The Vs. Studio Blog

“Don’t become a wandering generality. Be a meaningful specific.” -Zig Ziglar

The more specific and personal you make your art, the more universal and widespread it can become.

“A placebo is a story we tell ourselves that changes the way our brain and our body work.” -Seth Godin

Numerous articles like this one and this one have been written about the power of the placebo (or really, the power of the mind). The placebo effect is real. Consider for example, that in most drug trials the efficacy difference between the actual drug and the sugar pill isn’t all that great. Often the placebo wins and therefore the drug doesn’t get FDA approval

The more compelling you make your story and the more you share it with others (including your “why“), the more powerful the placebo. Both for you and your audience.

P.S. – This podcast episode.

Maybe you got pretty much everything you wanted. You did what you set out to do. You achieved.

Or…

Maybe you didn’t. Or haven’t yet. (Or realized what you thought you wanted isn’t what you want after all.)

All that matters now is what you do from here.

Don’t let sunk costs sink you.

Struggling with what to do next?

Continuously ask yourself the question, “Now, what?”

The answer will come. Wait for it and be open to all possibilities.

And when you have your answer, believe that you can do it and take massive action to make it happen.

Until you set an arbitrary deadline, it’s not real. It won’t happen.  Your passion project might as well not exist.

That’s one of the great things about doing live theatre.  You have to set a date for opening night and announce it to the public.

You’ve thrown your hat over the wall.  No turning back now.  Gotta go get it.

Whine privately.

Solve publicly.

Only you can make all this world seem right
Only you can make the darkness bright –“Only You” song by The Platters

Nothing will happen.

Unless YOU make it happen.

It’s only you.

The cavalry isn’t coming. There is no cavalry.

It’s only you.

You have way more power than you think.

Go make your art.

“Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction.” -Harry S. Truman

Researchers claim we have 175 cognitive biases.

(Wow, that’s a lot.)

As with any cognitive bias, the key is awareness. Once you’re informed and aware of said bias, you theoretically can and should be able to make better decisions.

Of all the 175 out there, if you had to pick one to lean in to and follow more often than not…

…choose the bias to act.

Action. Action. Action.

“Don’t think. Just do.” -Maverick’s advice to Rooster in Top Gun: Maverick

In a movie theatre.

Packed house. A bunch of people excited to be there.

Giant screen.

Wall to wall surround sound.

Ice cold air conditioning.

Comfortable seats.

The smell of popcorn wafting through the air.

And Tom Cruise.  Say what you want but the guy cares deeply about making great movies and giving the audience an incredible experience.

Go see TOP GUN: MAVERICK.

You’ll remember why you love going to the movies.

That is all.

P.S. – I’m not ashamed to admit, but, uh…yeah…I was crying nostalgic tears during the opening credits. What can I say?…80’s films made a big impact on me and this one transported me right smack back to my youth.

Does your art serve you?

Or are you serving your art?

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” -Albert Einstein

“If you can let go of passion and follow your curiosity, your curiosity just might lead you to your passion.” -Elizabeth Gilbert

“People think of compassion as, like, kindness. The image comes to mind of some nice New Age guy bending to something with a look on his face like he’s about to cry. And I don’t think that’s it. I think of it more as a quality of openness that comes with being in a state of unusual attentiveness.” -George Saunders

Be intensely curious with everything you think, feel and experience. Cultivate a non-judgmental, “That’s interesting” mindset. Dig a little deeper. Go down some rabbit holes.

Be attentive in all your conversations and dealings with people. Open, open, open. Listen, listen, listen. And listen some more.

The answers, solutions and passion you seek lie just below the surface. Curiosity and attentiveness are your tools to unearth them.