As I wait for a video to compress, there are some thoughts I’d like to share.
I feel like I’ve reached a place in my career where I am forced to draw a line in the sand. A deep, long, noticeable line that sets apart the people longing to be entertained by me from the people that want to journey with me.
I am writer, and like most writers I have a story to tell; something I want someone to hear. Now I understand not everyone cares to hear my story so if that’s the case, don’t come to the show. Please don’t show up with an agenda of your own and try and get me to adhere to it. One of the most beautiful things about a live music performance is that every night the performer, using the same songs, has the ability to tell a different story. What I love about being a listener is allowing myself to open up to whatever that story may be.
I want to be taken on a journey.
Picture yourself in a museum. You’re in that long corridor surrounded by incredible works of art. One canvas catches your attention. You slowly walk toward it and stop just a few feet away. You fall in love. This painting may be one of the most beautiful things you’ve ever seen. Suddenly, you feel a tap on your shoulder. You turn and come face to face with the painter. The piece in which you’ve just fallen in love with was created by the persons hand you are currently shaking. You are in awe. Perplexed and humbled. Then you speak. This is what you say.
“It’s so great to meet you. Do you think you could add a little green to this painting for me? Green is my favorite color and I would just really love to see a little green in this. Thanks.”
This person wants to be entertained.
I hate to sound harsh, and I pray you can understand where I’m coming from, but I don’t want to have that person at my show. And if you were to ask a handful of folks that do what I do, most of them would say the same. If you are that person, please don’t come. Believe me, we will both just end up very unhappy.
Now hear me, I’m not the best at what I do. That’s not what this is about. I’m not on a high horse claiming an ability to enlighten you. Lord knows I struggle constantly with my self worth as a writer and performer. The point I’m trying to make is this… Trust me.
Please. Just. Trust. Me.
Trust that I want to be there. Sorry, I NEED to be there. My soul and all my being MUST be there. Trust that I have your interest at heart. Trust that I love what I do so much that I will bleed from my fingers and loose my voice to make sure I deserve to be in that room. Trust that I know it is a privilege to do what I do and that I will never waste a night doing it. Ever. Trust that I feel pain, joy, love, the heaviness of breathing, and that I am doing my best to relay all I know of these things to you. Trust that I care about your life, my life, OUR lives and that I, more than anything, want us to live them in awe.
Please just trust me.
My vision for you and I is that we would grow together. The 20,000 people venues are not in the cards for me. Frankly, I don’t want them to be. I long to sit with a deep, rich, emotional, intelligent audience, and I have found that with you. I hope that you have found that in me. I don’t want to serve you popcorn so please don’t require that of me. If you do I’m afraid that in my weakness I will cave and start serving you popcorn. Then we’ll both be stuck with the same things; shallow writers and even shallower listeners. Let’s not do that to each other.
As always thank you. In this case, for letting me rant. I’ve had a strange week full of strange thoughts. Mostly about us to be honest. I just wanted to write. And maybe through this random rambling we can find that we’re still on the same page. Or at least on the same side of that line. I certainly hope so.
Love always,
David
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