Nothing like a recession to change the conversation...

was the heading on a google group discussion I was involved in recently.

The following is my rather rant-ish response...

Well, ok, yes, the recession "changes the conversation", but I feel like there's a certain negativity hidden in that comment. Or at least in how I hear that comment, right now, tonight. And, personally, I can't handle anymore negativity. I've had to ban CNN from my life, and go on a media diet. (well, except twitter... and facebook... and my rss feed-c'mon-let's-not-be-crazy-here)

It feels like there's an idea out there (or at least in my own head) that worrying about money means that we can't really focus on art anymore. Or growth. Or relevance. Or if a job at a big company will be waiting for me when I'm ready.

But shouldn't it just increase those things?

And isn't this downshift about creating a NEW system? A relevant one?
Creating a new job at a new or re-examined company?
About learning to integrate theatre as a visceral, connective experience with a world of ever digitally connected persons?
If this is the biggest shift in technology since the industrial revolution, then why should our economy, much less our institutional arts system be built to withstand it?
And doesn't this "down time" reveal that the boomers don't have all the answers anyway, so why am I waiting on them to fix things?
And isn't short-term viability crucial to long-term viability? Aren't they integrally connected?
And why am I feeling alone, when there's this great google group of people that are much like me, but I never talk to them and there are 84-ish "new leaders" members, but they never or seldom post, and I know nothing about them or how they're handling this time even though they're part of my "tribe"?

deap breath.

The artist is the artist because he creates something amazing with the materials given. And sure, a great artist can create great things with great materials. And that's... great... Sure, whatever.

But, in my humble opinion, an amazing artist - I mean, a truly astounding artist- takes what s/he's given and creates an exponentially greater product.

Seth Godin's viewpoint is that the playing field has been leveled. The world is having to relearn how it works economically.

Well, so is the theatre. And I would go one further and say that now the rest of the world is playing by the rules we've existed on for years.

So, artist,
whacha gonna do?

I want to know what's going on out there! What have you done because of finances that is working or teaching you something? or inspiring you?
Can I hear something good that you're doing?

Personally, I'm creating a lot of new educational programing. On the surface, it makes the company more money. I pay young, local artists, and they teach - new camps, new residencies, etc. But you know what? I've been DYING to deepen these programs for a couple of years. (of course, I was always "too busy" then!) But now, we need to pay the bills. So here goes! And it seems to be working!

And the result? Penetration. Deeper Impact. Repeated exposure to new people who will come back... to see my work, to see my teachers, to see our educational tours, to see our mainstage shows. Who benefits? My theater? Sure. In the short term. But in the long term - the theatre community grows. We create better citizens. People learn to communicate. More students gain a love of theatre that will last the rest of their lives. And, hey, they eventually buy tickets for my shows and YOURS!

(funny that I LOVE to complain about the boomer's lack of serious arts education focus, and have been so... "busy" myself, ahem...)

So, there's a very tiny example...

And I know that my LORT-D theatre in a mid sized city is probably FAR different than your situation, but...
What's going on in your world? Are you changing what you do in a way that's making what you do BETTER? More efficient? Greener? Are you more closely connecting to your audience, your talent, yourself? Let me know!