Lessons from the EAL gig
Just a quick list of things I want to remember from last week’s Emerging Art Leaders gig at The Far Out Lounge.
It was my first time doing live art outside of a house party, so I expected to learn a lot and I did. Some to do with executing such an activity, some to do with how I need to contextualize my art.
(I was interviewed on camera about the pieces I brought / was working on, so it’s a little too late to tweak my soundbites for whatever piece that gets edited into, but I’m okay with that. However it turns out, I’ll find a way to use it.)
So here we go, things to remember:
Bring a change of clothes — we did set up around 6pm which was still dripping hot for an Austin June, but of course the evening was so perfect. Also, don’t forget the wide brimmed hat!! (I didn’t forget, I just couldn’t find mine that day, as it was hiding in a random tote).
DO ask for tips — it’s not like I made bank, but it felt so good to see that surprise pop up on my Venmo feed after the event. And I like giving to artists so, this is a great small way to invite reciprocity into my life and work.
Focus on one big project instead of a few ones. My booth had three components and I don’t regret that, but one of them (the Take a Focal Leave a Focal game) needed a bit of assembly, and because I was in a creative mood with all my paints there, I spent more time than I’d planned painting a sign for it. This was a lower-grade spectacle than if I’d focused on my main panel, and I would’ve had much better chances of getting the whole panel done during the one party if I’d focused on that.
An unmounted spool rack does indeed make a fine book display stand!
Have a dinner plan because for some reason the taco truck doesn’t stay open all night ??
The re-presentation of the Irish language is indeed needed, but if I’m going to move forward with that focus I have to approach it less from a didactic, book report kinda way and open up more with my own story, get vulnerable about the identity crisis aspect and how it illustrates a quest for ‘decolonizing’ the American imagination that transcends Irish heritage or any specific backstory.
Focus on the art instead of being the sponsor’s spokesperson for everyone who comes by. It’s cool to point them to the newsletter sign up sheet and tell them to take a sticker, but I deserve to be able to focus my intention on the creative act, because that’s what I was invited to do. It’s not rude to ask/expect that someone else from the org can handle administrative duties, especially when they assure me that they’re there to support me.
Meet whomever I can that works at the venue and be gracious but don’t turn it into a test of my social skills. Just be friendly and flow.
Don’t be afraid of this stuff. Enjoy it. Allow myself the blessing of being called on to conjure spectacle and direct conversation. Listen to people and appreciate what they share about their own explorations, because it is connected to what I’m putting out there.
Dance breaks are the best part.