The professional knows when to stop and fix things vs. when to keep going and skip the fix…when the keeping going is better more beneficial than the stopping and fixing.
For example: I know the hum coming out the guitar amp is a little annoying, but everyone is super psyched and channeling a lot of good energy laying down this track. I would argue that the excitement trumps fixing the hum.
For example: I know the hum coming out the guitar amp is a little annoying, but it’s causing the guitar player to be super pissed off because “no one ever pays attention to me” and “I hate you guys”. I would argue that it’s time to stop and fix.
Well, maybe it’s what I learned, but probably more so what I already learned a long time ago but the CMA Fest stimulated me to remember.
Same for you, if you’ve been around the industry for very long it’s probably about remembering what you’ve already learned than actual new learning…although new learning still happens all the time too.
That said…
1. For an artist/band, every show is exactly the same until you realize and apply the notion that every show is a gift. From Tootsies to Nissan Stadium…I guarantee you there were people who walked off both those stages fulfilled and people who walked off both those stages in the pit of despair. Therefore I deduce that it’s not about the show, but YOUR understanding of the show.
2. For all the hardcore Keith Urban fans that exist who love him and his music, there are 100x more people who like Keith Urban and his music. It takes both groups to make Keith Urban, Keith Urban.
3. Each night there were five A-list country acts playing the stadium…but very few, if any, have ever done a headlining show there. And that’s not a slight to anyone…truthfully, it’s a tip of the hat to the power of the communal country music industry and fan base.
When those acts headline in Nashville they play the arena for 18,000 people. Throw a handful of those acts together during CMA and they play the stadium for 65,000. Sounds like a cool experience…although refer back to point #1 before you get too excited.
4. Festival gigs, perhaps more than any other type of gig…people are looking for something to take a picture of. They’ve been out all day, watching a million artists do and say a lot of the same things. So when faced with a day of not just a little of the same things, but act after act after act of the same things, when you do something out of the ordinary it sticks out even MORE than usual.
If you build it (the exceptional moment), they will come…and take a picture of it and share it on the internet.
If you go skydiving and the instructor says to you…
“Hey, I see a problem, your parachute probably isn’t going to open”
And you reply…
“Well, if it PROBABLY isn’t going to open, that means it still might open, so I’m gonna go for it…”
…then you’re an idiot. Even if the parachute does in fact open, you’re still an idiot for jumping.
It’s important to listen to wisdom. Not only listen to it, but apply it…and not always because you understand the wisdom and it’s application, but because you trust the giver of the wisdom.
