From Here to There

  Chapter Four Your Brand The strangest thing about the human condition is that throughout school, we are given the same information, the same standardized tests, sometimes even a uniform if you went to a private school, and we’re more or less trained to blend in and conform to an idea of normal. At least, there is a defined expectation that we get used to, or else you become that odd child who has strayed from the norm just far enough to be pointed out to your classmates. It takes a lot of courage to stand out, to be different, to be heard, so we have to unlearn those tendencies to fit in. We have to lose sight of shore, to create from a personal place that isn’t attached to something known and safe. You have to let your inside voice come out somehow in your art, boldly and unapologetically, refined for the context of your audience. Finding that voice, that unique point of view, that style of consistent delivery, becomes your brand.  You can’t just unlock your brand or sudden...

  Chapter Three The Mind at the Heart of It Let’s step back and talk for a moment about the person who has discovered they have talent, who has found some joy and freedom expressing themselves through that talent, and is now innocently looking to learn more about where, how, and why they want to do more. Think of that contagious happiness when we see them in their most unfiltered, untethered bubble, free from  judgment, and you can tell they’re getting somewhere with it . If this person was a child, we would absolutely want to protect them at all costs and literally fight anyone who wants to squash their happiness and right to play. Roll up your sleeves; I’m right there with you.  Is there any good reason why you can’t afford yourself this kind of protection? Forget for a moment all of the things that might complicate your daily grind or the things that feel undone. Think about this moment right now, when you are investing in the curiosity about who you are and what you c...

  Chapter Two Training and knowledge One of the greatest cautionary tales you’ll see out there is the artist who thinks that talent and good looks alone will lead to a long life of opportunity, money, and fame. That’s not necessarily the best path through artistry, as intuition will come by brute forcing it through experience and perseverance, and it won’t necessarily train your vocabulary. Before social media and cell phone technology became the great equalizers, all of these people quickly faded in comparison to the people who put in the time to understand the craft and cultivated their talent. It’s becoming more apparent on the various reality shows and especially in auditions, that the people who just wing it eventually fall away to the people who have had some study in their field. In other words, you can learn to tell a great story in a foreign language, but unless you figure out a way to really express yourself, you’ll eventually run out of things to say and people will stop...

  Chapter One Talent and the value of art Do you have an affinity for something that is hard to put a value on, a way to express yourself uniquely that can’t be described as just having fun or something that serves as a distraction? Is there something in your world - maybe even somewhat abandoned in your youth - that you can lose yourself in and feel extended into? This blurry, undefinable thing in your lane that is self-generated, that pulls at your curiosity and makes you feel at home might be an indication that you have a natural talent for something. Forget for a moment whether or not you can do it for a living or can at least be hired or commissioned to do it. Forget for a moment whether you think you’re even good at it. Let’s just address the natural inclination to do something that’s unique to how you want to do it. That’s talent.  Your immediate thought might be that you don’t know how to paint or sing, or dance. Don’t equate it to art. First there’s you, a unique huma...

  From Here To There Prologue This is not a how-to guide, a sharing of best practices designed to get your artistic career and life to work like anyone else’s. It’s not a philosophy or a collection of quotes. This is an ongoing conversation, a series of love letters to the artist at the core of it all, because the creative journey is a lonely one, and there are a lot of people out there who will happily keep you company if they can benefit from it.  I sat with a pop singer in a beautiful park in Los Angeles and asked her about how clearly she could see her goals. Did she know what she wanted to be, what direction she wanted to go? Were her goals way off in the distance like the red building just beyond the fence? Could she visualize with some familiarity where she wanted to end up, and did she know how she would get there? She hadn’t quite thought about any waypoints on the way to her goal, and had instead focused on that finish line, which included fame, paparazzi, fans, and ...

  An Unnecessary Disclaimer All of these good intentions and thought out notes to you aside, I do want to define where these thoughts are coming from: I am a fantastically flawed, imperfect, reactive, and sensitive person who has sacrificed a lot to feel right about my world. I’ve rebelled against a safe, conservative script, never settling down and throwing myself into the work and ideas that I want – no, I need - to champion. I’ve isolated myself from the norm and battled all of the things that creatives go through: Lonely excitement about ideas followed by the tireless pursuit to chase them, the full weight of watching something I’m responsible for fail, and on the flip side, experiencing incredible moments of success and fanfare when everything comes together. I’ve worked with actors, musicians, dancers, writers, directors, all kinds of beautifully unique and creative people, and I’ve wrestled with people who are only looking for a shortcut to fame or money, or worse, just bei...