http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/04/23/the-artists-way/ Fri, 20 Aug 2010 01:56:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/04/23/the-artists-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1723 David Dower Sat, 25 Apr 2009 07:05:12 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/?p=221#comment-1723 I've stayed on the sidelines of that particular discussion as well, though I have found it interesting to read. But I do want to pick up a thread of yours, Travis, cuz you are using a phrase I also use and which keeps me focused on my role and responsibility in the theater: the responsibility to be a good steward of resources. I have framed it for myself as being "an effective steward of the cultural resources under my care". And these are many different sorts of resources: I work for a theater with financial resources, with human resources, with visibility resources, with artistic resources etc. I have developed a large network of relationships in the field and have a position through the NEA NPDP program that puts me in regular communication with many more. ALL of this is my responsibility to effectively deploy on behalf of the form, the field, the artists and the audiences. It's not a heavy thing, though it sounds like it when I write it down. It's a helpful thing to remember that these resources are precious, somewhat fragile, and belong to the general public-- I work for a 501 (c) 3, after all. There's a lot of people in our field who approach it this way. We just don't talk about it directly or loudly, but it's great to see it in your list. I've stayed on the sidelines of that particular discussion as well, though I have found it interesting to read. But I do want to pick up a thread of yours, Travis, cuz you are using a phrase I also use and which keeps me focused on my role and responsibility in the theater: the responsibility to be a good steward of resources. I have framed it for myself as being “an effective steward of the cultural resources under my care”. And these are many different sorts of resources: I work for a theater with financial resources, with human resources, with visibility resources, with artistic resources etc. I have developed a large network of relationships in the field and have a position through the NEA NPDP program that puts me in regular communication with many more. ALL of this is my responsibility to effectively deploy on behalf of the form, the field, the artists and the audiences. It's not a heavy thing, though it sounds like it when I write it down. It's a helpful thing to remember that these resources are precious, somewhat fragile, and belong to the general public– I work for a 501 (c) 3, after all. There's a lot of people in our field who approach it this way. We just don't talk about it directly or loudly, but it's great to see it in your list.

]]> http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/04/23/the-artists-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1721 walt828 Sat, 25 Apr 2009 03:13:26 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/?p=221#comment-1721 P.S. The audience can only vote thumbs up or thumbs down on what you provide. If there are no alternatives, then all they will know is what you provide them. Everytime you choose one play over another, you are making content decisions based on what you think they want. The question is whether you have a philosophy underlying those choices, or alternately have a solipsistic approach (if I like it, they will like it) or marketing approach (they liked X last time, and this is a lot like X). Ultimately, my argument boils down to a simple statement: it's not about you. P.S. The audience can only vote thumbs up or thumbs down on what you provide. If there are no alternatives, then all they will know is what you provide them. Everytime you choose one play over another, you are making content decisions based on what you think they want. The question is whether you have a philosophy underlying those choices, or alternately have a solipsistic approach (if I like it, they will like it) or marketing approach (they liked X last time, and this is a lot like X). Ultimately, my argument boils down to a simple statement: it's not about you.

]]> http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/04/23/the-artists-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1722 Kate Foy Sat, 25 Apr 2009 03:11:30 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/?p=221#comment-1722 Thanks Travis. A reminder of what we do and for whom. Thanks Travis. A reminder of what we do and for whom.

]]> http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/04/23/the-artists-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1720 walt828 Sat, 25 Apr 2009 03:09:55 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/?p=221#comment-1720 Obviously I disagree. And I would disagree with your premise concerning a carpenter as well. That kind of specialization and compartmentalization, to my mind, is at the center of the crisis that our approach to living has created. I believe that all of us, first as human being and second as members of our individual communities, have a responsibility to contribute to the betterment of the world. This line -- "The audience votes on my content every time I open a show" -- could have been written by Adam Smith or Milton Friedman. There is something larger that artists do than simply providing a product, something deeper and more important to the soul of our audience. We can continue to ignore that, and define our work in terms of products and sales, or we can accept that noble and important work and begin trying to enhance and enrich the lives of our fellow men and of our world. Obviously I disagree. And I would disagree with your premise concerning a carpenter as well. That kind of specialization and compartmentalization, to my mind, is at the center of the crisis that our approach to living has created. I believe that all of us, first as human being and second as members of our individual communities, have a responsibility to contribute to the betterment of the world. This line — “The audience votes on my content every time I open a show” — could have been written by Adam Smith or Milton Friedman. There is something larger that artists do than simply providing a product, something deeper and more important to the soul of our audience. We can continue to ignore that, and define our work in terms of products and sales, or we can accept that noble and important work and begin trying to enhance and enrich the lives of our fellow men and of our world.

]]> http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/04/23/the-artists-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1506 I Really Love This Blog « Direct Address Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:56:17 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/?p=221#comment-1506 [...] also like how he responded to Scott Walter’s post about an artist’s responsibility by spelling out what he considers his own responsibility to his theater community and to the broader Austin [...] [...] also like how he responded to Scott Walter’s post about an artist’s responsibility by spelling out what he considers his own responsibility to his theater community and to the broader Austin [...]

]]> http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/04/23/the-artists-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1505 David Dower Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:05:12 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/?p=221#comment-1505 I've stayed on the sidelines of that particular discussion as well, though I have found it interesting to read. But I do want to pick up a thread of yours, Travis, cuz you are using a phrase I also use and which keeps me focused on my role and responsibility in the theater: the responsibility to be a good steward of resources. I have framed it for myself as being "an effective steward of the cultural resources under my care". And these are many different sorts of resources: I work for a theater with financial resources, with human resources, with visibility resources, with artistic resources etc. I have developed a large network of relationships in the field and have a position through the NEA NPDP program that puts me in regular communication with many more. ALL of this is my responsibility to effectively deploy on behalf of the form, the field, the artists and the audiences. It's not a heavy thing, though it sounds like it when I write it down. It's a helpful thing to remember that these resources are precious, somewhat fragile, and belong to the general public-- I work for a 501 (c) 3, after all. There's a lot of people in our field who approach it this way. We just don't talk about it directly or loudly, but it's great to see it in your list. I've stayed on the sidelines of that particular discussion as well, though I have found it interesting to read. But I do want to pick up a thread of yours, Travis, cuz you are using a phrase I also use and which keeps me focused on my role and responsibility in the theater: the responsibility to be a good steward of resources. I have framed it for myself as being “an effective steward of the cultural resources under my care”. And these are many different sorts of resources: I work for a theater with financial resources, with human resources, with visibility resources, with artistic resources etc. I have developed a large network of relationships in the field and have a position through the NEA NPDP program that puts me in regular communication with many more. ALL of this is my responsibility to effectively deploy on behalf of the form, the field, the artists and the audiences. It's not a heavy thing, though it sounds like it when I write it down. It's a helpful thing to remember that these resources are precious, somewhat fragile, and belong to the general public– I work for a 501 (c) 3, after all. There's a lot of people in our field who approach it this way. We just don't talk about it directly or loudly, but it's great to see it in your list.

]]> http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/04/23/the-artists-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1504 walt828 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:13:26 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/?p=221#comment-1504 P.S. The audience can only vote thumbs up or thumbs down on what you provide. If there are no alternatives, then all they will know is what you provide them. Everytime you choose one play over another, you are making content decisions based on what you think they want. The question is whether you have a philosophy underlying those choices, or alternately have a solipsistic approach (if I like it, they will like it) or marketing approach (they liked X last time, and this is a lot like X). Ultimately, my argument boils down to a simple statement: it's not about you. P.S. The audience can only vote thumbs up or thumbs down on what you provide. If there are no alternatives, then all they will know is what you provide them. Everytime you choose one play over another, you are making content decisions based on what you think they want. The question is whether you have a philosophy underlying those choices, or alternately have a solipsistic approach (if I like it, they will like it) or marketing approach (they liked X last time, and this is a lot like X). Ultimately, my argument boils down to a simple statement: it's not about you.

]]> http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/04/23/the-artists-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1503 Kate Foy Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:11:30 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/?p=221#comment-1503 Thanks Travis. A reminder of what we do and for whom. Thanks Travis. A reminder of what we do and for whom.

]]> http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/04/23/the-artists-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1502 walt828 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:09:55 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/?p=221#comment-1502 Obviously I disagree. And I would disagree with your premise concerning a carpenter as well. That kind of specialization and compartmentalization, to my mind, is at the center of the crisis that our approach to living has created. I believe that all of us, first as human being and second as members of our individual communities, have a responsibility to contribute to the betterment of the world. This line -- "The audience votes on my content every time I open a show" -- could have been written by Adam Smith or Milton Friedman. There is something larger that artists do than simply providing a product, something deeper and more important to the soul of our audience. We can continue to ignore that, and define our work in terms of products and sales, or we can accept that noble and important work and begin trying to enhance and enrich the lives of our fellow men and of our world. Obviously I disagree. And I would disagree with your premise concerning a carpenter as well. That kind of specialization and compartmentalization, to my mind, is at the center of the crisis that our approach to living has created. I believe that all of us, first as human being and second as members of our individual communities, have a responsibility to contribute to the betterment of the world. This line — “The audience votes on my content every time I open a show” — could have been written by Adam Smith or Milton Friedman. There is something larger that artists do than simply providing a product, something deeper and more important to the soul of our audience. We can continue to ignore that, and define our work in terms of products and sales, or we can accept that noble and important work and begin trying to enhance and enrich the lives of our fellow men and of our world.

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