The Vs. Studio Blog

Yes, know the arc of the character you’re playing and the story you’re trying to tell. If for nothing else, information.

However, under no circumstances whatsoever, should you “arc” your performance.

We didn’t pay to watch you warm up, ease into it, modulate, pre-shape, know where you’re going, etc…Banish all thoughts such as “My character wouldn’t be that (insert emotion) here.”

Horseshit.

Always, always start in the middle. Come out of the gates swinging. Go right for the jugular. Grab hold of us and don’t let go.

There are no limits on far you can go. Surprise yourself! Remember, just like in life, you have no idea what’s next or if there’s even another line coming. This might be it. Your only chance to change the other person.

So give it all you got. Now! Now! Now!

Watch this. It says everything.

Just like the best bets are often the ones you don’t make, the best words are often the ones you don’t say.

You have your passion project. You’re on fire. Everything makes sense to you. Finally. You announce it to the world. And…

…crickets.

It’s a lot like this scene–which I love–from the movie Jerry Maguire.

Just because it’s all so clear to you doesn’t mean it is to them. Your job as a producer is to get people to see what you see. To trust you with their time and attention. To show up. And that’s not easy.

It will require massive and constant effort, consistent messaging, and at some point, a willingness to go out on a limb. To risk. To stumble into the darkness.

But all you need to do is to turn the lights on for just one person. Start there.

80 – 90 percent of our stress. Wouldn’t you agree?

Manage these two things extremely well and you’re freed up to make the art that lives inside you.

“Peace sells, but who’s buying?”
-Megadeath

You can have the greatest product, the most beautiful piece of art, the perfect solution, the exact right medicine, the answer to their prayers, etc…but if no one wants it, does it even matter?

And even harder on the soul, especially for the artist, is the uncertainty.  For the only way to know if you have an audience, is to fully invest yourself, go all in, be vulnerable, make the thing inside your head, and then offer it to people.

But hey, that’s the job.  That comes with the territory.  Otherwise everyone would do it, right?

Go make your art.  Let the chips fall where they may.

Our inspiring definition of art: “doing something that might not work in service of others.”

Using this definition as our guidepost, we see that art isn’t only about making, it’s also about appreciating what others have made.

Consider that when we appreciate, we risk two of our more valuable assets: our time and attention. We have no idea if the thing we’re giving ourselves over to will be any good. That we’ll enjoy it. We’re taking a chance. That’s generous on our part.

It’s even more risky and generous when we tell others about it. Now we’re really putting ourselves on the line.

Art-makers: please remember this. Remember your audience. Strive for excellence in all you do.

“How we do anything is how we do everything.” -Zen Buddhist Proverb

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is a habit, not an act.” -Aristotle

“What we do every day matters more than what we do once in a while.” -Gretchen Rubin

What did you actually do today for the thing(s) you say you love? To get you closer to manifesting the idea in your head? To the place you say you want to be? How much time did you actually spend doing it?

If no time or very little, that’s okay. At least you know. Shake it off. And resolve to spend just one more minute tomorrow doing it.

Is it luck or hard work that’s responsible for your success?

It’s always both.

And humility lies in acknowledging that.

Not comfortable with self promotion?

That’s alright.

Find someone you believe in.  Promote them.

A writer is always told to “find your voice.”

It’s no different for a leader.  You must find your message.

The writer only finds their voice by writing and writing and writing some more.  Until people are eager to read their words.  

The same for a leader.  You only find your message by speaking it out loud.  Over and over and over again.  Until what you say resonates with people eager to hear from you.