Did you know that Star Wars and Tommy Boy are basically the same movie? That’s because of the path that each story follows - the hero’s journey. And your life and the lives of your friends also can follow a similar path, especially if you’re making art. The challenge is to acknowledge that you are on the path of the hero’s journey. And then to get clear on exactly which part of the path you’re on. This will help you be more effective as an artist.

I used to live in the past, so much so that I tried to make a whole album about it. Which got scrapped. Today, as I finish up recording my latest album, I’m no longer living in the past. What changed? And why does the author Steven Pressfield say, “Personal life has nothing to do with work”?

 

One day I walked into my local record store, which was carrying my latest CD. I asked the owner if I could have back all the copies of my CD, without any further explanation. I took all those CDs, and I threw them in the trash. Then I moved on to other record stores in the city to do the same thing. Why did I take my music off the shelves and trash it? Because sometimes, as an artist, what you destroy can be just as important as what you create.

Sometimes you might come across someone who’s older and more experienced than you, and they offer to share from their wisdom. It would then be a good idea to listen. John Baldessari is one of America’s most prominent contemporary artists. He’s been around for quite a long time. And he has three things he wants you to know. Also, I have three things I want you to know too.

Do you know the one thing that you’re about? What is that unique value that you bring to others? Can you whittle it down to one clear sentence? From the Ten Commandments to Twitter bios, if you can’t get clear on what you’re about, it’s very hard to be effective. And after you get your clear statement, then what? Share it. All the time. Keep singing your song.

Do you feel the need to make a dent in the universe? I think we all do. But what about our other needs, like food, water, shelter, money, love? Which needs are more important than others? Can we really make a dent in the universe if we have nothing in the bank account? Maybe we can at least make a dent in making a dent in the universe…

When Kevin Costner came up for air on the set of Waterworld (1995), he knew it would be a long day. So did the other cast and crew. Have you ever got stuck on a project you’re working on? Have you ever reached what author Seth Godin calls “The Dip”? I’m there right now. But I can’t stop. Not an option. So here’s what I’m doing about it…

Back in the 1980s, a guy named Craig Stecyk became the art director at Powell Peralta skateboards. He had one rule: print ads for Powell Peralta will not feature any skateboarding. This was unheard of. How can you advertise a skate company without showing its team riders skateboarding? Craig’s decision had a far-reaching impact on skate culture, and on many aspects of Western culture today (including many of today’s big brands). What can Craig’s decision teach us about making art? And how can we, as artists (that means you, buddy) create a place for others to get lost in?

Giving Bonnie “Prince” Billy a glass of whiskey turned out to be harder than it sounds. But I learned a powerful lesson from it: not all communities have your best interests in mind. It’s not because they’re against you, it’s just that they’re not strong enough. Or more specifically, the relational ties within them are not strong enough. If you’re looking for real change - in your life, in your society, in the world - you need a community that has grandpas and grandmas, and babies, too. Does your local music scene have those things?

Hi, how are you? How are you feeling? What’s on your mind? (Freezes up, turns around, and runs in the other direction.) Does direct communication bother you? In conversations? In advertising? In music? Sometimes we just need people to chill and be cool for a while. Communication will happen when it happens. Other times, we need direct communication, and we need it urgently. The challenge is to know which kind of communication is needed for which situation. This becomes especially clear in art, marketing, and in building community.