When did this become part of our life? Constantly Looking at ourselves and others? Being conscious of every move, gesture and activity twenty-four hours a day and posting the results?
It’s now part of our daily grind to accept selfies and document every dull and boring event. It’s such an easy activity with accessible mobile phones virtually welded in the hand and cameras that allow the most intimate things to be captured second by second.
The thought that anyone else would be interested is another matter but we do live in a world that promotes and encourages self-importance on an epic viral fashion.
When, in days gone by and before any realisation of the internet, a tour would exist on stories, pictures taken with real film by proper photographers, anecdotes that, if you were organised, would be written down to giggle about later and memories that had no way of being captured.
When the questions came:’ What was the tour like?’ or “What did you do for the last several weeks?”, the answers would be quite disjointed and events only really remembered after you’d been to the chemist to get your film rolls developed. This was often weeks after the tour due to finding them buried deep in the secret pockets of the suitcases or the general inefficiency of the developers who at times decided to re-colour, re-process and in some cases, report anything suspicious. Quite how rearranging a hotel elevator by adding a sofa, potted plant or lobby mannequin was seen as anything other than foolish was beyond me! But these were different times.
I’ve been reading the rather disjointed biography of Peter Grant who managed many bands notably Led Zeppelin in the later 60’s and early 70’s. A fascinating eye-opening documentary of good, bad, violent and often serendipitous events that relied heavily on luck and being in the right place at the right time often accompanied by the essential large black plastic bin liner that contained the essential ‘drinking vouchers’ or ‘Cash’ in old money!
There was an air of mystery, intrigue and almost dark magic about the industry that promoted huge pop bands and gave then the chance to appear in large stadiums and small clubs around the world. The excitement of seeing your favourite band, buying the album in vinyl, and having those amazing designs as large as twelve inches on the album cover to adorn your bedroom shelves or poster your walls.
Now with millions of tracks being added to the streaming platforms every minute, no tangible artwork, no information, notes, details of bands that relate to the product, we rely on the titbits of instant messaging and twittering breadcrumbs that have replaced the magic of those analogue times.
And as if that isn’t enough, we read scandal and gossip on a pandemic basis that only makes you want more. It’s like having a meal that never makes you full or drinking without satisfying your thirst.
Does it really matter if you don’t post on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram on a regular basis? Does it provide any real purpose that will enable you to make any money and pay your bills? Apart from the very odd and small exception I think not. The daily dull and uninspired posts with images of ‘Jesus on toast’ or ‘Harmony singing poodles’ simply encourages more insatiable meaningless activities that either lead you to believe everyone else is having a much better and happier time that you are, or everyone has taken up residence in the Home for the Perpetually Bewildered!
Create some magic. Be enigmatic. Keep some secrets. Build a Fanbase. Do something special that takes time. Post good things and not all the time. Make people wonder what you’re doing and surprise them when you reveal your masterpieces. Bottom line, no one really cares what you had for breakfast or pictures of your computer screen.
Create something that people will really remember.
Keep it until it’s ready!
Surprise people with your brilliance and not your average.
Try to be different.
