I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of authenticity this year. The degree to which one is true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character despite external pressures from the material world.
But my thoughts about authenticity aren’t just about money. I’m also thinking about how transparent I should be in the digital world – with my ideas, my clients’ ideas, and even when sharing certain aspects of my personal life.
The truth is, I think the origin of ideas can be incredibly interesting and worth sharing. At least, it’s incredibly interesting up until the moment it is no longer a secret. Our live audience must wonder why (and how) we choose to all this. Surely our personal Internet audience is curious about us as well?
If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll know that I lean toward transparency in most things. I’m happy for you to know me, and the mix of things that I am. I choose not to share my client list, ensuring that sensitive issues don’t become part of the word-of-mouth stream that forms community perceptions about arts organizations’ health or worth.
But sometimes, being vulnerable in the public sphere can connect artists to audiences at an entirely different level. I’ve always hated Phil Collins’ music, for example. It all sounds the same to me. I hate the drum/lead singer combination. But his interview (with Starlee Kine) for a “Break-Up” special on This American Life, completely changed my mind about Phil Collins.
Kine asked about the song, Take a Look At Me Now, a song that was popular in my teen years. Popular to the point of exhaustion popular. Phil Collins could have said a lot of things about why he wrote that song, but instead? He was direct. Honest. And, to the best of my knowledge, he was authentic. It changed everything I thought I knew about Phil Collins. I don’t necessarily love listening to his music more than I did before, but I 100 percent respect it because I understand where it’s coming from.
You can listen to the interview here.
