For the Creative Soul > And Those Who Don’t Get It

Often times in my writing, I will just take a minute to rant. And this is one of those times.

Some people just don’t get it. And you may be one of these people.

Ah, you say you get it, or so say you want to get it. But when it comes right down to it, you just don’t. Or won’t.

I preach quality pretty hard. I proselytize amazing daily. I shout from the mountaintop to live your dreams and completely go for it with all you have.

And yet, people raise a lazy hand and murmur, “hmm, yeah sounds good.” and hit Like.

I see people who are subject to the most beautiful, stunning, and imaginative work coming alive all around them, and they just stand there looking at you like they are in a four walled bland room. I want to grab them by the shoulders and say “What is wrong with you!!! Can’t you see the meticulous craft that went into what is all around you??”

Maybe it’s like color blindness. Or tone deafness. Or just a lack of cognitive skills. Maybe these people didn’t get enough visual stimulation as youths.

Kind of like those people who go to Disney World, walk around and just see crowds, heat, and cost. They come back rolling their eyes, and say “We walked around a bit, but it was just too crowded and I don’t see the big deal.” Then they ease back into their easy chairs and veg in front of their TV.

And guess what, these are the same folks who will say to me, “I just never was able to make my creative dreams come true.”

This leads to a classic and potentially game-ending paradox. Without quality, and the respect and determination to make original, out of the box, and yes sometimes costly art, we can expect less than stellar results.

Part 2 - I Don’t Get It

Well of course you don’t. You spent as little as possible, put as little work into it as you could get by with, and now you are upset that people are not paying attention or respect to your artistic prowess. You put it out there with everything else, and some people (mostly friends) say cool. 

But the ones you really want to hear from are complete strangers, but they are somewhat unimpressed. The quality is so-so, and they don’t know you to say nice things to bless your heart. They are looking for new music they like. It better be GREAT.

Every once in a while someone will look at me and say, “You need to listen to...artist name”. Last week it was my daughter, who after hearing a song on Glee, said to me “Daddy, you NEED to listen to Adele.”

Well, I did. And she was right (then again, my daughter is a genius).

I went onto Youtube and listened to a random song by Adele. Boom! Really cool quality video, interesting version of a Bob Dylan tune called “Make You Feel My Love”. Very well done, and it doesn’t hurt that her voice is just an original, real talent.

But had the video quality had been wrong for the song, or her voice had not been anything different, I wouldn’t have listened very long. But then, if it had, I doubt my daughter would have recommended it. We tend to recommend things that MOVE us. And stuff that moves us is usually really well done art of some kind.

This is the kind of art WE need to produce as well.

We have to have something so well done and amazing and “you need to listen to...” worthy, that when we release it and market it to the world, the world reacts and takes notice. And yes, our product sells and affects people, doing what it was designed to do when God gave you the talent to do this.

So, if you indeed do get it, then get off your keister and get about it. Figure out how to take your art and talent to another level. Be bold enough to look in the face of your biggest dream and dare it to come true. God isn’t scared of your big dreams. In fact, He has them all there for you to reach for and do in His name.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 

Have a great week!

EC

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Eric Copeland promises to face up to his biggest dreams too, if you will. His company Creative Soul specializes in helping Christian artists make amazingly crafted music and media products to reach their ministry dreams. Find out more at http://www.CreativeSoulOnline.com