Art is "must do" sort of thing.
People donate to nonprofits arts orgs, or Kickstarter campaigns, because they feel like it is something they have to do. If it's a "maybe" sort of thing, then there are plenty of other ways to spend that money.
People attend live art because they feel compelled. They can get that feeling for a lot of reasons. Maybe it's because they love the subject matter. Maybe they love the performers. Maybe they love the organization. Maybe they just love the idea of a night out with friends.
My point is that they need to love something. If they just like it, they are staying home.
So much in the arts hinges on that love . . . that passion. If that energy doesn't exist, the whole enterprise falls apart. So in a way, the biggest enemy the arts has isn't technology or the generation gap . . . it's cynicism.
Cynicism kills passion. If everything sucks, if nothing is worth getting excited about, then way not just stay home and zone out in your Netflix cue?
If we talk about our field like it's packed with only the old (and useless) and the young (and clueless) then why should anyone get involved? Reading US Weekly is much more fun and current.
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Please understand that I'm not saying we should pretend that our world has no challenges. But we should also remember this:
Nobody likes a loser.
If the story you tell about your arts organization is a story of constant struggle and a lack of "mainstream" appreciation then don't be surprised if the audience (and the donors) stay away.
If the story you tell about your individual artist career is how everything is "unfair" and how hard everything is then you can't be surprised if a lot of people want nothing to do with you.
Again, no one like a loser.
Again, cynicism is your enemy.
The arts are a passion business, respond accordingly.
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Alright, time for a blogging break. New posts return on Monday, Oct. 8. But the party isn't over. You can still get useful stuff by following me on Twitter (@missionparadox) and I'll still be delivering a few newsletters via email. Sign up for that here.
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