My Jr. High chorus teacher Mr. Anderson once barked, “Music isn’t something you learn from a book. You live it by breathing life into the lyrics the artist has elected to share with you. If technique is your desired performance, please leave this class and don’t come back…awareness carries the true expression.”
Technique…
Can someone who’s unique fulfill their role inside a world where technique is God? Technique has nothing to do with catching a unique rabbit? The best way to achieve accomplishment is you neek up on it… Awareness molds champions.
From the outside the word technique looks bold, daring and confident. Sadly, get too close you’ll be introduced to overbearing. Technique carries weight, those who hold it’s Yoda like powers become the heavy weight kings of bragging holding down important positions of decision making turning every horizon into lopsided presentations of purpose without reasons to believe those following should continue. You can’t learn how to downhill ski from a book.
Nobody wins a Tae Kwon Do or other Mixed Martial Arts tournament without proper technique. Spend a few more minutes looking at the entire picture and within seconds you’ll begin to take note of mechanics. Inside blocks followed by front kick, land it, double punch, side kick, blah, blah, blah. I feel like we’re watching Kate Gosselin on Dancing with the Stars. Having a great hairstyle doesn’t win you a beauty contest.
I’ve fought Ivan Torres nearly 20 times—half my size, his technique the sharpest I’ve seen since meeting Grand Master Jung. Ivan nearly ripped my nose out of its place not because his round house kick is fed by rivers of proper technique but his ambition to study the entire picture through measures that are completely loyal to awareness creating a path to follow my bad habits, once the nose became open…the blood began to spurt.
What makes an employee, student or competitor unforgettable isn’t perfectly designed technique but their willingness to breathe life into the lyrics the artist elected to share with them. Bill Gates’ passion wasn’t to become the worlds richest man…he found value in creating a computer that non-nerds with giant pocket protectors could easily learn then better their life.
Apple’s introduction of the IPad entertains stockholders and Wall Street gamblers who have no clue who the client is or they would’ve made the computer fully capable of opening more than one application at a time. The IPhone should’ve been connected to the project! They’re using technique as the money making opportunity tool. Outside of the IPod, what’s been Apples next best thing? Happy investors.
How can we turn our chapters around and start performing like real rock stars? Rollingstone Magazine recently published a reader’s response to The Black Eyed Peas being named one of the most influential bands on earth. The fan of the pages wrote, “How can you call them a band when none of them play instruments…its all created in a recording studio by a club disc jockey.”
Author Lou Solomon believes its time to stop fitting in. Your daily goal should be set on living in your own skin. Your knowledge is extremely important but experience, insight and the stories created while climbing the ladder teaches others to become better players in a Corporate American world where you’ve got the bosses permission to be lazy because we’ll soon replace you with someone lazier.
As popular as Larry David is with Seinfeld and Curb your Enthusiasm, history will one day call him the cheapest date in the entertainment business. He finds no value in creating scripts—the scenes are set then you perform. If you’ve been attached to his past few seasons it’s easy to tell the difference between great actors and those who are nothing without the aid of someone putting the words in their mouth.
If I were to sit down with Adam Lambert and ask him to write a song on the spot…he’d exceed the limits. Bon Jovi, Bob Dylan, Usher, Nelly and Trace Adkins are no different. Put the microphone on Kanye West, Rihanna, Fergie and Carrie Underwood they'll scream for their bodyguards and tour managers to rid their world of the crazy man in front of them.
Through technique they are major money makers and shakers but can you see, feel, taste and be influenced to share the experience with someone using their art as a tool? My white guy booty can bounce with the best of them during Boom Boom Pow and I still can’t get enough of Party in the USA from Miss Miley Cyrus. But which one truly has staying power?
Watching Miley is a learning experience because her roots are sheltered by a connection to Disney…her evolution into superstardom and acceptance with all people rather than kids and young adults is nothing more than the rebirth of Little Ricky Nelson from Ozzy and Harriet. She’s using technique as a format to which she falls back on when knowledge, experience and insight are sitting in class preparing themselves for a much wiser place to breathe.
How does Charlie the car mechanic step away from technique? What about Juan the college student and busboy Mike from the family restaurant barely hanging on? Rather than watch Hells Kitchen, study Gordon Ramsey. Instead of watching old video’s of past American Idol contestants take the time to learn Simon Cowell’s path. Don’t read John C Maxwell, Anthony Robbins and the other 400,000 motivational books now 20% off at your favorite book store…study those books like your life depends on it. Every sentence holds the fuel that could lift you up and over this dull life and style you’ve adopted and blamed it on everything but choice.
People ask me all the time how I’ve survived 31 years of constantly changing radio…my answer has never bent…I don’t work in radio. I’m in the people business and business is always great.
Now sit up straight and do your own thing. I believe in you…
arroecollins@clearchannel.com
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