failure is fine

Been trying out some new conceptual ideas at my last few shows.

Part of that involves the simple act of reaching out to instrument makers to attempt a collaboration.

This is one such email, with names obviously omitted because I don't want the other party to feel any more regret than they already will when they will (likely) pass up on the chance.

And, when I fail, which is most of the time, it's fine.

FIF - failure is fine.

What's to lose, what's to gain.

I have shared on this topic before and enjoy exploring the sentiment that failure is shameful. I wonder if the world would still have to contend with a Donald and Benjamin and Elon if it was societally acceptable or even encouraged to acknowledge personal failures, it could be a communal act.

Instead we contract.

When you dispose of the toxic positivity and nauseating quotes, failure is still seen as something you should do in private. Or at the very least, only in hindsight via memoir or greying interview.

Couple that with an expectation that artists live in a mystical realm of vibes in which our feet never touch mortal soil, rendering us immune to doing / saying / acting stupid and you end up with a kind of wretched potion of shame and disappointment, which we feel we have to swallow alone.

Honestly though, what's to lose, what's to gain.

So we look dumb. So we sound dumb. So we pull back the curtain and bare the spreadsheets and divulge the mundane machinations of reaching out to others for collaboration via email.

What's to lose, what's to gain.

I'll keep you posted.