Steps To Comfort

Garth Beyer

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I’m still smirking from when the idea for this post first popped in my mind.  I am far from ever liking the idea of getting comfortable. In fact, I advocate the complete opposite, that you get uncomfortable.

Then I read the following advice,

“Challenge yourself. Take greater and greater risks. Don’t stay in your comfort zone; enjoy the comfort at the end of each step.”

How true is the last statement. It means that when you finally get your cake, make sure to eat it too. Enjoy the accomplishment. Enjoy the new sense of familiarity. Enjoy being comfortable with meeting new goals.

I never thought comfort could be associated with moving forward. Proved me wrong.

 

Stay Positive & “Get Comfortable” Still Feels Weird Saying

Garth E. Beyer

Photo credit

What A Perfect Gift Needs

Garth Beyer

Giving a gift – no matter how much time, money, or creativity was put into it – is still a miraculous action. Without listing all the gifts I have given and received (which is a lot, more so the former than the latter,) I have seen that the perfect gift needs three attributes.

One: It’s basic, but sometimes forgotten. While it’s still a gift, I’ve received dozens of items that, quite plainly, I didn’t like. Sure, there are times to take a risk and there are times that a gift gone unliked can be made into a joke, but let’s be sure it’s something they like.

Two: Everyone, and I mean everyone loves knowing you remembered something they said, loves having their advice shared, or/and loves hearing you quote them. Did they once say (very randomly, I might add) that they are a swedish fish? Maybe they said that their grandmother once had a butterfly lapel. Whatever the odd case – and yes, it’s usually humurous – you can always find a way to tag it to a gift.

Three: Not to be confused with number one, you want the gift to be something they want. She may like flowers, but not necessarily want them. He may like the color green, but that doesn’t mean he wants a moss-covered rock. Oh, and everyone has wants, so don’t listen to anyone who says they don’t. It makes it more difficult for you, but more worth it too.

The best part of these three characteristics of a perfect gift is the ability to randomize them, mix them up, and create something weird.

 

Stay Positive & Get Wierd (they are the best gifts)

Garth E. Beyer

 

Robot Journalism

Garth Beyer

I recently read an article in the New York Magazine titled “The (Robot) Creative Class.” It mentioned that robots are being created to do the work of a comedian, musician, bartender, and – what stood out to me – journalist. It noted that,

Developed with Northwestern University’s prestigious Medill School of Journalism, Chicago-based Narrative Science created a computer program that writes basic news articles like sports-game summaries and earnings reports. It already has at least 30 clients, including Forbes and sports heavyweight the Big Ten Network.

I like to believe that, sure, robots can do the menial parts of what is required of a journalist, heck, possibly robots can have their own genre of journalism, we’ll call it Robot Journalism. I wouldn’t mind reading what a robot thinks.

Would you?

You. Yes, You… Why?

Garth Beyer

You, reading this, why are you making me wait?

I want it… I want a lot of things actually. I want to see them, read them, purchase them, interact with them, write about them, talk about them, play with them. I want what you have.

Why do I have to wait? Why am I waiting without knowing about your progress? Even worse, why am I waiting to get my hands on something that is already complete?

What are you waiting for?

The right time? The spot light? The spot on QVC? The 9 second reel on NBC?

There are people out in the world and online that are searching for what you have or what you are slowly (yes, I’m calling you out) working on, but they are searching now. Not later, not when you’re ready to deliver, not when you write on your Facebook page that your work is finally available. Now. That’s when they want it.

Simple solution: give it to them.

 

Stay Positive & Then Go Make Better Art

Garth E. Beyer

Doin’ My Thing

Garth Beyer

It’s a bold statement, especially if titling you’re album after it. Then again, what exactly is wrong with a bold statement? I’m writing this post because I’m doin’ my thing. Writing, it’s what I do. Luke Bryan sings and plays guitar – country music, that’s his thing.Doin' My Thing

Find your thing and call it what it is. Do it for you because of you, because it’s just what you do. What’s the point of doing anything else?

 

Stay Positive & Don’t Worry

Garth E. Beyer

You’re Not The Only One To See Things

Garth Beyer

We all see interesting things. Whether it’s faces in places or just plain odd sights, there’s a plethora of communities who share the experience together.

The web has allowed us to be weird, to share what and how we see the world, and most importantly, it has allowed us to search and find others who see similar interesting things.

What do you have to share?

 

Stay Positive & Go Share It Already, I Want To See

Garth E. Beyer

What Makes A Successful Garage Band

Garth Beyer

(If you don’t want to read, click the last hyperlink in this post.)

There’s no lack of talent when it comes to vocals or who can play a guitar or win over an audience with a ridiculously fast paced bass solo. It’s no longer about who can play an instrument and how well, but how many instruments they can play, how they can incorporate the multiple instruments into a show, and how they can show the audience their passion.

Times have changed but very few garage bands are falling behind. They’re excited to try new instruments, mish mash sounds, and – generally speaking – have fun. Something that is hard to say for those entering the professional world of freelance.

Last night I had the honor to see a handful of bands play at a Launchpad event. Launchpad is a statewide, alternative music competition for Wisconsin high school students who are in bands formed outside of the traditional music classroom ensembles. (view some of the bands here.) These high schoolers were incredible performers, showmakers, and artists.

But the truly exceptional ones brought out different instruments: extra drums, key board, violin. Now it’s now more common to have an extra instrument in a band, but the way these students incorporated them into their songs, well, that was real talent. (One band actually switched their trumpeter with the vocalist, vocalist with the drummer, drummer with the keyboard, and keyboard with the trumpeter. Impressive!)

The status quo is being kicked and bruised by those living the garage band or what I like to call, garage project workstyle/artstyle/lifestyle. There are no longer boundaries. You can no longer bring your one “instrument” and perform. You have to bring everything (all of your “instruments”) and perform some instrumental alchemy.

The worlds changing. Best to be a leader of it.

 

Stay Positive & Rubber Bands Are Still Accepted

Garth E. Beyer