I was thinking about this today. I was wondering about artists…musicians to be precise. It is about performing and creating. What is the difference? What makes us artists and what makes us performers?
I am not entirely sure about this, but from what I’ve been able to come up with so far is that musicians are truly a unique species. As artists, a musician is, or should be, in total control of the ‘canvas’, the paint, and most importantly the subject matter. The artist lets their own feelings and thoughts speak through the words and the music, with no limitations on what is to be said. An artist’s work has to reflect that particular individual’s perspective of everything else. The composition may be about anything, life, love. Whatever, but it has to be exactly what the composer wants it to be. It is important not to have censorship, outside influence…things that alter the meaning of the composition, even if the influence is well-intentioned.
The complete opposite is true for performers. Performers are what their audience wants them to be. Musicians on stage have to deliver exactly what their listeners want; otherwise the point of the concert is defeated. They have to perform, even if sometimes they don’t like the things they are performing (because they are bored of it). One thing must be understood. The songs that these musicians make are their own. But by allowing others to listen, they are exposing themselves to public eyes. Some of these public eyes will relate to them, some won’t. And then there are the critics. Those who are able to relate to the music are those who feel the same way as the artists do. Inadvertently, they have found a channel for their own feelings through the artists. While performing for these audiences, the musicians must be aware of this sentiment.