Innovation is the high wire between art and commerce ... with death a distinct possibility
Jessica Hagy's Indexed blog has received several awards, including "favorite reason for the Internet to exist." I have to agree, its a favorite stopping point for me. Every morning Jessica sits down with a cup of coffee and a blank index card, and waxes philosophical with statistically irrelevant graphs.
Like this one from January 9, 2009. (thanks Jessica, for permission to reprint)
Last May, I blogged about creativity and the day job, and where I was with my own internal struggle on that topic. Seeing Jessica's statistically irrelevant graph prompted me to think about where I'm at now.
Its clear that this topic is on more minds than just mine. Last November, Christine Kane blogged about whether or not "going pro" can squeeze the joy out of your passion, prompted by a blog by Seth Godin. I agree with Christine's assessment - I'm paraphrasing to match my theme here, but the gist is that the happiest people are the ones who decide how they are going to balance art and commerce in their lives. (read her whole post linked above, its very good)
Last week we had a surprise visit from a friend and touring musician, Hans York. I love Hans. He called us in the morning and said he'd be passing through the area later that day and asked if we had time to hang out. We invited him to stay the night, and he made us a fantastic dinner - I mean Michelin Five Star fantastic. But I digress. (and I'm still drooling...) Hans, Greg and I talked about this topic of art, creativity and money that night.
I moderated a panel at the 2008 FAR-West conference on touring strategies for independent acoustic musicians with Hans, Freebo, Cosy Sheridan and TR Ritchie. We talked a lot about balance in that session. Staying grounded, taking care of yourself, making yourself available to innovate.
Freebo is spending more time at home in LA these days, doing creativity workshops. Cosy and TR stay out about 2-3 weeks, then "head home to the barn" in Moab Utah where they run the Moab Folk Camp. Hans tours for about three months at a time - and that's really hard. All agreed that balance comes from searching out those situations that renew and revive. In Hans' case, it means not getting caught up in the quest for the big stages (not that he doesn't love playing them) but rather enjoying the intimacy and soul-feeding experience of playing house concerts.
Which brings me to last Friday night, January 9 - the day Jessica posted her indexed graph on commerce and art.
In our living room, we hosted a house concert featuring Randall Williams, another good friend and touring musician. Randall, like Freebo, Cosy, TR and Hans, is someone who has always made his living by his art. He's traveled the world - some of it solo in a very small sail boat. He's written a book about that trip, called The Sea Inside. He's taught clinics, written a book and cut an instructional DVD on partial capo techniques for Kyser. He's also currently on David Wilcox's PR/social media team.
So all of those things that are outside of writing, recording and performing his own music, would be his "day job," right? Those collective experiences are what drive Randall's innovation. The crazy high wire of booking, driving, marketing, teaching, etc. - it all impacts his writing, recording and performing. How could it not?
So here's where I am with this now: I think every innovative artist is the sum of all his or her life experiences, whether those experiences are with driving children around your home town, international travel, heartbreak, elder care or a day job related to music, PR, technology, or whatever. At the end of the day - or the end of the concert - were you moved? If so, who cares where they took their lunch break that day?
blog republished 1/15 with corrected links. and spellilng.
