Acting - Day 3 - Role Models
For today’s assignment we were asked to pick a role model and write a short biography about the person.
I was suprised how difficult this task was for me. I remember even a few years ago how I used to have so many role models in different areas of achievement. I would look up to Richard Feynman or Einstein for their intelligence, or Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan for physical abilities. I looked up to Bill Gates for his business achievements.
It says something about my stage of life that I don’t really think in terms of these role models any more. I don’t really strive to achieve success the way it is traditionally defined in terms of strength, wealth, or intellect. Maybe it’s because I’ve achieved most of what I can expect to achieve in these areas, and for the most part it is enough.
I have to admit that I have had role models that replaced these. They are mostly musicians and songwriters who can translate feelings into words and music - Vienna Teng, John Mayer, Sarah McLaughlin, Sting, Lijie. What I admire about them is their musicianship, in some cases their voices, and their ability to create such beauty and powerful feelings out of thin air.
Still it is hard to really call them role models, because when I take a close look at the life of a professional musician, I have to say that it seems like a terrible way to live. Every day travelling to a different city getting on stage in front of strangers (if anyone bothered to come to the show at all), and playing the same set of ten or fifteen songs, trying to build a following and make enough of a living to be able to stay on the road. It seems better to keep your day job and approach music and a wonderful pastime.
I recently went to the Sick Puppies show at Slims, though, and I think that my perspective on this is starting to change. Their performance was so tight and their sound was so crystal that I realized how far my band has to go. In particular, the bassist Emma Anzai totally shredded and I watched in amazement at how good she was. It would take a ton of practice for me to reach that level, if I ever could, and in the process I would be paid almost nothing. And yet that achievement would mean so much more to me than getting the next high-tech job or even being the CEO of a company.