09.11
Basement Belewbeloid, Mount Juliet, Tennessee.
Music so wishes to be heard that sometimes it calls on unlikely characters to give it voice, and ears. This wishing-to-be heard calls into existence the performance event; where music, musician & audience may come together, in communion.
This communion has six different forms (and an invisible seventh). These six principles of the Performance Event are simultaneously present:
Something happens when we get together with other people & Music that would not otherwise happen.
Then, strangely, things go better than they should, or deserve to.
Each performance takes on a life & identity of its own.
Each performance contains a multiplicity of performances within it.
The possible is possible.
The Impossible is possible.
This assumes a common aim, good will & a willingness to participate-in & contribute-to the event.
In a sense, these six forms are simultaneously present & available when he higher in us becomes active; that part of us that knows, essentially, we are all the same person.
When the lower takes charge, that part of us governed by expectation & concern for its rights, reacting when these appear to be challenged, the performance event downgrades. What is possible becomes increasingly restricted; and the impossible becomes impossible. The best is then, that the possible remains possible; otherwise, the possible also becomes impossible. This is the Null Performance, when even the possible-and-available is cancelled out.
A Null Performance has the characteristic that it has no life span, no persistence, no present moment of its own. The Performance disappears, as if it never was; and, really, it wasn’t. The Null Event is a waste of time & energy; and something is lost.
But, it doesn’t have to be like that.
12.02 A call to the Minx – back from speaking on the Ventura. She has a gig at Shugborough tonight.
Practising.
13.39 Off to work.
21.56 The merchandising has arrived I…
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Crim rehearsing I…
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… addressed the Problem Children.
The Arrival of the Sidney Smith I…
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Following rehearsals, a Dress Rehearsal Peformance for invited guests & friends at 18.30, playing a set of almost 2 hours I…
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Some wonderful mistakes, but an honourable workout. Once an audience appears, even an audience of invited guests, this is a Performance; and the Principles of the Performance Event apply.
After a performance, I need time to absorb what has happened; and then gently return to earth from the privileged realm of playing music to an audience. This evening was a rare opportunity for me: flying into the Crimson realm.
Immediately after this evening’s performance, I was approached by one of my own invited guests and this interrupted my process of post-performance earthing. This guest knew their approach was ill-timed but their interest concerned a merchandising opportunity for them, and they sought my support for their venture. Simply put, they were hustling, while knowing post-performance interruption was not right conduct even had business not been involved. So, not only was returning-to-earth-gently abruptly interrupted, I was pulled to earth from the role of Aspirant Musician & pushed into the role of Merchandiser. This invited guest had seized their opportunity & turned the winged life into a business call.
It continues to astonish me how people knowingly act improperly, or not-quite-rightly – I just couldn’t help it! – with the implied assumption that there are no consequences to their behaviour; as if no repercussions follow.
The evening spoiled for me, I made a hasty solo departure from the milling assemblage.
The problem with being pushy is, sometimes we push the door shut instead of open.
Tomorrow’s call…
"The presence of absence is an entry into loss."
