Play to Your Audience!
My banjo is out of tune. I barely know how to play it, and I can't sing worth a lick. I don't care much to improve, either.
But you know what? When I break that banjo out and rattle away on it, my daughter dances her little buns off. As long as I take the off-key notes in stride and play with a little joy, she loves it.
I will never make it to Carnegie Hall as a banjo player, but I'm a rock star when my daughter is the audience.
Don't worry about being a rock star for anyone other than your own audience. Pay attention to how your audience is responding, and play the tunes that get them excited about you're doing.
Watch, listen, and learn. Don't worry much about the sour notes. Your audience won't be bothered with them if you aren't. You don't have to be Shakespeare unless you're blogging about how you're a better writer than Shakespeare. Not recommended, BTW.
Play to your audience, and not the entire world, or worst of all, your own critical voice. Play with joy in your heart, and much will be forgiven.
Success Always,
Haven
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Amen Haven.
And having performed for 1000s of audiences, when you see them dance like crazy and receive those wonderful smiles and chants, there is no greater reward!
Joy and pleasure in what you do allows you to not worry about the warts and helps you ignore that persistent perfection niggle in favor of a great message.
What a great message. We are sure you are a better banjo player than you profess to be but, so long as the most important person to you thinks you are the best then any other opinion is irrelevant, right?
Colette and Philip
This reminded me of a time I gave a presentation; one of the people in my group failed to do his part of the assignment. Furious, I went before the class to start the oral presentation. Before I began, I made our apologies to the class for not having the video we wanted to present.
My professor waved his arms in annoyance and said I should continue. Afterwards, he told me that my "confession" was not needed because the class would not have known we were missing anything if I hadn't told them.
So, when you know what to "sing" to your audience, you won't feel compelled to make any apologies for what you're not offering them. That's just my take on it...
Great analogy, Haven.
That is a great lesson, Veronica!
The amazing thing about what we are all doing here is we are creating original content. No one knows if what we put out there is what we intended when we set out.
We are often our own harshest critics because we are the only ones who have insight into how the finished product stacks up to our vision.
I know that my own efforts hardly ever meet my intentions fully, but if I pay attention I might find that the end product struck chords I hadn't envisioned.
Be more willing to follow the paths that are opened by the response of your audience than you are willing to lament your own perceived shortcomings and people will hear you.
And definitely don't draw attention to how far your message may have strayed from your intention.
Best,
Haven
Gosh... you really do have a way with words. I'm not saying this to boost your ego; I truly love words and am intrigued at how eloquently some people use them, while others seem to stumble to find the right words to use. Fascinating...
By the way, I wasn't sure if Haven was your blog name or your real name. My apologies for calling you James. I don't know if James is your middle or last name, but since you sign everything with "Haven" I'll make a note to address you as such.
Thank you Veronica. I love words as well, and am moved by people who use them well.
I have had many stumbles trying to put words to someone else’s story. When it is your own voice, the words come far easier.
No worries about the name confusion. It’s commonplace for me. My first name is Haven. James is my middle, and my father’s first, name.
Thanks for reading,
Haven
It's easier to speak more truthfully when we're living - or at least attempting - to live in truth.
I was just thinking of a title of a book, should you ever decide to compile your words of wisdom:
"Havenly Words"
No need to thank me, just send me 10% when you receive your first royalties.
Ha! Thanks, Veronica. I will definitely check it out.
I will not thank you. Just send me a list of your favorite restaurants and travel destinations. I will forward gift certificates, airline tickets, and hotel vouchers as the royalties roll in.
LOL... you'll be my #1 client if you keep talking like that! OK... you'd be my only client, but still, I like the way you think!
But seriously... "Havenly Words", nice play on words as they say. I think it would make someone look twice; plus, I have yet to meet anyone with the name Haven! We're sitting on a goldmine!
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Great advice, thanks.
Mary