The Vs. Studio Blog

If you’ve created a piece of art and are seeking honest, effective feedback, one simple and phenomenal question to ask is…

“Where did you lean in and where did you lean out?”

The question certainly applies to watching theatre or film. But also with reading any piece of material. Listening to a song. Pretty much any art form.

Another way to think about the question is…

“Where were you engaged and where were you bored?”

As the creator, all you need to hear are those spots, good and bad. You don’t need to hear possible fixes or solutions to the problem. Trust that you and your subconscious will work that out later.

At our old Vs. theatre space, one thing I really loved is that the audience sat in old, wooden, straight-backed chairs. It was only 28 seats (Grotowski famously said he never trusted theatre over 30 seats) and very intimate. If you started hearing a lot of squeaky chairs, you knew the audience was restless. They were leaning out. If you heard quiet, they were still. On the edge of their seats. Leaning in.

No better feedback than that.

“Even circus clowns get bored at work.” -Seth Godin

“When you fall in love with the process rather than the product, you don’t have to wait to give yourself permission to be happy. You can be satisfied anytime your system is running. And a system can be successful in many different forms, not just the one you first envision.” -James Clear

“The process is the product.” -Paul Shirley

One of the biggest life hacks you can give yourself (and your kids) is to figure out as early as possible (though it’s never too late), what you love to do, and then translate that love of doing into meaningful work.

Notice I said “love to do.” Not “love to be.”

Because you will spend your life DOING stuff. Not being or having stuff.

Learn the process behind any profession. Don’t read or believe puff pieces. Find someone who’s doing what you think you want to do and ask them specific questions about their day to day. Get super granular. Think of it like a ride along.

See if the process (the actual doing), not the dream, still excites you.

For example, a person decides they want to be a film or television actor. (Or both.) Great!…Are they okay with spending a majority of a 12-16 hour day (that is, if they’re fortunate to book the job) just standing around and waiting to shoot a scene? They better be. Because that’s a large part of the process.

The process is the product.

The dream, the awards, the accolades, the money, the recognition, etc…those are just by-products of the process.

P.S. – This amazing Seth Godin post today.

“When you say ‘Yes’ to others, make sure you are not saying ‘No’ to yourself.” -Paulo Coelho

“People think focusing is about saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I’m actually as proud of the things we haven’t done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things.” -Steve Jobs

“You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, non apologetically — to say “no” to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger “yes” burning inside.” -Stephen R. Covey

“A ‘no’ uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a ‘yes’ uttered merely to please – or worse; to avoid trouble.” -Mahatma Gandhi

“If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will.” -Greg McKeown

“You should do this.”

“What?..Why would you want to do that?”

“I don’t know…If I were you, I would do this.”

People mean well, but…

No.

No.

No.

YOU decide what you want to do. That’s it. End of story.

But…you have to know what exactly that is (takes time and discernment), and then go for it with everything you got (laser focus).

Otherwise…the world, the prevailing culture, other people, etc…will decide for you.

“Sorry! I don’t want any adventures, thank you. Not Today. Good morning! But please come to tea – any time you like! Why not tomorrow? Good bye!” –The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

“Go back?” he thought. “No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!” So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter.” –The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Making art isn’t for everyone.  It’s scary. Like entering a dark and deep forest late at night.

But if you are that person?…well, sometimes, you just gotta do it anyway.

Bilbo (and later Frodo) didn’t want to leave the Shire either…But he did.

Admitting “this might not work” isn’t self-defeating or letting yourself off the hook.

Au contraire, mon frère.

Admitting this takes humility and courage.

Humility in that even though you’re lit up and clearly “see it”, (a) you understand you might not be able to execute the thing in your head.  And (b) even if you do execute, you understand it doesn’t mean anyone else will come along for the ride.

Courage in that to admit this might not work…and still do it anyway…wow…that’s massive. You are one courageous motherf-cker.

You’re my hero.

Now go make your art.

And remember, yes with great power comes great responsibility. But the converse is just as true. With great responsibility comes great power.

Got get ’em web-slinger.

Space, the final frontier
These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise
Its five year mission
To explore strange new worlds
To seek out new life
And new civilizations
To boldly go where no man has gone before -Star Trek opening lyrics

Sometimes, to go where you wanna go, you gotta give up what you already have. (“Have” includes rigid, dogmatic thinking and beliefs that don’t serve you or anyone else.)

Sunk costs will sink you.

Beginners mind will save you.

Remember…open, open, open.

First you see it.  “Whoa…Does anyone else this too?”

Then you declare it (to yourself and perhaps a few trusted collaborators).  “This might not work.”

Then you decide to do it.  “I’m lit up by this thing. So much so that even though it might not work, I must do it anyway.” 

Then you go make it.

Then you release it. “Here you go world. Have at it.”

“The first mistake is never the one that ruins you. It is the spiral of repeated mistakes that follows. Missing once is an accident. Missing twice is the start of a new habit.” -James Clear, Atomic Habits

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb

On the road to building a new habit, it’s highly likely you’re gonna miss a day.

When that happens, forgive yourself.

But then resolve, by any means necessary, to not miss again tomorrow. Whatever you have to do, don’t miss two in a row.

P.S. – “Utah, get me two!”

For the actor…

If you’re struggling to raise the stakes or find a good obstacle for your character, here’s one that never fails:

Give your character the driving and desperate need to survive. Literally and metaphorically. To fight for their life in a world that’s not allowing them to do so.

Life and death. Survival. No higher stakes than that.

“What gets measured, gets managed.” -Peter Drucker

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” -Benjamin Franklin

“Progress equals happiness. Even if you’re not where you want to be yet. If you’re on the road, if you’re improving, if you’re making progress, you’re gonna love it. You’re gonna feel alive.” – Tony Robbins

“Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.” -Benjamin Disraeli

In the service of doing what you love, you often have to do some things you don’t like. (Memorizing lines comes to mind.)

The secret to getting these things done?

SCHEDULE and take consistent action.

MEASURE and celebrate your progress.

You might find what you didn’t like at first, you now love too. Or at least like.