It’s not only about the performance

What do notice when you read this reminiscence from Our State magazine Editor in Chief Elizabeth Hudson about her first theater experience?

It’s only a few hundred words so go ahead and read it real quick. I’ll wait.

From Elizabeth Hudson: All the World’s a Stage

It’s mostly NOT about what was on stage. It’s about the anticipation, the preparation, the surroundings, the atmosphere. There is a paragraph about the performance, but it’s much less detailed, mostly about a swirl of motion of the actors entrance.

For those of us in the arts, we love the art form itself. The making of the art, the virtuosity in the craft. Often there is a message we want to send, a feeling we want the audience or viewers to have. There is social change we want to inspire.

That is simply not how most people experience art. They are there for a social experience, a fun night out, to experience something that is a bit different than their regular life. Most people experience art more like Elizabeth.

It’s important for us to keep this in mind as we make our work.

Photo by Nathan Anderson from Unsplash