When you spend most of your time speaking genuinely, intentionally and with meaning, then most likely when you’re put in the spotlight you will do the same.
Like when Chris Stapleton gave his acceptance speeches at the CMA’s tonight.
A speech like that doesn’t make good TV, it makes a good person.
And isn’t it weird that the other most genuine country performer was Kasey Musgraves with her her sparkly leotard, and pink-suited band. Couldn’t be more different than Chris’s vibe, and yet it feels similar in a way.
Genuine can come in many shapes and sizes.
We know it when we see it.
And we know it when we don’t see it.
And for most of the show tonight, as with most awards shows, its scripted reality and a lot of fumbly bumbly, immaturity and ego dying to cover up insecurity.
We’re forced to sit through 99% mediocrity for the one or two glimmers of hope…that tell us it’s ok to strive to be the real deal. That shooting for the lowest common denominator doesn’t have to be the goal.
Everyone knows the real thing it when they see it. You can feel it from a mile away.
It has everything to do with who you are as a person, and to what degree you understand why you’re around in the first place.
Christ Stapleton wasn’t able to come off as super legit because he won an award…he won an award because he is super legit.
What if whatever TV show or movie you were watching you could pause it, click on anything on the screen and order it for yourself.
That’s the future.
You want one of Don Draper’s suits? Just find the episode and click.
How about the rowing machine Claire and Francis use on House of Cards?
Or even one of Rachel’s haircuts from Friends…maybe you click on her hair and you get a list of people in your area who are good at that cut.
This is going to be a huge revenue stream.
It’s impulse buying on steroids.
Product placement will be insane, and will be scalable, trackable and more accurately bought and sold to advertisers.
Everything in every show will be for sale.
Every frame from every scene in every show will be cataloged, categorized and monetized.
Right now there’s a gap.
Right now if you see something on a TV show or movie that you want, you have to pick up your phone or computer, search for it using some vague terms and hope someone has blogged about it, and then maaaaaaybe you can order it for yourself.
Like it or not, we will see growth in commerce by giving people more (yes, even more) of what they want.
Desire creates the technology. The technology creates more desire.
What do I want?
I want the medallion from The Goonies that Mikey wears around his neck.
I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com
A couple years ago I went to a Halloween party. The theme was rockstar.
So cliche for living in Nashville. I know.
I half expected everyone to just dress up as themselves. Thankfully, no one was so vain.
The most amazing thing was that as I walked into the party (dressed as Keith Richards), I could tell who EVERYONE was dressed up as.
There was a Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Katie Perry, Bono, John Bonham, Amy Winehouse, Paul McCartney, Slash, and a bunch more.
Sooooooo good.
But now, as you read that list, for each person on there I bet you have a pretty good idea of how YOU could dress up as that particular rockstar.
They all have a thing. A unique distinction in their appearance that is easy to pick out.
I’m not saying you should run out and get a face tattoo or start wearing a clown nose all the time.
But considering the ease at which you can imitate the appearance of so many successful entertainers in the music biz…it’s certainly something to think about.
