Linda Ronstadt – An Artist

An Artist

Grows

Does not give the audience what it wants, but what he/she wants.

Refuses to repeat him/herself.

Is interesting in satisfying him/herself, not fans.

Are cutting edge, they lead the audience, not vice versa.

If someone doesn’t hate what you’re doing, you’re doing it wrong.

Challenges the audience.

Acts on inspiration, not desperation.

Runs on emotion, not intellect.

Will hear no more than they hear yes.

Are constantly told how to do it by people who can’t do it.

Doesn’t self-judge based on the money they make.

Knows when they do something great, they don’t need the audience to validate it for them, they already know.

Stretches. To repeat oneself is emotional death. And since an artist runs on emotion…

Refuses to look back unless they want to. Once you play to nostalgia, it’s hard to push the creative envelope once again, the world has labeled you a has-been.

Needs help to make it but must push back against that help.

Is inherently tortured. Needing to get their message/soul out. They don’t fit in. Their goal is to express raw humanity so that people can connect with it, they channel the zeitgeist.

Are always ahead of the audience and the critics. People are confounded by artists who do something for the very first time.

Don’t stay in their niche.

Are people first, not factories.