The Performance Life - Who Should Be In Charge…
I want to use this platform to inform, educate and inspire. Today I am writing with the notion that aspiring performers have the wrong idea of what their life is supposed to be about.
In addition to this, society has the wrong idea of what the performing artists’ lives are supposed to be, they have no clue (ever have someone ask you to perform for free, excuse me? Did I hear that correctly?)
Have I been living a lie all my conservatory years with false expectations? I think there was a bit of denial mixed with a lack of awareness of what was truly in store for me and my peers. Society poses this idea of what your life should be and most of us don’t have that picture-perfect life. Nothing is perfect. The idea of perfection is a lie and might be a temporary state of mind for some. I am a realist and I believe that having an awareness of what we can and cannot control is powerful. I also believe that it is NOT my responsibility to control or change everything.
How can this be solved and WHO do we want to solve this? This latter part of this question is one that doesn’t get asked too often and it should. Who do we want to have the power to produce solutions for our lives?
We have the government and non-profit foundations that give funding and resources. However, this is not distributed equally so many are left out. In the United States, we have the freedom to be who we are but not the access to the necessary resources to even the playing field. Can anyone solve this problem? The person that can make the greatest change in your life is yourself and your community. That’s right, you. Unfortunately and fortunately you cannot do it alone. Does art even exist without another to experience it? We need people to be fulfilled and to experience life.
I say we need a redo. However, we have to deal with the current systems that are in place and also choose where we want to put our energy towards. We cannot do everything and we can accomplish more with others. I mention community a lot because the network we surround ourselves with can determine our success and our current state of mind. Having a group of creative, like-minded colleagues can really be game-changing.
Here are my thoughts:
1.) We don’t need society’s viewpoints of what our lives should be. It is our responsibility to determine this.
What is success supposed to look like? Well as a classical musician, many would say you have to be in an orchestra. Well for me that is not MY idea of success because that is not what makes me feel accomplished and it doesn’t give me purpose. We don’t need the big, elite institutions to create art or to live our best life. We need to change our mindset on defining what success truly is, the processes of how things are done and how we accomplish this.
2.) Define your purpose.
What do you want to do with your art, life and what brings joy to you? For me it is creating performance art that communicates a message. What is your why? It can be a message of hope, an idea for a solution or even sharing a piece of music that I love with my audience. However, you cannot discover your purpose without doing things, investing in yourself is how you discover your purpose. Write down what you want to do with your music and why, this leads me to the next point.
3.) Start doing things and experience life.
This means you are doing things that you are familiar with and unfamiliar with. Don’t cry the “I’m too busy blues” this is just an excuse to not face life’s challenges, it ain’t going away and life is better when you live it instead of hiding under your work. This is not easy for everyone. We all love being in our comfort zones. What is familiar to us feels safe, but that doesn’t mean it is what’s best for us. In order for you to find your purpose, you have to experience more than just what you know. Take more chances and learn.
4.) Start learning.
Learning about ourselves and how to do things matters. It helps us become mentors, advocates and educators. Learning new skills, new genres, performance art outside of our discipline and learning about different groups of people who are not like you will allow you to empathize with others and understand life in a more multifaceted way. It will also help generate inspiration and ideas.
5.) Find your people.
When you start doing more beyond your daily routine and learning more you will encounter different people. Take note of who you naturally gravitate towards and start building relationships. Taking the time to nurture these relationships. Not only will you create potential friendships but also build a stronger network.
6.) Find institutions and organizations that fit your purpose.
When you are actively working on yourself and you have identified what you want to do with your art you will gain a greater sense of clarity. Research what organizations resonate with you and see if they have any upcoming meet-ups or if they have social media presence, connect and open yourself to learning and networking. Also, once you have learned how these organizations operate you can start branching out on your own.
7.) Create your own institution with others.
Build trust with your colleagues and do a project pilot together. Essentially this is a short-term project that is low risk. The purpose is to get to know people and see if you work well with them. Do this with a few different groups if you can. Not every group will work out you might find that there are certain individuals that you work better with or find those with who your values and beliefs align more, that’s a great start. Just make sure you remember that you don’t need people to be just like you or look like you. You need people who are open to working with you and trust you, respect you and reciprocate the same.
These are all things that can help you be defiant to the ways of the world and allow you to take back your power. In order for performing artists to live their best lives, they need to have the freedom to create without barriers. The current systems that we are dealing with stifle productivity, energy and progress.
In order to be treated with respect, we have to have ownership of who we are and of our art. Knowing your value and having a strong bond with your community will allow you to live a joyful, fearless life.
There is a lie out there in the world that says we have to conform or deal with people or circumstances that do not serve us. In most cases, this is either false or temporary. Take ownership of who you are and what you do.
Start regularly investing in yourself and you will find a less burdensome life.
