Somewhere In The Middle

“There is one river of truth, which receives tributaries from every side.“ -Clement Of Alexandria

“There’s no disappointment in memory, and one’s exaggerations are always on the good side.“ -George Eliot, novel Daniel Deronda

I know the truth lies in between
The first and the fortieth drink -Tori Amos, song “Concertina”

“Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.” -Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

If you choose to receive feedback on your art, it’s important to first have your own inner citadel. Your own inner scorecard. A ridiculously high standard of excellence. That way you can remain open to criticism that makes your art better. And remain unaffected, yet appreciative, of other’s praise.

Also remember that it probably didn’t good as well you hoped. Or as bad as you feared. The truth usually lies somewhere in the middle.

Great Parts

“Our job is to make manifest the story, to be it. In a sense, the theatre is such a big star itself, bigger than any Shakespearean actor I could hire, that we should take the opportunity to fill it with voice and verse and movement, not interpretation.” -Mark Rylance

Great parts make great actors. Not the other way around.

If you wanna be great, find the great parts and play them.

Better yet, let them play you.

On Spec

Spec script: An original screenplay written without prior attachment or deal with an executive or studio.

As this article attests, it took producer Allan Scott over thirty years to bring Walter Tevis’ novel to life.

A producer should be judged by two things: their taste and their tenacity.

You say this is your passion project? That if you could only make one thing for the rest of your life, this would be it?

Okay. Prove it.

How far down the road will you go on spec?

Time To Make Some Art

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

How much time did you spend today making art?

If you’re like most of us, struggling to balance family, work, other priorities and obligations, there will be many days when the answer to this question is zero or very little.

Don’t fret. Don’t get depressed.

Resolve to make some art tomorrow. It can be as simple as reading a monologue out loud to yourself. Or taking a photo. Or filming a sunset. Or writing one page of a journal or story or poem. Whatever. Even if it’s five minutes, do it. And then do it again the next day and the day after that. Don’t break the streak. Pretty soon five minutes will turn to ten to twenty to thirty to sixty and next thing you know, whole hours go by when you’re in flow and making art.

The other thing is…even in your daily obligations, see how much art you can bring to those. You don’t have to do “artistic things” to be artistic. Recall our inspiring definition of art: doing something that might not work for the benefit of others.

Under that definition you can make art all day long, right?

By Myself

And I listen for the voice inside my head
Nothin’, I’ll do this one myself -“State Of Love And Trust”, song by Pearl Jam

“Who will help me bake the bread?” “Not I,” said the dog. “Not I,” said the pig. “Not I,” said the cow. “Well then, I will bake the bread myself.” And she did just that! She mixed the flour with salt and yeast to make the dough. After the dough rose, she put it in the oven to bake…When the bread was done, she asked, “Who will help me eat the bread?” “I will”, said the dog. “I will”, said the pig. “I will”, said the cow.” -excerpt from the fable, The Little Red Hen, by Mary Mapes Dodge

There are times, especially at the outset, when no one sees it the way you see it. When no one understands your vision or shares your belief. When you feel like Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire repeatedly asking, practically begging, “Who’s Coming With Me?” and getting no response. (Until Dorothy Boyd courageously saves him from a complete shutout.)

For those times, let’s face it, it’s on you. You’re gonna have to go first. Take it entirely on your shoulders. Do it yourself. Be your own proof of concept.

Eventually people will come on board. They’ll join in on your worthwhile mission. Don’t have an ego about it. If they’re talented and can and want to help, allow them to. Who cares if you had to go first? Whatever makes the project the best it can possibly be.

Leaders lead.

Followers follow.

P.S. – Sometimes you gotta go coast to coast.

Too Short

“Always leave them wanting more.” – P.T. Barnum

“I didn’t have time to write you a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.” -Mark Twain

No one will ever be mad at you if your art is too short. Assuming it’s good, the worst you’ll get is “I wish it were longer.”

I could write more on this, but….

No Problemo

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” -Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

A good producer anticipates problems before they arise.

A good producer creates conditions so that the fewest possible problems will arise.

A good producer solves problems when they do arise.

A good producer realizes that the problems are really opportunities in disguise. (Rhyming was purely accidental.)

That what appears to be an obstacle is actually the way forward.

“It Could Be Better”

“The best is the enemy of the good.” -Voltaire

“Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.” -Confucius

“Striving to better, oft we mar what’s well.” -Shakespeare

“It could be better” is a good mantra to adopt about your work.

No matter how much effort you give, how much time you spend, how much you strive for excellence, your work could always be better. This isn’t false humility. It’s just true.

Take for example this blog…(And I realize I’m bounded by time here. As I put it out every weekday.)

No matter how good I feel about a certain post. No matter how much I’ve worked and re-worked the language until it’s “just right” to release, EVERY time I go back and read it with fresh eyes, I always feel some version of “It could be better.”

But–and here’s the catch–I’m still glad I put it out there.

“It could be better” not only keeps you humble about your own accomplishments, it also helps you avoid the worst aspect of perfectionism. Which is fear. Which then leads to never shipping your work.

The Backstory Is The Story

What the fuck is this world
Running to, you didn’t
Leave a message, at least I
Could have learned your voice one last time
Daily minefield, this could
Be my time, ’bout you?

Hear my name, take a good look
This could be the day
Hold my hand, walk beside me
I just need to say
I could not take a-just one day
I know when I would not ever touch you
Hold you, feel you in my arms ever again -“Porch”, song by Pearl Jam

Context goes hand in hand with content.

The artist’s backstory behind their creation adds so much to the audience’s enjoyment of the art. Think of it like the wine that sharpens the taste of the meal.

A current example…

My good friend Joe and I both love the band Pearl Jam. (Ever wondered why we’re named Vs. Theatre Company? Hint, Hint: See album pic above.)

For the last month he’s been sending me a daily text of the top 31 all-time best Pearl Jam songs per Spotify music critics. In addition to the song, he sends me various articles about the song’s creation including Eddie Vedder’s own musings on the lyrics. These are all awesome.

(My favorite part though?…Joe also often sends me what the song and lyrics mean to him personally.)

Given all this context and backstory, my love and appreciation of the music only grows deeper.

Go make your art. And whenever possible, share your backstory. Because your backstory is the story.

P.S. – Unplugged.