Five Minute Friday: Real

Each Friday, I try to write on a word suggested by Lisa Jo over at The Gypsy Mama. Today's word is:

Real

The first thing that popped into my mind when I saw today’s word was the catch phrase from the old commercial… “Is it live or is it Memorex?”

My husband and I are musicians. While I never attained the professional level that he has, I have had years of training and performance experience, and understand the difference between live performance and recording, in terms of expectations. When you purchase music, you are expecting a perfect performance. The only time when mistakes are acceptable is if you purchase a “live” album.

When my husband records a CD, he may get a song in one take, or it may take him 25 tries plus a little editing to get the “perfect” performance. In a live show, you only get one chance. That’s a lot of pressure…knowing that people want a stellar performance, but knowing that you are human and mistakes happen. There’s something special about seeing a live performance. It is an opportunity to see the artist share from the heart. You see and sense nuances such as facial expressions, body movement, and breathing that are simply lost in a recording.

To create something (be it music, art, sculpture, poetry, etc.) and then share it with others is to be vulnerable….to be real.

People recognize, appreciate, and respect “perfection,” but it is often the experience of seeing an artist perform, mistakes and all, that stays with them long after the music stops.