Friday, August 29, 2008

Marketing Your Art

Well, here I am marketing…and marketing…and marketing. I had a conversation with a friend about the necessity of it, but we both admitted it that it was extremely difficult. And I think it’s the total antithesis of what we do that makes it so difficult. Here we are, creating (performance, writing, otherwise) and then we have to put on the business hat and tell complete strangers how good we are and why they should consider our art. So…my question is: what are your experiences conducting business (either cold-calling, prepping publicity, etc) to get the word out there on your art?

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Breath in Performance

Well, I have had an incredible breakthrough over the last few months, and that is with my breath. And I’ve read all the books, and my acting teachers have told me about breath, and I was like, yeah, yeah, I’m meditating, I’m relaxed, but it wasn’t until I was sitting there pre-show one night with my meditation music going and I rubbed the back of my neck (which felt like a rock) and I FINALLY got it. And I am sooo surprised—it is like the gift that keeps on giving back. I was on the mic again Friday, trying to relax through the performance, and I was just trying to be there, and WALLAH! I had the moment I had been waiting for! You know, I didn’t have to dig for the moment, mug for the moment or beg for the moment and it just came, and I still can’t tell you how amazed I am with how well it works. So…my question to my fellow performers out there is: what is your experience with breath and performance?

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Accepting Yourself as an Artist

Two things have occurred this week that to me indicate that so many of us still struggle accepting ourselves as artists. The first incident was an artist (let’s say Brian) who was ‘smarting’ over a fellow artist’s evaluation of his musical style (OK, his songs). When Brian talked about it you could see the pain on his face. My friend and I reminded him that his style may be different from other musician’s, but that does not mean that Brian is a crappy musician. We had to remind Brian that the audience responded to him; his quirkiness is what bonded them to him; that only he can do his style; and that he has to be true to it because if he tries to change and be something that he’s not, the audience will see through the ruse. He was so relieved to hear this, and for me, it was bothersome because he was in so much pain over what someone else said. So, in short BE TRUE TO YOURSELF!!

The second was another artist who I meet occasionally and has really talked up moving to NY. Lately, however, he has been telling me that he’s putting his dream off in an apologetic way. I looked at him and said, “You’re an artist no matter where you live.” It was like I had given him a stay of execution. He was so thankful, and I was glad I could do that for him, but for me, all I did was remind him of something he had forgotten.

These two incidents just remind me of how fragile we are as artists, and how easy it is to put ourselves (and let others put us) down. Remember, there is a uniqueness that is uniquely yours and only yours. (Yes, I am redundant for a reason!) No two people see the world in exactly the same way, and that is what gives it its dynamics, its color, its vibrance. Start painting!