reality check

This evening, at intermission, a woman and her child leaned over the pit and got my attention. The mother asked me how I got where I am, because her child had always wanted to play in shows. It got me thinking.

I replied with the only true answer there is: well, there is no path to get here. Its 50% talent and 50% who you know. I lied really. Its 20% talent and 80% who you know, at least its that to break in to the business.

The kid seemed startled a bit, I guess. Then I gave more concrete answers, like "we all went to school for music." That pleased the mother a bit more. The child was studying music some in school, but wasn't majoring in it. Red flag #1. I didn't want to go all music school snob on them, but I wanted to explain that all the time on the kid's major is time that could be spent practicing or getting out into the business.

I don't want to give this kid's life story, but it was an interesting moment for me. I truly didn't want to dash the kid's dreams, but I also couldn't just let the kid dream away. The mom and the kid kept talking about how music was the child's passion, which is great and all, but I've come to learn that passion isn't everything. I used to feel that being passionate made me entitled to my dreams and that is not the case! Being passionate is what makes you an artist. Being a good musician and performer comes from hard work, HOURS of practice, and more luck than any person can fathom.

I know I didn't successfully impart this to the child, because they left with eyes beaming with excitement. But is that so bad? I played my solo in Act 2 for this kid (i choose someone every night, it gives me inspiration) and hoped that their dreams would come true, or that they would find something else that made them happier. I guess that's what's scary about dreaming, or rather, getting attached to your dreams, aka becoming passionate about something. It almost sets you up for failure. Though, it is often the dream that makes reality so sweet. So, to that child I met today: keep dreaming.