You don’t hear those words, do you? “I hate Adele.” “Wow, Adele’s voice sucks.” “She just can’t sing.”
Of course, there must be someone who doesn’t like her. There’s always someone who doesn’t like someone. That’s how the world is. But 21, her most recent release, has legs. What a reminder of the power we all have. It’s not your typical hit machine. It keeps going and going. It’s no wonder. Not just because it’s good – it is – but because she’s real, and that means something. Now, more than ever. I liked 21 – some of it a whole lot, but overall, not quite as much as I wanted to. But, you’ve gotta love her. Yeah, it’s the voice, no doubt, but I think it’s really the soul. It powers everything. You buy it, even when she’s not selling it. She got me with Hometown Glory, and hasn’t let go.
Isn’t that the power of art? Like magic, you connect with someone who you don’t even know. Except we have it even better. We get to connect with people we do know. People trusting us on one of the most important days of their lives. And then the word spreads, from one person to the next.
In the simplest terms, there are two ways to go. You either get the leverage or you get the following. It’s the fame or the fulfillment. You can pull in the money either way. But if you want to do it old school – through the distribution, the lists, the attention, and the network, then it is a relentless climb up a sandy hill. Everyone is going for the same, and the ground is always slipping out from under you. You’ve gotta love the climb and the game if you want to have the energy to keep in it. And don’t dupe yourself and think you’ll rest at the top. Rest is for the weak. You never get to relax, because everyone is gunning for the same. It’s King of the Hill, the wedding photographer edition, and if you manage to make the ascent, be ready to hold your ground or leverage your position to find a better game.
Then there’s the other way. It’s the fulfillment. If you go that route, love the art. Because it’s all about finding something to say. If having nothing to say doesn’t get under your skin, you better find something that does. It can be it’s own world of hurt, but, you ask me, at least it’s your own. It’s the type you do for you, that lets you be alive. There’s genuine traction there. Fame may follow, it may not, but the ground you gain is ground you own, and when people come to you, it’s not King of the Hill. It’s your backyard, and it’s yours only. You let people in, because they want to hang out with you. Better yet, they care about you. You’re not just the person on a recommended list at a reception hall. You’re not just an ad in a magazine. You’re you.
Go for the business or go for the art. Don’t get me wrong. There’s no free pass. You’re going to have to do a little of both. You can’t have one without the other. But you’ve still gotta make the call, and you can’t have both. They’ll pull you in different directions. Pick a side or you’re throwing darts at a blank wall. It’s just like Adele. Find your soul, and you find your voice.
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