You love me, you really love me.

Artists literally pour their hearts and souls into their work. When you draw or paint, your skin, oil, sweat can actually become part of the piece. But these pieces are their interpretations of the subject. Their imagination and experience coupled with their sight are manifested on their medium.

Singers, songwriters, dancers and all performance artists put everything out on the line because they do it live while you watch. It is all the expression of their interpretations and experiences and they put a lot of themselves into the piece. Their own emotions, their own thoughts and their own bodies make it into the show.

They invite you to come. They sit in the wings nervously. "Will they like me? Will I screw up? Did they come?" Art happens. You meet them at the stage door. So nervous, they leave their make-up on. "So...what did you -" they barely get out and you say, "You look pretty!" (insert 80s style needle scratch here). The performers all know that you hated them, and were bored with the show. What gets me is, this is the compliment you get from your fellow artists who should know better. Sometimes you don't get anything from them, not even "pretty" (especially if you're a guy).

If you go to a performance art piece with a friend, neighbor or relative in it, you have to learn to compliment. Part of the problem stems from a lack of language for the medium. You might be nervous about sounding stupid. A lot of times, it is jealousy or selfishness. Don't forget why you are there. Not to snark at the performers, but to support them.
Learn how.

1. Watch with openness
2. Leave your ego at the door
3. Soak it in and enjoy
4. Look for what you do like, not what you don't
5. Relish in the details of the good
6. Remember those details because you'll need to repeat them later
7. Allow yourself to be vulnerable when you meet them
8. Be effusive
9. Be specific

Remember this: All art is good. 

Artists are what we are ALL called to be. We are from a creator and made in her image. Creators create. Artists create. We are all called to be creators. Like I said in the last post. The creator is Love. Of Love, comes love. Art is an expression of love and you didn't really receive the love if you cannot give some back. Even if you don't connect to the material like you would like, you can find something to like that shows you care and you love.