What I’m questioning, or rather, boldly bringing to the forefront of our consciousness, is
what are the performance protocols are in this digital format?

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luzcypher (74) · 7 years ago (edited)

Music is one of my favorite art forms because it so subjective and in the moment, both for the artist and the listener. Even when listening to or performing my favorite songs I have to be in the mood for that type of music at that particular time. You're not going to listen to Metalica while having a romantic dinner, for example.

The music business is brutal and requires a thick skin to even contemplate getting involved in. Contrast that with the openness and vulnerability needed to create and perform music and you'll have two forces diametrically opposed to each other. Many of the most talented artists can't handle those two polarities and I think it's why so many artists turn to drugs to numb themselves from all the criticism fired at them and their passion.

It really helps to focus on your music and not so much what people have to say about it. Even when you have thousands of fans you'll still have about 25% of the people exposed to your music that hate what you do. It's just how the 25/50/25 rule works.

That's why staying focused on producing music instead of people's reaction to it at any given time is so important. If you listen to haters or your own doubts as an artist and start to internalize that dialog you're screwed before you even have a chance to build a following.

To illustrate my point about how subjective music is, let me share a little story about when my band would create new music.

I was writing lots of songs in those days and always thought of them, especially lyrics, as a wardrobe in my closet that I could pull out anytime the guys had a groove going and try it on for size. Even though I spent hours writing and pouring my heart into it, I always without fail kept a part of me unattached to the work. I wasn't attached to the melody, the lyrics, the progression, none of it really. It was all disposable and mutable. I mean, after all, it's just some noise I made. I could make a different noise if I had to.

So I would show up with my usual enthusiasm and present my new song idea to the group and for whatever reason, at that moment, it didn't inspire them the way I hoped it would. No problem. I would just shrug it off and we would work on something that did inspire them right then, seeing how we're all here we may as well get some work done.

Three or four weeks would go by, sometimes months, and I would present the exact same thing to them and bam, they loved it and felt inspired and we'de have a new song. They didn't even remember I had shown it to them before and I never mentioned it.

So what was different? Who the fuck knows? They were, the moment was. What if I had internalized another self-defeating explanation for why they didn't respond favorably earlier? We would have never had that song.

One thing I've learned is musicians are not songwriters. They don't even remember that I'm trying the same lyrics on this new song and tried it on another song a few months ago. They think I'm writing lyrics on the spot and can't figure out how I do it. Hahahaha! I'm just pulling a wardrobe out of the closet that's been hanging there for months, sometimes years and I can do that because even though I'll sing it with all the heart I can bring to it, I'm not attached to how it ends up being expressed.

If I was deciding whether I should or shouldn't write a song, present a song, enter a contest, or play a gig based on someone's response to my music I may as well become a waiter and at least get tips for good service.

nathankaye (63) · 7 years ago (edited)

So true and beautifully articulated as well, bruthaman @luzcypher.

I loved your story about your band.
You’ve got a very Buddhist type of unattachment approach that is awesome advice for attaining emotional stability when it comes to the arts. I’m not certain that’s realistic for everyone, at least not all the time, but it’s definitely a good goal to aim for.

Regarding creativity: I agree. I’d have never booked a single gig nor ever toured nor released several albums over the last 25 years if I’d based my creativity on what other people think.
An artist creates.
A performing artist entertains people. In other words, performing is an art done as a service for other people.

Call me old school, but after more than 2 decades of working stages around the globe, I still hope the audience applauds at the end of the song and the end of the show.
I don’t expect it, but that applause is the acknowledgment, or gauge, that you’re doing your job properly as a performIng artist (it can be very different to being just a songwriter or just a musician, as not all musicians nor songwriters are performing artists).

What @passion-ground has wisely addressed in both his posts, and I’ve reiterated the importance of, is the digital equivalent of applause.

It shouldn’t be necessary for an artist’s emotional balance, but applause helps us assess whether we’re doing our job as performing artists.
That is an etiquette between performer and audience that has been around for millennia.

What you have generously provided for musicians here on Steemit is truly amazing!
I am personally grateful that Open Mic exists.
You know I feel this way as we’ve spoken about it.
You know I’m all about the sharing because I’ve vocalised that numerous times.
You also know that I encourage and congratulate people for entering because they’ve bravely shared their heart’s expression and there’s reward in the sharing itself as you’ve agreed on my comments about this.
Heck! It feels like such an inclusive community that you make me feel like I am part of the inner team. That is some potent magic you are weaving there! Why else would I feel the confidence to speak candidly here?

Much love to you, mate! Thanks for all you do! And thanks to all the judges for all they do… And thanks to every brave human that pours their souls into their entries for the mighty Open Mic community…
Blessings and love all around!

passion-ground (63) · 7 years ago

"The digital equivalent of applause."

What a brilliant analogy, Nathan. I totally get that, brother - it hits the nail on the head!

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nathankaye (63) · 7 years ago (edited)

This is all I’ve been talking about the whole time, but struggled to convey in text format. Digital applause. Not my own personal validation, which is how this all got misconstrued & misdirected.

What I’m questioning, or rather, boldly bringing to the forefront of our consciousness, is
what are the performance protocols are in this digital format?

Upvotes can be nice, but aren’t really a form of applause because art isn’t about money and upvotes can be bought and sold in Steemit.
comments could be considered applause because it’s a more genuine form of interaction like clapping is.
resteem I guess is a bit like enthusiastic, fervent applause.
honourable mentions I guess could be considered like a standing ovation.
top 5 I guess could be like a standing ovation with an encore.

What do you guys think?

The dynamic between performer and audience, including all its tiers, has been a protocol or etiquette for thousands of years in the performing arts, which would be arrogant for us to ignore or dismiss, so it is important for us to establish how that etiquette plays out in this Steemit Open Mic digital arena.

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passion-ground (63) · 7 years ago (edited)

I think that makes perfect sense, brother! In light of such, might I suggest to all of my musical brothers and sisters, and to all those who love music and follow the Open-Mic or any other online musical venue:

If you see and hear anything you like that makes you feel good in any way at all...

Say Something!

Say what comes to your heart and soul! Spell it out boldly and clearly!

I for one am certain, and I'm sure that Nathan would agree, that the artists to which you direct such verbal sentiments will receive such with great appreciation - and perhaps with even MORE appreciation than actual real-life applause!

#digitalapplause

Yeah baby, I'm down with that 100%

Better yet...

In addition to your #digitalapplause, if an artist really touches you in a unique and special way:

Send them a TIP directly!

Doing so is no different than tossing a $5.00 or $10.00 dollar bill into a street performers guitar case whose public performance simply made your day! That little show of appreciation will certainly make their day in kind. It's a win-win situation! Be thankful and grateful for all that we have and all that we share.

Never stop "having" and never stop "sharing!"

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luzcypher (74) · 7 years ago

An artist creates.

I like the way John Lennon put it in his brash, in-your-face kind of way. When asked by an interviewer how he wrote so many songs he said, "It's just what I do every day, like having a shit."

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nathankaye (63) · 7 years ago

HAHA! I love the way John said things and caused stirs with his up front boldness with humour.

Comparing a performer to a songwriter is like comparing an actor to a playwright.
One creates the story framework.
The other performs it to people.
They only intersect if the artist does both at the same time, like an improvisational jam band or live theatre sports.
Gosh! How I love witnessing total improvisation! Spontaneous creation and performance intertwined..

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passion-ground (63) · 7 years ago

Ha-haaa! That drew quite a chuckle, Luz! :-)

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passion-ground (63) · 7 years ago

Without intending to toot my own horn – but more so in support and appreciation for your reply, I’ll be the first to say AYE mate!

In my view, you need not concern yourself with folks simply chalking you up to “he’s great and all” etc… You know it, I know it, and everyone else knows it – so the best strategic play in my estimation is to severely “down-play” just how good you are – and come off as just another genuine Joe doing his thing.

I believe that embracing such tact would produce results that far surpass those achieved by taking the assumptive stance that you will not allow your decades of hard work and sacrifice to be ignored nor cast aside.

Brother Nathan, your work, brilliance, and artistry speaks for itself, and in my view, needs no such other form of coerced validation – especially coming directly from you.

Your artistic works and entertainment brilliance stands firmly on its own unshakable ground and needs no such couching. That’s how I feel, anyway.

Yes, “love”… for oneself and others – this is truly, what makes the world go round! The “love” to which you speak is in and of itself, a rather meaningful form of validation to which we all aspire in one form or another.

Thanks as well for the appreciation of my segmentation and formatting of this post. Yeah, it took me all fucking day! Ha-ha!!! But simply because of your singular recognition of such efforts, it was totally worth it!

Now, my brother, since I do not possess the ultimate musical ZEN that you no doubt possess, I am wondering just what the fuck you think of my cover of “Drive My Car!” Ha-ha… Sorry, man… Since I have not yet elevated myself to the next musical plateau, I still crave such rather shallow validation… JK-sort of… LoL!

Thank you ever so kindly, brother! I appreciate your presence and all that you do for Open-Mic and the music community at large!

@nathankaye ROCKS!

Much love, always...

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1 vote

nathankaye (63) · 7 years ago (edited)

Sorry mate. I meant to check out and comment on your cover, but got so caught up in trying to write that response on my little phone screen that I forgot! Then my eldest daughter had an emergency I had to rush to her aid. Sorry mate!

Re: Your cover song!
Go you! You little multi-instrumental groove machine, you!!!
And a collab with your brother, no less! So so cool!
Gosh! I'd love to do a collab with at least one of my brothers. Three of us did a collab about 20 years ago. 'Twas so fun and a very bonding experience, but that was soooooo long ago!
Anyway, cool cover. Fun music delivery and the video you guys made was fun too!
Such a fun ride!
You guys can take me on that journey anytime!

Blissful blessings and smiles
in joy
Nathan
NK

passion-ground (63) · 7 years ago

Thanks for the review, Nathan – I really appreciated that and it means a lot to me!

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