Interrogation

As we barrel into a summer filled with young artists making their way into a demanding and complicated profession, I was pleased to see today’s entry on Seth Godin’s blog.  Link to the original version here. Read on for customization.

Here, my revised list of questions you should ask yourself if you’re considering or embarking on a career in the performing arts.  With tweaks to reflect our business, and listed in rough order (mine, completely subjective) of increasing importance.

• Who are you trying to please?
• Are you trying to make a living, make a difference, or leave a legacy?
• Where is your team – the people you trust?
• What does busy look like?
• Choose: challenge your colleagues, or just do what they ask.
• Are you prepared to actively sell yourself?
• Which: to invent a category or to be just like [insert name of famous singer here], but better?
• How close to failure, wipe out and humiliation are you willing to fly? (And while we’re on the topic, how open to criticism are you willing to be?)
• Is perfect important? (Do you feel the need to fail privately, not in public?)
• How long can you wait before it feels as though you’re succeeding?
• Are you done personally growing, or are you willing to change and develop?

Otherwise, we’re single-mindedly focused on this fascinating Mozart opera that hits the stage next Friday.  Tomorrow, the first in a series of posts I’m calling “Meditations on Zaide.”   Both a promise and a threat.