What Makes Magic?

I’m a musical numbskull. It’s as simple as that. A few years of piano lessons as a child means that I can read music at a very basic level, but I was hopeless at actually playing the instrument. I can’t sing at all. When I try my dog gets mad and chases me around trying to bite my butt until I stop. So, to avoid feeling like a hypocrite I am careful about what kind of opinions I offer about artists and what they do.

However, I have spent most of my sixteen years in SL going to live shows. I have paid attention and learned a little bit. Mostly I’ve learned about my own tastes and preferences and what appeals to me in an artist, especially those things that go beyond their technical virtuosity. So, with the previously offered disclaimer that I’m a sonic moron, here are a few of the things that really make me enjoy musicians.

Performing

I may not be a great judge of technical talent, but I can absolutely feel when an artist is connecting with the music and performing it rather than just going through the motions of playing it. Such performances are simply a cut above. They are special and valuable. Someone with fantastic skill that doesn’t connect with the music or express feeling and emotion, leaves me, honestly, bored, perhaps even a bit frustrated. It’s like having the most beautiful dessert you’ve ever seen show up in front of you at a restaurant, and then when you bite into it there is simply no flavor.

Fun

When an artist is enjoying themselves, it’s infectious. There are artists I know who freely acknowledge that they are NOT the most technically skilled musicians in SL. Some even will state that they don’t think there are even good musicians at all! However, these artists can often provide some of the best shows you’re going to see, because they genuinely love performing. They are having FUN when they perform. They just exude a sense of joy while they are doing shows, and you can just sense how it is impacting an audience, so they share in that fun and joy. Regardless of an artist’s level of musical skill, if they are having fun, then there is a potential for magic to happen!

Connection

We are so fortunate in SL that we can be part of a collaborative collective that comprises the music community. It is a symbiotic whole in which the artists and the fans jointly share in creating and sharing experiences. Artists who recognize this and involve their audiences in the creative process make their performances so much more important and impactful because the listeners aren’t passively consuming the music, they are much more deeply involved in actively participating in the art.

Uniqueness

There are some songs that just about every musician is likely to have in their repertoire. I get that. But there are times when it can feel a little like we’re hearing the same set from a lot of performers. When an artist really focuses on having a catalog of music that is theirs, picked from the heart, not just based on assuming they know what everyone wants to hear, it is so special.

I think it often is what leads to all the other things I’ve mentioned.

When an artist is playing what they love – either covers or originals – frequently we see a level of performance that is special because they are feeling that music. I can sense that they are having fun too! Of course, it must be much more fun to play what you love than playing what you think others want to hear. Finally, sharing your vision of what you love to perform is probably the most immediate form of sharing who you are as a person and to create that special connection with the people you’re performing for. It feels like having a unique repertoire may be the thing that ties it all together and creates the kind of amazing performances that are possible, but not commonplace.

Being Part of SL

Finally, I’ve realized lately that I truly value SL performers who are not in world just to perform and get out of here as fast as they can. SL matters to me. The music community in SL matters to me. I do notice which performers are truly here to be part of it, and which are just here because they can duck in and perform and then poof. Most days I’m constantly having to make the hard choice among multiple performers I love that are on at the same time. I always prioritize shows by artists that I know are committed to and personally invested in SL over those that aren’t.

This is, of course, all just my opinion of some of the things that consistently lead to me enjoying certain artists and their performances! I’d love to hear your thoughts on all of this too!