Friday, March 16, 2012

all i (don't) know

i just finished watching my first kickstarter campaign gift, "all i know", and i was absolutely blown away (again) at how much trust and courage it requires to be a musician and to work with other artists.  every one of the 12 musicians in this documentary showed assertiveness, gumption and verve at some point.  they all were so open to the new (to some of them) experience of co-writing songs.  with people they've never met.  who have a different native language than each other.  and then performing the songs live after only 12 days or so.
i know some of the people in the film and i know that they don't have an intentionally cruel bones in their body, but my heart was still scared for all of the musicians at the prospect of these ideas or melodies - their contributions - wouldn't be heard or welcomed by the partner.  of course there were a few bumps along the way.  of course it all turns out well in the end.  but i can't even fathom baring yourself like that in front of other people to be potentially judged harshly.
then, about 20 minutes into it, i realized that these people do that everyday: make themselves, via their art, available for judgment.  it's not that i didn't know that before, but i needed to re-remember it.  i needed to re-remember what it's like to take pride in others for being themselves.

there are lots of colorful, inarticulate fragments floating around in my head that, in there, seem to say this so much better or more floridly, but it's not coming out.  i don't know.

baby, i'm amazed.