After The Tour - What's Next For Britney

Author Steve Dennis of 'Britney: Inside The Dream' writes a little piece on his blog titled, "Now What For Britney".

So, after seven months on the road, back and forth between America and Europe, ‘The Circus starring Britney Spears’ played its last show in Vegas at the weekend. There’ll be a one month break and then she’ll tackle a few dates in Oz.

But the grand illusions and apparatus surrounding this circus-like spectacle are packing up from the main run, taking the clowns, the jugglers and trapeze artists with them. And leaving only one giant elephant in the room; the elephant that asks: ‘Where does Britney go from here?’

With the applause in the ears, more millions of dollars banked and a reputation restored, the touring treadmill and relentless performing can no longer be relied upon to leave team Britney, and the performer herself, in a state of denial. For it is now, in the month before Australia’s gigs and thereafter, when she’ll face the true challenge within her comeback; her redemption as a person not a performer.

Within the run-like-clockwork routine of her tour, Britney was returned to the security of the only identity where she feels safe. It’s also a safe bet that she’ll also be working in the studio this next month. Anything to keep Britney occupied within the camp’s pre-occupation with ‘how to keep Britney busy’. But the scrutiny of how well she is doing should start now, and the jury should not reach any unanimous verdicts merely based on the evidence of one successful and effective tour.

It is, admittedly, a huge and encouraging step that she didn’t falter in public. Hats off to her. But it is the next two to six months that will offer a true examination of how far Britney has personally progressed, and whether the conservatorship can release its grip. Because if the conservatorship was truly about her welfare, then it needs to remain in place for the forseeable future, so that the judge can determine how Britney copes with life away from the tour, away from the stage. It is this crucial readjustment that matters now. Fingers crossed that she continues the upward climb.

I, for one, will be applauding some more if we see little of Ms Spears this next month, and that this final quarter of the year is dedicated to a focus on the woman, not the pop princess; on some inner-work and not the projection of outward-images.

Make sure you pick up your copy of "Inside The Dream". In book stores October 1. (USA) I got my copy early thanks to a dear friend from the UK. I just finished reading it, and it was a really good, honest written book in my opinion. Make sure y'all check it out.