050: Still Standing

We're almost two years into this new world we are living in - and that is hard to believe. It really doesn't seem like that long ago we were all scrambling, getting home safe from tours, canceling shows and holding tight for 'a few weeks'. A few weeks turned into a few months and now a few years. Holding tight made sense at the start, none of us knew what was going on. It was easy to fall into that habit and continue to stand still while we waited this out. If it still feels like you're standing still though it may be time to reassess. 

For the most part, if you're standing still it is a passive action. You've stopped and are waiting for things around you to change so you can react. If you're standing still you are in reactionary mode. You are not actively looking for the way forward, you are waiting for a sign to point you in the right direction. 

If you are still standing though, it implies an active choice. You've made the decision despite all of the obstacles to stand tall and hold your ground. I know I might just be playing with semantics here, but I think there is an important distinction.

When the pandemic first hit most of us decided to stand still - to wait things out until things got back to 'normal'. It became easy to stay in this position. Over time though, choices need to be made, you can only stand still for so long. Eventually you have to move - you need to grow - either bigger or smaller. Neither is better than the other, as long as you know which one you are trying to do and not just doing what you think you should be doing.

I know many artists who even pre-pandemic were making choices to purposely grow smaller. The allure of big tours with big bands and big budgets just didn't make sense anymore. The added stress and pressure that comes with those things wasn't worth the toll - mentally, physically and emotionally. The pandemic forced everyone to reexamine how they do things and growing smaller has been a much better option for many people.

I know many artists who made the decision during these times to grow bigger. To really invest in the things that were working for them and find exciting new ways for them to work. More music, more recordings, fostering community online. It was an active decision to grow bigger and for many this has paid off - mentally, physically and emotionally.

I also know many artists who have decided to just stand still - to wait this out until things get 'better'. And while I try my best not to judge other people's decisions, it is hard not to hope these folks will find the reason to make a decision one way or the other. It takes a lot of energy to stand still - mentally, physically and emotionally.

If I can offer one piece of advice as we approach the two year mark of this new world, here it is. If you feel like you are just standing still, waiting for things to be 'normal' again, it may be time to make a choice. You may find out that it was the wrong one, but at least you were an active participant on the journey and not just along for the ride. Making the wrong choice is a great way to make better choices in the future. Was the pandemic a really good reason to stand still for a time? Sure. And while it was one that we all universally shared, it's no different than the hundreds of other reasons we constantly come up with to stand still, to hold back on our big ideas until the time is right. 'I need more time, I need more money, I need a bigger team, I need a smaller team, If I only got that grant, If I only connected with so-and so. If only the time was right'. It never will be though, and that's great, it frees you up from having to wait for the right moment and instead just act. If you're still standing you've weathered the storm - now it's time to take action, make the choice and grow. Bigger or smaller - it's your choice - you already know which way you want to go, so go for it.

~ Steve