There are many meccas. For artists, it’s NYC.
On the strength of a nice, little grant from The National Endowment for the Arts, in the 70’s, I headed to NYC.
I had no job, but I knew a few people. I knew I could land and sleep on someone’s couch for awhile. That was enough. It was a good move. I could take in the art movements from around the world and found my little niche in that world. Thrilling!
The other day, I gave a talk to a bunch of business students at Morehead University - in a lovely, small town in the midst of Kentucky’s rolling hills.
In telling my story, my hope was it would give students courage to follow their heart - not just make rational decisions.
Rational decisions are over-rated. What’s rational to one person may be seen as totally crazy by another.
Say, someone wants to be an opera singer. That person will hear, from people who may never have listened to opera --- and really don’t know what they are talking about ---- that they will never make any money pursuing an opera career.
Don’t listen to them!
Instead, Go to Italy, Go to NYC, go to places where opera is valued.
Sing!
Want my advice to students?
Go! Follow your dreams. Want to work in the tech world - Go to Silicon Valley, or Houston, Boston or Hyerabad in India. Want to dance - Go to NYC. Is there a place you’ve always wanted to live? Go there. You will find work you love because you love the place.
Go to your Mecca. You will be rewarded and enriched.
