The Vs. Studio Blog

Sometimes it’s hard to be a producer.
Giving all your love to just one passion project.
You’ll have bad times
And you’ll have good times, 
Doin’ things that you don’t understand
But if you love it you’ll forgive it,
Even though it’s hard to understand
And if you love it oh be proud of it,
‘Cause after all it’s just a passion project 
Stand by your passion project,
Stand by your passion project
Stand by your passion project 

With apologies to Tammy Wynette, here’s the real version of her hit song, “Stand By Your Man.” Give it a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM-b8P1yj9w

And for more good times, here’s the link to The Blues Brothers version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psm96Dn9KIIhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psm96Dn9KII

It’s a powerful question.

Next time you’re talking to an artist friend or colleague or someone you’ve just met, slip that question into the conversation.

Notice their reaction. Often they’ll stop dead in their tracks. Then, if they do come up with an answer, it’s usually fascinating. A story about their first time on stage. Or the joy of being part of the high school play. Or a moment when they felt truly present. Truly alive.

While you’re at it, ask yourself the same question. “Why’d You Get Into This?”

Think about those first memories. Journal about it. Share them with a friend.

Now ask yourself, “Am I doing that? Am I doing what I wanted to do?”

It’s not your fault…

…your computer crashed before you saved your script.

…your lead actor won’t learn their lines.

…your main funder backed out at the last minute.

…your production designer is way late with their set.

…your costume designer went way over budget.

…your director won’t return your calls and texts.

…your show didn’t get good reviews, word of mouth is absent and audience is scant

…everyone is blaming you.

You’re right. It’s not your fault.

But it is your responsibility.

Binx Bolling, the main character in Walker Percy’s brilliant debut novel, The Moviegoer, is on a “Search“.

Like Binx, maybe you’re on a “Search.” A search for your passion project. And it can be frustrating. Agonizing. No end in sight.

But unlike Binx, who’s mired in existential angst, trust that your search will end. Because you’ll take concrete, specific actions on your search. Like…

Reading. Read a ton. Plays, Books, Novels, Short Stories, Poems, etc…Anything that interests you even remotely. Read.

Watching. See films and plays. New, old, one’s you’ve seen a dozen times. See them again. Get inspired. See.

Writing. Write anything. Journal. Stream of consciousness. Stories. Sketches. Doesn’t matter. Write.

Meeting. Meet with friends and colleagues. Be deeply interested in what they’re doing. Tell them you’re searching for your passion project. Put out an A.P.B. to anyone who will respond. Meet up. Show up.

Most importantly, when you’re on your search, enjoy every minute of it. Because it’s just a season. It will end. Soon.

And when it ends, you’ll be in another season. The season of doing. Of manifesting. Of producing. Because you’ll have your passion project. And it will need all your focus.

But until then, be carefree. Pick and choose. Go down rabbit holes. Have fun exploring. And trust you’ll find it when you’re supposed to.

Good luck searching. I’m rooting for you.

Some Monday morning motivation for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdTMDpizis8.

Couldn’t get the rights for the play you wanted to do? Good. Find another one you like even more.

Lost your lead actor to another project? Good. Find someone even more right for the part.

Funding hasn’t come through? Good. Embrace your limitations and get creative.

Reviews are bad. Good. You learned a ton.

Got no one on the books for this weekend’s shows? Good. Get out there and hustle your butt off.

Every single thing that happens to you on your artistic journey is GOOD.

Today’s the 40th Anniversary of “The Miracle On Ice.” Arguably the greatest upset in Olympic team sports competition. Certainly for an American team.

Two things immediately come to mind.

One is Al Michael’s “Do You Believe In Miracles?!!” call for the final minute of the game. Give it a watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYscemhnf88 It’ll send chills up your spine.

The other is from the movie Miracle. There’s a scene where Herb Brooks, The U.S. Olympic coach, mercilessly forces his team to run a drill over and over again. To remind them to always give 100 percent effort and to represent the name that’s on the front of their jersey. Here’s that scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nR3reKPE5Y

Sometimes, the only way to learn, the only way to get better, whether it be rehearsing a scene or writing your novel or any artistic endeavor, is to work on it again.

And again.

And again.

And again.

And again…

Your why for doing something doesn’t need to be neat and perfect.  It doesn’t need to be some kinda thesis statement.  Or Power Point.  Or catchy, one sentence tag line.  

Far from it.

It just needs to mean something to you.  And hopefully radiate passion to those you enlist on your artistic journey.

Maybe your why is messy.

I don’t why I’m doing this.  I just uh…I don’t…I can’t put it into words exactly.  I just have to…Not doing it would be soul crushing.

That’s powerful.  That’s passionate.  That’s enough.

You got me.

What a dangerous question for the performer to ask the audience member. Or for the writer to ask the reader. Or the artist to ask the recipient.

Do you really want to know?  Are you looking for constructive feedback to make your work better?

Or are you just looking for approval?

A friend of mine–brutally honest, sometimes to a fault–would get invited to see his friends productions. (In his defense, he’s equally effusive in his praise as he is damning with his criticism.) He has trouble hiding his opinions, but does his best. But if anyone asks him, “So, what’d you think?” after a show, he’ll tell them. He’ll tell them the truth or more accurately, his truth. Often the friends would get frustrated and upset hearing his truth.

Finally he started advising them ahead of time, “I’ll come see your play.  I’ll support you. But please don’t ask me what I think afterwards.  Unless you really want to know. Cool?”

He stopped getting invited to see shows.

David Schwartz in his book, The Magic Of Thinking Big, writes, “The size of your success is determined by the size of your belief. Think little goals and expect little achievements. Think big goals and win big success…Big ideas and big plans are often easier—certainly no more difficult—than small ideas and small plans.”

This is certainly sound advice. If thoughts control your actions and you can think anything you want, then you might as well think big. right? Especially when you consider that the level of effort required to accomplish anything, big or small, is roughly the same. Why not go for broke?

But big is not enough.

You need the SMALL too. The on-the-surface boring, daily, repetitive actions; you need the process, to accomplish anything. As Aristotle advised, “We are what we repeatedly do.”

So, get fired up with big dreams and thoughts. Let that motivate you and everyone around you. But then also be prepared to take tons of small, daily actions. And to do those to the best of your ability.

Big and SMALL. Working together. Now you’re talking.

To hell with that.

Choose yourself.