As a verb, to muse is to consider something thoughtfully.
As a noun, it means a person — especially a woman — who is a source of artistic inspiration.
In mythology, the Muses were nine goddesses who symbolized the arts and sciences. Today, a muse is a person who serves as an artist’s inspiration. Often filmmakers talk about a certain actor being a muse to the director. Writers, painters, musicians, and other artists have muses. Muse can also refer to thinking deeply. If you muse about something, you’re giving it serious thought. Today, we muse a muse, amusingly enough. And then there was MUSE….
I’ve often begged the question, is it better to be a muse, or to have a muse? Some think the two are not mutually exclusive, though I find it difficult to be both in one moment. Often one transfers the energy to the next and A mused becomes THE muse for the next generation. I’ve also stumbled upon some strict repercussions to being a muse, especially if you’re doing your job well. Let’s explore:
The greatest risk a teacher runs lies in teaching others to do the craft you have previously mastered. As a professional dancer or fire performer, it should be (and has been) my mission to not only entertain but to inspire others to learn to create their own magic. Master their own craft. Hone their skill. Which is an asset, and a risk. An asset because now there are more fire dancers in the world, and who doesn’t like that?! And a risk because, as evolution furthers, the muse has helped cultivate a new breed of fire dancers, better than ever dreamed of to fill the shoes of those who are on their way out.
It’s the age old challenge of being a performer… younger, fresher faces on the scene, eager to dance in the spotlight, for free if necessary, because being on stage is just THAT tantalizing. I don’t blame anyone, least of all myself, for carving to be admired from afar and/or coddled up close. Getting paid is the icing on the cake. What we’re really here to do as artists, is to amaze. Fascinate. Blow minds so hard up that they’ve GOT to have more. Where does staying humble fit into that lifestyle?
Really once you throw money at the situation everything changes. It’s like quantum physics principle…. you look at the atom and suddenly you can’t measure it any longer. Here we are with our art, doing it because we LOVE art simply for the joy it brings us. Add the element of making a living, and suddenly, one becomes DESPERATE to sell their art. Shoving it in the faces of others. “Here, look at me, I’m a great artist” and BOOM, the ego is born.
There is a fine line between empowering someone and encouraging the overly-eager ego. I’ve worked with a few students, who start off shy and quiet, with dreams of being confident enough to own a stage. After months/years of dedication, encouragement, humble feedback and mess-ups, their confidence level begins to shift into empowerment. But where does one stop before they hit narcissistic? Once you get the ball rolling, momentum makes it hard to slow down.
Artists are notorious for hoarding big egos. I’ve always been under the impression that one should not have to deem themselves a great artist, a great performer or a great writer. The art and end product should speak for itself. If I have to spend time trying to convince someone that “I am indeed a rapper and you really would like my music” I am wasting my time and that of my audience’s.
As an artist myself, every day is a challenge to make sure the right message is being presented, while staying humble. Humility is a practiced skill, just as spinning poi or flaming hoops. We must let our art speak for itself. Never forget where wisdom comes from. It is all of our’s, to share, not to covet.
And when the ego grows larger than the performer’s performance itself, what IS a muse to do about it?
Write a blog about it, I guess… and hope they read it.
With love,
MissConviction
