UMBRELLA COLLECTIVE
  • Home
  • About
  • Projects
  • Support
  • Connect
  • Blog

Trying not to emotionally face-punch ourselves

8/2/2012

 
PictureEven after 2,390 some odd years -
and oodles of Theatre History courses -
the guy’s still got it goin’ on.
Company member Heidi Jedlicka reflects on excellence, artists, and taking it easy on ourselves.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. -- Aristotle
Now that our 2011-2012 season is officially finished. I’m going to let you in on a little SU secret. It’s not always easy here, under the umbrella. For realz.

Do we disagree? Yes. Do conversations sometimes get heated? Oh, duh. Has each and every company member dropped the ball at one point or another? Probs.

But do you know what we’re the WORST at? Recognizing how awesome we are individually and as an organization.

I imagine this flaw is a common among young arts organizations and companies. With many company members working full-time, making art as much as possible, and trying to engage in as much grown up behavior as possible (bathing, cleaning, happy hours) things can - and do - fall through the cracks. Tasks are half-assed. Deadlines are blown (included the deadline for this very blog post!) Unnecessary details are forgotten. The biggest problem with the reality of artists stretched too thin is that it’s so easy to focus on all the tiny failures and be swept up in a tidal wave of demoralization. Yikes. Not a fun time, right?

We (Savage Umbrella and artists everywhere) have to find a way to deal with all the tiny failures without emotionally punching ourselves in the face. Sure, sometimes failure happens, and when it does, it is generally unpleasant.  However, so long as we don’t forget the lesson learned there is no sense in beating ourselves (or each other) up about it.

Aristotle is right, obvi. Excellence is a habit. However, like many habits, sometimes they are so automatic we fail to acknowledge them. As we look back on a season of projects both massive and small, I challenge my fellow company members and artists everywhere to take a moment and think about all the tiny successes that have occurred along that way. Seriously, think about a success right now; it will make you feel good.

Up next week, a season in review or Where the hell did the year go?

Missing SU now that our 2011-12 season is over? Never fear. You can hang out with us - and support the creation of new work! - at our 3rd annual Happy Hour FUNdraiser. Join us Thursday, Aug. 23 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm at Open Book (10th and Washington, downtown). Suggested donation of $10 / $25 / $50. Free artisanal beer, wine, and nosh. Live and silent auctions. Featuring the talents of local bands Fairfax, AK and Discord Syndicate. Be there!



Comments are closed.

    Archives

    November 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    October 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010

    RSS Feed

Picture
Together is better.
Get under the umbrella.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Copyright 2019
​Umbrella Collective
  • Home
  • About
  • Projects
  • Support
  • Connect
  • Blog