Monday, October 8, 2012

Passion.... Artists in Their Element

I wrote this in 2006... I plan to add to it soon but until then read n enjoy!

I am an observant person, at least in my opinion. I love to sit back and take in my surroundings. In my somewhat short-lived lifetime, I have had the pleasure to know lots of musicians, photographers, models, actors, and other artistic-minded souls the like. They are all very different but all share one very common factor, their passion for their craft or gift.

At a past college that I attended, I immersed myself into the theatrical and on-stage lifestyle. I was drawn to the mystery of it all. So many different and various artist all brought together for one common purpose. The purpose of displaying their passion for everyone to see from the models with great bodies, aspiring actors that could evoke great emotion, awesome singers who could sing you to tears and very talented musicians who many times deserved and received standing ovations. The whole experience was eye-opening and intoxicating both at the same time.

Even in my church, there are some great musicians, singers, and songwriters. Some times, I find myself just watching the praise band do what they do best, putting their passion for their gift out there for others to appreciate it (and to the glory of God, of course). Many times, they are not appreciated as they should be and sometimes taken for granted, but they still do it. That just goes to show people that they don't do it for the praise and glory of others, they do it for themselves and the love that they have for it. Passion is an awesome motivator.

I once asked a friend of mine, who just happens to be a musician, when does he feels most free. His response was when he is practicing and playing his music. I, myself, am not a musician. I can't play an instrument well enough to even hold that title and nor can I sing, but I can totally understand what he means. You think one would get tired of the practicing or whatever processes they go through to hone their skills, but it's the hard work that pays off.

Have you ever paid attention to a musicians face when they are playing, a model's body language and attitude on the catwalk, a singer singing their heart out, an actor/actress when they are on stage, photographer on set, or a painter making their masterpiece. Their whole demeanor changes before your eyes. It really is quite amazing. It is all due to the passion that is deeply embedded in their heart. Passion…artists in their element, it really is a breath-taking act to witness.

I must add that this is not just limited to artists, people every day display passion about their careers. I only chose these specific people because it is who I am around mostly. I can only write about what I know. Much respect to all.
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Ok, so here it is 2012, a whole six years later and I'm a little later than I planned to be adding on to this topic. I am a member of a Facebook group that embodies musicians of all skill-levels and genres, from the big stage to just practicing in their basement. In the group, they describe their version of passion. Here are some excerpts:
    'Lawrence Blacksurfer Farmer-- Quite str8 forward.....when I walk in your house.... Get in your car.... Have a convo with u...do u bleed music?!...... And MOST important of all.......are Others Affected by your Passion?!?!?!?........ If you hung/worked out with Lebron James or Kobe Bryant....it wouldn't talk long for your to GET that their Passion IS basketball... If you ever Rode shotgun with a Cop.... You would CLEARLY see... That fighting crime is a PASSION....Everybody ain't built to do everything......but that don't take away from their Passion....case in point the Musician with MAD GEAR who can't play a lick!!! One cannot say he doesn't have passion because CLEARLY they have invested $$$ but if that same cat would never consider dropping $$ for some lessons then maybe his passion is for the IMAGE of an Elite Musician...... Hmmmmmm'
"Passion in any Phase of Life is Contagious......So if you SAY you have a Passion for Music and no one has been INfected then.........#PassionFail...... Some of y'all are too Young to Really have Passion for anything....that's just LIFE....but with Music Passion CAN be measured by the Trail......#BlazeIt"

 "No Trail You FAIL!!!"( also written by Lawrence Farmer)
Webster's dictionary definition of passion is 'a : the emotions as distinguished from reason; b : intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction a : ardent affection : love; b : a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept; c : an object of desire or deep interest.'
So here's my spin on the whole passion topic.....
I think a person's passion is something that encompasses that person. It totally consumes them and therefore, it has no choice but to flow out of them because of their mindset. There is a saying/proverb out that states something along the lines of whatever you think, therefore you are. In layman's terms(my interpretation), whatever you think about, it is what you are. People who have a passion, in this case for music, eat, sleep, and drink music. It's their second language. They can listen to a song and break it down the timing, what instrument played what section, and probably other details I couldn't imagine. But I think it goes further than that,(I'm going to try to explain it the way I see it in my head), their passion for music goes much deeper than the practicing, rehearsals, researching and listening to music. Music is him/her/them! It's what drives them to get up every morning, spend long hours practicing(gig or no gig). When he/she/they plays, they are transformed into all the things they cannot say and/or express.
My cousin's words...."Jessica Lumpkin--I definitely go in another mode when I'm playing. There's nothing like it...most people expect a different person or personality, because I'm everything I'm not when I'm playing: bold, aggressive, beautiful, soft, dynamic. unshielded..."
 Passion is a person's drive to get his/her/their most rawest and truest self out... not holding anything back.
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Passion is contagious as previously quoted. Being around passionate people makes you want to find something that drives you just as hard, well at least if you want to go somewhere in life.

"I just think cats get confused with liking something a lot and having a PASSION for it....it's like in church.... We all wanna see folk get saved....but an EVANGELIST has a PASSION for souls.... It consumes them... So they (the Legit ones) conduct themselves accordingly.... Do those of us So-Called Passionate music minds do the same!?!?" This statement says a lot about the difference in passion and what people perceive as passion. Well, hopefully this aids in distinguishing the two.
Again, I used musicians as a reference because that is who I was around but this principle applies to all artists the like. Shoot, this applies to all people of passion. Passionate people continue to push even when others think that they have risen to a certain level because they always feel they can do more and better than the last time.

Until next time.

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