Final Week of Space 55's The Visitation

I forgot to mention that Space 55's excellent production of The Visitation is playing Thursday (2/26), Friday (2/27), and Saturday (2/28)!

The show is just $10 and anyone who catches Friday night's show is welcome to stay for the 10:30pm show with The Remainders and Galapagos.

Check out http://www.space55.org for more info!

The Five Challenges of an Artist

The Five Challenges of an Artist

by Bill Binder

Over the years, I've come to believe that any artist at some point will face five challenges to their growth. I think we each face these challenges when they come up in different ways and they shape us as improvisors or poets or painters or singers. I've discussed these many times in many bars. I just felt I'd post them in roughly the order most of us go through this. Although that doesn't mean you won't face many of these challenges over and over again over the years.

1. Time and money

This is the easiest of the challenges. When you make that choice that you want to create something. You need to make the commitment that you're going to do it. Find the time to practice the violin. Go to the store and buy that paint. If you really care about what you're doing, this won't slow you down at all. If you can't even find the time to commit an hour to what you want to create. Maybe you don't really want to do it.

2. Creating something wonderful in spite of something horrible

This comes in so many forms. There are so many reasons to get frustrated and abandon your work. When you're getting ready to do a stand up set and the audience has decided they hate you before you step on stage, step on the stage anyway and do it. Don't sacrifice what you were going to do to beg for their approval. Do what you came to do. If they don't like it. They don't like it. But don't let them take away the fact that you like it. But even harder is to create something beautiful when your hurting and broken inside. It's really hard to sing a happy song when you're sad and alone. But sing that song and believe it. You're an artist, you have the gift to create that wonderful thing. If you're in a horrible place, what better time is there to create something good.

3. Creating with too many constraints

No matter what you do, you're going to be asked to shape or mold your work for someone else. Artwork is commissioned. Shows are asked to be family friendly. That doesn't mean you have to abandon what is great about your work. It's very easy to be a purist who will never sacrifice your "vision" and it's very easy to abandon your ideas to get a quick buck. But it's much harder to bring what you love about your work to someone else on their turf. Don't be closed minded to new ideas, but never give up the integrity of what you do.

4. Creating with too few constraints

When you find success as an artist, you will find the earlier challenges less and less frequently and you'll discover it was those challenges that motivated you. Rage needs a Machine. When the world accepts your vision, there is little motivation to share it. And worse, you can start believing in the myth of yourself. You get lazy. You no longer wake up in the morning with a fire under you. You've been given the wonderful gift of a talent and the ability to use it. Never take that for granted. When you find yourself complacent, find new challenges to grow. You can always grow.

5. Seeing what you've created, and accepting it

This is far and away the hardest challenge each of us face. You're an artist. You have the power in you to create something, and you have. Let it be. It is very hard to create something and look at it and appreciate what it is we've created and move on. Never step off stage and say "I suck". We're each our own biggest critic. That is not to say that everything is perfect or that we shouldn't always be looking for ways to improve ourselves. But that thing you just created? It is what it is. To fret over what could be changed is looking backwards and you're going to miss the next amazing thing that happens. You've created it. It's good. Other people will see it and have their own opinions. And that is fine. Be proud that you created it.

I was just about to go back and review this, before hitting "Post", but you know what?

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Tuesday, February 24 - Monday, March 2nd

* Shows & Events

- Wednesday, February 25th - 4th Wednesdays with Apollo 12 & Mail Order Bride @ The Trunk Space, 8pm - $6
The recently embiggened Apollo 12 brings their cosmic brand of improv savvy to the stage, while the ladies of Mail Order Bride improvise their way into your hearts!

- Friday, The Torch Theatre & Space 55 present The FUTURE with Galapagos & The Remainders @ Space 55, 10:30pm - $5
The OGs of Phoenix longform improv, Galapagos, get down with this week's guest group, The Remainders musical improv!

* Classes & Workshops

- The Torch Theatre Improv Training Center's Level I class starts this Saturday, February 28th! To register or for more info, please visit http://www.thetorchtheatre.com.
* Latest News, Just Announced, & Upcoming

- The Phoenix Improv March Madness Playoff tournament is still seeking teams to strut their stuff in the month-long competition! Cash prize for the winning team and a slot in the inaugural show of The Cagematch, a weekly improv donnybrook, await!
* The Places

The Trunk Space
1506 NW Grand Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Space 55
636 East Pierce Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85004

* Questions & comments down below or please visit http://www.thetorchtheatre.com!

Let me know what you think - your feedback & advice is welcome.

Google Maps is acting a little off just now, but future editions will contain links for The Places.

Thanks!