Monday Motivation: What Do YOU Work For?

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1. Ronald Richard Duquette says

   December 11, 2012 at 7:48 am

   Oh, Kitty, how absolutely wise and truly spoken from the heart!  You’re so right that the least little word of appreciation is like air to the lungs – you feel energized, invigorated, renewed!  We’re LOUSY as a society in saying thank you – oh, not in the big, obvious ways like the Emmys and the Oscars and the Kennedy Center Honors – but in the day-to-day appreciation of the efforts people make, no matter how mundane their job and seemingly, well, unimportant or pedestrian.  Yes, the applause shouldn’t be the main reason to do something; but it is an element of what SHOULD happen if we note someone doing a fantastic job.  The initial motivation, obviously, should be to do a good job and to share our enthusiasm for our art – that’s the cause.  The applause isn’t the primary reason – but we shouldn’t attempt to play the suffering artist, either, when we get it.  Being a Uriah Heep about this sort of thing is no prettier than going for it in an obvious way.

    

   Chantez bien!

    

   Ron

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2. Kitty Babcock says

   December 10, 2012 at 9:52 am

   I do agree with Ron.  Our Embro Thistle Singers do perform for community events as our mission is Song, Service, Fun.  We sing for causes all the time as we did for area young people recently.

   However, when that applause comes through in the end, it really makes a difference.  It is wonderful to have that appreciation of work well done.  It is on the flip side a great way for the audience to connect with the performers as well.  

   While, as Ron points out, we perform especially in church, for a much larger reason than applause, we really enjoy the appreciation that kind words or applause can share.  However, no matter how hard a garbage collector works, I doubt he or she is applauded for a job well done. 

   Every time someone does something well, we get to appreciate them with a smile and a sincere thank you.  That appreciation must be spread past the arts to everyone.  My grocery checker was really  efficient and I made sure she knew it.  The young man who held the door with a smile was praised and thanked.  

   Wherever we are in the world we each can make a difference and applaud the small things that make our lives better.  If we lead by example in life, perhaps, there will be less of the dismissal of things people perhaps misunderstand such as the arts.  

   I am not privvy to how it feels to work in a factory but sure like the results in the marketplace.  In an attempt to learn more, I promise to make a special effort to be more aware, accepting and appreciative of all jobs and maybe, just maybe more people will begin to want to “get” the work called “art”. 

   Kitty

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3. Ronald Richard Duquette says

   December 10, 2012 at 8:36 am

   Well, hang on a second there.  I admit:  what I do as a choral director is specifically and intentionally not for applause – directing a church choir, and a second “a cappella, sacred music, service choir” that was designed from the beginning to provide a choral group in instances of sacred liturgies that don’t have one available to them.  Fair enough; we can’t and shouldn’t expect applause, because that’s not why we do it, and we’re not in circumstances where that is appropriate.  BUT – to be honest and fair to all the hard-working musicians, amateur, semi-pro, and pro, who DO perform for the joy of performing as well as the recognition that rewards their passion and their art – I’m sorry, it sounds good, but it ain’t – at least not entirely.  Oh, sure; I suppose that people can manage to wrap whatever they do in a Saran Wrap of a cause – but please note, that’s transparent.  And I think we shouldn’t denigrate, for the purposes of sounding so “pure” about our intentions, those who DO work for recognition – and payment, and professional and general recognition and advancement.  If the comment above is supposed to be to look up and over the mundane considerations of earning a buck and moving into better circumstances, again, I won’t disagree – but someone got cute with the rhyme – and didn’t get the rhythm of what’s really going on out here.  It may be a lot easier to take as an attitude in a circumstance where you’re taken care of (as the arts have been in Europe) – but in utilitarian America, that’ll just make sure you’re another “poor, dumb artist starving in a garret.”  “La Boheme” is great music – and lousy living.

    

   Chantez bien!

    

   Ron

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