Category: Things that inspire
Creative Mondays #034 – Stick to your core.
NOTE: Saw a huge uptick in traffic to this site from Canada this past weekend. Just saying a big, warm hello to my pals up there. Hope you enjoy what you read and can’t wait to see what originally creative things you come up with.
This week I’m going to start by telling you a story. Around 2000 or 2001, I went with three friends to Canada to pull a ‘Grateful Dead’ and follow the band, Barenaked Ladies, on tour. All three of us were huge fans and we had decided to follow them to three stops on their Canadian tour. It was a lot of fun and the shows were great. Through the Barenaked Ladies fan club, The Ladies Room, we had amazing seats. Front row two nights, second row the other. Barenaked Ladies is a great band to see night after night too because, while they do play some of the same songs, they change the setlist up a lot from night to night and work in a lot of older, obscure songs. So, days were spent driving or exploring the towns and at night we rocked. Even one night, hanging out with the band at a bar afterwards.
But on the third night, right before the show, I was sitting in the front ready to rock when all of a sudden a weird feeling hit me. It took me a moment to work out what is was. But suddenly, it clicked. I was bummed because for the past few days I had been watching other people (Barenaked Ladies) pursue their creative talents and all I had done was sit and watch. In that moment I realized that I didn’t want to be here passively watching, I wanted to be creating. At that moment I made a rule for myself that, while going to concerts to watch is a great thing and creatively inspiring, I would never again ‘follow’ a band on tour for multiple shows. I’d much rather spend those other nights working on my own creative pursuits.
I’ve always come back to that moment in my thoughts over the years, though I’ve never really known how to put it into words other than, “I didn’t want to be watching anymore, I wanted to be the one creating.” I’ve never really talked about it to anyone over the years and wouldn’t have even considered it as a topic for a Creative Mondays until I was browsing Austin Kleon’s tumblr page and came across this chart and description he had reblogged from a tumblr user named Craighton Berman. This chart and description described exactly how I felt about that night.
I’m the type of person who needs to be close to the core. I have to be. If I spend to much time away from it and in the COLLECT area, I begin to feel like I did that night at the Barenaked Ladies show. I need to Create A Little Everyday. I need to be close to that core.
There’s nothing wrong with being a collector, not at all. It’s just not for me. I’m only happy and comfortable when I’m as close to that core as I can be.
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Where do you fall on Craighton’s chart? What steps can you take to get close to the core? Let me know in the comments below.
What Other Are Creating #006
Howdy friends!
Time for another edition of What Others Are Creating. There wasn’t one last week just because I didn’t seen any new projects to mention. As I always say, if you have a project you’d like me to check out, please let me know in the comments and I will do so. Always on the look out for new and interesting projects to feature. With that out of the way, let’s get on with this week’s projects.
Brodrick “Jigsaw” Jones – http://jigsawfanclub.com – Jigsaw Season 5
I was a fan of Jonesy’s work before I met him. While surfing around the internet one night I came across the fun that is the Jigsaw video thing. They are short, funny, relatively family friendly, puppet videos that have an amazing look to them. They tell the story of Milton the Robot and Dr. Cranium and the wacky characters around them and they are all puppeteered (mostly) by just one guy. Jonesy. Jonesy is one of those people who is just really creative. So creative it makes me mad. But I still love him. Season 5 of the Jigsaw Video Thing just started and you can check out the first episode of season 5 by CLICKING HERE. Or you can go back to the start and watch them all by CLICKING HERE. Either way, click, enjoy.
Carrie Seim – http://www.carrieseim.com – NY Post Article
I met Carrie through my Improv troupe Improvatorium. She’s a hilarious person on and off stage and we’ve had a ton of fun working together. She will be the female lead in a new audio drama I have coming out in the next month or so and I couldn’t think of a better person to work with on it. When she’s not improvising, you can find Carrie traveling the world and writing articles for such publications as the New York Post. She has a new article out, just this week, about men who apologize for bad behavior. Give it a read by CLICKING HERE and then check out Carrie’s website at www.carrieseim.com
Frank Conniff – Podhouse 90 – http://frankconniff.com
It’s no mystery I’m a fan of Mystery Science Theatre 3000. When I moved back down to Los Angeles after college, one of the first weeks I was here, I went to see a stand up show called Frank’s Chop House run by TV’s Frank, Frank Conniff. I’m glad to say that since that night in 1998, I’ve become a friend of Frank’s and he was so supportive of The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd, becoming the guest star that returned the most times. Well, Frank now has his own podcast and you should really give it a listen. Funny, politically based stuffed and a huge, talented cast. (The cast includes some other Mystery Science Theatre Alumni as well, so it’s a must for fans.) Check it out by visiting Frank’s website http://frankconniff.com
Joel Hogson – Gizmonic Information Club – http://joelhodgson.com
Again, no secret, I’m a fan of Joel Hodgson. Well, he’s got a new email list set up and if you are a fan of Mystery Science Theatre, I suggest you subscribe. I’ve been following Joel on Twitter and he’s been dropping some hints about some cool things that may be coming in the, not too distant, future. I can’t wait to see what it might be! You can sign up over at http://joelhodgson.com.
Well, that’ll about do it for this week. Again, if you have a project you reckon I should check out, either your own or someone else’s, please leave it in the comments below. I’d really love to see what else is out there other than the random things I stumble upon.
Have a great week!
What Others Are Creating #005
Happy Friday friends. Hope you all had a tremendously creative week.
I would say my week was decently creative. Puppet Up! Uncensored classes started up again on Monday. Our first classes back since the big Australia trip. No big shows or tours planned anytime soon, but I’ll keep you posted.
But, enough about me! These Fridays posts are about what OTHERS are creating, so let’s get to it.
Jayne Entwistle’s To Whom It May Concern – www.ReadYourLetter.com – Jayne Entwislte is a super talented friend of mine. She’s been gracious enough to lend her voices to several of my podcast projects and there’s few things more fun than improvising with her on stage. Last year she came up with the idea for a live show and podcast called To Whom It May Concern. It’s a show where people read actual letters and responses that they have written and received. The show runs the full range of emotions in one evening and is something everyone should experience. The next live show is this Saturday night at 8PM in Los Angeles. Info for the show can be found by CLICKING HERE. If you don’t happen to live in the Los Angeles area, don’t be bummed! You can listen to the podcast! Find it in the iTunes Podcast Directory by CLICKING HERE. And, if you’re the kind of person who wants to brave reading a letter at the show, you can submit to be part of it by CLICKING HERE. However you choose to get invoked, attending, listening or submitting, I hope you’ll check Jayne’s show out!
Felix Pire’s Staged Reading – https://www.facebook.com/events/277662685738487 – Felix Pire is a a mad, creative dynamo. He does it all: Acting, Directing, Writing, Puppeteering and more. You may recognize him from the film 12 Monkeys where he had several scenes opposite that guy, what’s his name? Oh yeah, BRAD PITT! Anyway, Felix’s latest project is a staged reading of a screenplay he wrote called The Outrageously Homofunky Adventures of Sergio Menendez. It’s happening on June 26 in Los Angeles, so if you’re in the area, go check it out. I don’t know much about the script but I would assume it may be more for adults and it’ll be hilarious. Make your plans now! Info can be found at the Facebook Event page by CLICKING HERE.
Amanda Louise – www.AmandaLouise.com – I was browsing the discover tab on my Instagram app and came across this unique little creatures with stars on their face. I followed through to the profile and then to the website and discovered the art of Amanda Louise. She makes these little mixed media creatures called Dust Bunnies and Pipsqueaks and, for some reason, I’m just completely taken with them. They are, unfortunately a little too expensive for me to pick one up right now, but I certainly bookmark her site for the future. Go take a look at her website and check out her art by CLICKING HERE.
Seán Cullen – Comedy Genius – I first heard of Seán Cullen as the lead singer of the, hilarious Corky & The Juice Pigs. Their song REMember is one of the funniest comedy songs ever written. Well, Seán is still making music and I was lucky enough to catch him a few times on the Barenaked Ladies cruises and then it was really great to perform on the same stage with him at the Melbourne Comedy Festival back in March. This week I’ll leave you with a clip of Seån doing a set while in Australia. The way Seån mixes improv with his set material is just brilliant and absolutely mind boggling. I’ll never pass up a chance to see him live. Visit his website by CLICKING HERE.
Little Bits from Past Posts
- Christiana Ellis’ Space Casey is still running at her website. Fun audio drama, check it out – http://www.SpaceCasey.com
- Tabitha Grace Smith’s Sherlock Holmes inspired Kickstarter is still running – http://kck.st/Rer7GQ
And that brings us to the end of this week’s look at What Others Are Creating. Got a creative project I should check out? Either one you are working on or one that you find inspiring? Please post a link in the comments below and I shall check it out.
Have a creative weekend and I’ll see you on Monday for another Creative Monday!
What Others Are Creating #004
Happy Friday! Welcome to another edition of What Others Are Creating where I look at some of the creative projects that I’ve seen various artists working on this week. My hope is to share them now with you and perhaps you’ll find one or two to check out further and possibly support.
Decoder Ring Theatre – http://decoderringtheatre.com – As someone who has been podcasting in one form or another since 2004, I’m often ask which podcasts I listen to. Decoder Ring Theatre is one of the best and one of the longest running audio drama podcasts on the web. It’s got action, adventure and laughs for folks of just about any age. And not only is the content amazing, their production schedule is something to aspire too. I will always mention Decoder Ring Theatre and the Adventures of The Red Panda as one of my favorite podcasts to listen to. I’ve been subscribed since the day I found it! Check them out.
The Ukulady – http://www.theukulady.com – The ukelele has become a ubiquitous instrument. Everyone everywhere is now playing the damn thing. Once relegated to hawaain shows, the Hipster wave has grabbed hold of the mighty ukelele and now it’s a badge of coolness to play the ukelele. Well, long before this current wave of coolness, The Ukulady was making the ukelel cool by singing her offbeat tunes while strumming the instrument. I’ve known The Ukulady for some years as we’ve travelled in the same circles and have always been impressed she’s built a very successful children’s act around The Ukulady. CLICK HERE to watch a fun medley of ’80s Television Theme Songs performed live in front of a raucous audience. Just three minutes of nothing fun.
Jody Whitesides – http://jodywhitesides.com/blog/ – Jody is a guy I met around 1998 while doing open mics in Southern California. He has been a friend ever since. If you’ve followed any of the projects I’ve worked on over the years, you have, no doubt, heard his name or heard his music. He produced and played bass and guitar on the Throwing Toasters album CHROME, he did all the music for The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd and his song Christmas Brought Me You is the theme for my yearly Advent Calendar. Jody is in the process of working on a new album of songs and he’s blogging regularly over at his website. Go read through some of his recent posts and check out a few of his songs. I’m sure you’ll be rocking out to one or two of them. Plus his blogs are a good read about pop culture and art creation from a musician’s point of view.
Finally this week I want to leave you with a short video clip. It’s a segment from Penn’s Sunday School, a weekly podcast hosted by Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller. It starts with Drew Carey talking about some advice he was given a long time ago and I think it’s something interesting to think about in terms of creativity. I’ll let you watch it and see for yourself. This is Penn Jillette here, so some of the words are NSFW. Give it a listen and let me know what you think about Being Great or Being Anonymous when you’re just starting out something.
That’s if for another week. If you have a project you would like me to check out, please feel free to leave a link to it in the comments below. Always interested in seeing what people are coming up with. Have a great weekend and I will see you back here on Monday morning for another Creative Mondays!