Will Work for Art

A few nights ago I volunteered to run the concession stand at a local theater.  The one woman show that was playing, The Emancipation of Lala by Rivera Sun Cook, was not something I had planned on attending but being able to watch whatever is at the theater is one of the benefits of volunteering and so of course I sat in.  I enjoyed the play, but that isn’t what I’m planning to write about.  What stuck with me more was something that was said during the discussion with the playwright that took place following the show.

 

It was pretty standard Q & A type of set up and a lot of the usual questions about where she found her inspiration, how does she get into character and was she working on any new projects were asked.  Then someone asked her how she was able to do it; how was she able to conceive, write, and bring to the stage a one woman show such as this one and then keep doing it night after night?  She mentioned her great director, getting enough sleep, hydration, proper diet and then “but mostly I’m just willing to work really, really hard.”

I go through periods of pretty heavy duty creative sloth where I have a lot of grand ideas, I have rarely lacked that initial inspiration, but I just can’t seem to pull my supposedly artistic self off the couch to actually DO anything about it.  And yes, I will complain about time, money, energy, etc. but in the end, whenever I have wanted something enough I have found a way to make it happen – no matter how broke, tired, or pressed for time I may be.

    

We can ask all kinds of questions about how people are inspired in the hopes we can tap into that special magic in ourselves that will light the fire of creativity but no matter how many great ideas we may have they are nothing without the willingness to put in the work necessary to bring them to life.  There is no secret or shortcut to achieving that.  You have to be willing to work really, really hard in order to make your creation become reality or there is a pretty solid chance that it won’t happen.

PS - Of course during those times when I am busily pursuing a creative goal I’m not always at my most disciplined.  I will procrastinate, eat poorly, not get enough rest and generally take care of myself in a manner that pretty much destines me to a monumental crash upon the completion of the project.   If I attended to those things more I’d have a deeper reserve to rely upon over the long term so perhaps I should also be listening to her advice on hydration, sleep and eating right too (after all a steady diet of Swedish fish, peanuts and red wine really isn’t sustainable for more than a few weeks). 


PPS - Speaking of art and creating...a particular group of creative types that I work with is seeking some support for their summer show. They've six days left to raise the funds - please take a moment to check out their Kickstarter page and, if so moved, lend your support.