Be Part of Something Where It Matters if You Show Up

One of the biggest challenges of being an artist is the solitude. Unless you're consistently working in a collaborative capacity -- rehearsing a play, shooting a film, or showing work in an exhibition there is A LOT of time spent alone.

And it's when we're alone when we find ourselves battling the voices that nudge us to consider more conventional paths or question the meaning of our creative contributions.

What we need is no different from what anybody else yearns for - to be part of a community of like-minded people where we feel we're making an impact. 

Whatever your medium it may help to find a place through volunteer service, or community outreach work where it really does matters if you show up or not; a place where people are counting on you to deliver value and share what you know.

This will do wonders for your morale and likely support your artistry in unexpected ways.

Provide Support

The other night I went to see a good friend perform in a play. "I probably can't get you comps though," she warned me. "That's okay," I said. I knew all too well how difficult it could be to get a hold of some free theater tickets.

Two weeks later I showed up as promised. After the performance, which my friend was terrific in, she insisted we meet up. I told her how great she'd been, asked questions about her experience working on the production, and her thoughts on the play's challenging themes.

She beamed as we sipped our teas in the corner of a popular college coffee shop before we bid each other farewell and headed home.

I realized a week later that just the simple act of attending her play had meant a great deal to her. It not only showed that I cared, but validated what she was doing as an artist mattered - that her voice was heard.

Take the time to support a friend's play, reading, exhibition, gallery, film, concert, or screenplay. It'll mean more than you think.