excluded from JobKeeper, Piterman received a personal phone call from Josh Frydenberg; he explains the conversation and his frustration that nothing changed in legislation despite the call.
Piterman recounts how 100-year-old Captain Tom Moore raised over £30 million doing laps of his garden and, with help from Michael Ball, had a number one single with 'You'll Never Walk Alone.'
Josh Piterman describes a solo five-day stay at an agriturismo in Tuscany after touring Italy, where he unplugged from his phone, went horse riding, swam, and drank heavily at the property's winery.
Josh Piterman recounts performing Nessun Dorma to a crowd of about 60,000 on Australia Day with roughly $10 million in fireworks, describing extreme nerves beforehand, a mantra-driven out-of-body experience during the song, and an emotional high afterward supported by his girlfriend Charlotte.
Drawn from the episode transcripts.
Piterman called it 'living the dream,' describing an intense eight-shows-a-week schedule with about an hour of vocal/physical warm-up, over an hour of prosthetic makeup application, and a strict recovery routine where he didn't speak from 10:30pm until midday the next day.
From episode 725→The West End production paused on March 16th. Piterman described reaching an 'acceptance' after two to three weeks, focusing on controlling his mindset rather than fretting over finances, and used the downtime for an Instagram Live 'world tour' of multilingual singing and watching shows like Fauda and Normal People.
From episode 725→Josh Janssen sent a cold email in July 2018 referencing a prior quote Godin gave for guest Peter Shepherd, explaining the podcast's mission and offering to meet when they were in New York in October. Godin responded with interest, they exchanged a few emails, and the hosts eventually took an early train to his Hastings-on-Hudson office to record the interview in person.
From episode 725→He described breaking into the industry, doing West Side Story and Hairspray (UK), then taking 18 months off to run a fitness business before returning to perform in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, a 13-month 'run of play' contract that took from a 2016 audition to a January 2017 offer to rehearsals in August 2017 and finishing in September 2018.
From episode 332→On Australia Day he sang Nessun Dorma in front of roughly 60,000 people with about $10 million worth of fireworks, describing it as the most epic gig of his life, using pre-performance mantras ('I'm grounded, I'm free, I'm powerful') and having an out-of-body, observer-like experience during the performance.
From episode 332→He and the hosts discuss the patronising 'wrist touch' moment when acquaintances ask what he's up to, noting that people in traditional 9-to-5 jobs often can't relate to the uncertainty of self-created creative careers, and advise focusing on one's own sense of purpose rather than external validation.
From episode 332→He is an Australian musical theatre performer known for roles with the Ten Tenors, playing Gerry Goffin in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (370 shows, winning 5 awards including Best Musical in Australia), and for a classical crossover solo album recorded with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra that hit number one on the ARIA and iTunes charts.
From episode 188→It's a fundraising campaign Josh Piterman is an ambassador for, built around the statistic that a child dies from violence somewhere in the world every 5 minutes, usually at the hands of men; participants paint one nail to spark conversation and raise money for victims' families and communities.
From episode 188→Every episode featuring Josh Piterman on The Daily Talk Show.
Josh Piterman and Brad Blanks are back! We chat to Josh about his role in The Phantom Of The Opera, how COVID-19 has impacted the arts and his phone call with Josh Frydenberg about artists in this time. We're then joined by Brad Blanks again! We reminisce about our New York trip in 2018, interviewing Seth Godin and have a look at one of his notepads of ideas!
Josh Piterman joined Tommy Jackett and Josh Janssen on Episode 332 (23 April 2019) — "Performer, Poet, Riddler Josh Piterman". we're joined by our mate Josh Piterman. Josh is a performing artist in musical theatre and entertainment. Josh is performing his first ever solo tour of Australia in June. We discuss: - Josh's holiday life - Josh's performing career - Performing artist management - Giving advice to upcoming...
Josh Piterman joined Tommy Jackett and Josh Janssen on Episode 188 (3 October 2018) — "Josh Piterman Sings in Washington Square Park". We caught up with our mate Josh Piterman for a chat on a park bench in New York City's famous Washington Square Park. Josh has just wrapped up performing in the Australian season of the Carol King musical, Beautiful, where he played the lead male role, Gerry Goffin. We chat about the importance ...