Thought Residencies

Its January 23rd and this is my tenth thought. So what I've been thinking about is that sometimes writing or music turns a corner after it has been really bad for a while. So I was writing this song for a show and for months, I kid you not, whenever I would sit down at the piano I would play the same little patterns and record it because like "Oh this is a great song I could use it in the future". But it never got realized and by the end it was this nagging thing that was like "Oh will you just leave me alone and let me write other things". But then two days ago I finally finished that song and it is like my brain has opened up and I can think of other creative things.

It's January 17th and this is my eighth thought.

I think that I'm a bit afraid of my thought today because I think its unpopular but I'm just going to ask it as a question instead. Why would it be so bad for people to record theatre performances? What makes theatre any different than a concert, a live concert where people are filming the whole show of music and lighting and set and everything. What is different about theatre? Other than the fact that it distracts the performers, yes. But that's just cultural, we can change, we can make that a part of our culture that we film theatre so that it can be shared. And that it can hopefully inspire more people to see it. Wait, that was supposed to be a question.

It's January 16th and this is my seventh thought. I think that I struggle with calling myself a writer or composer or anything where I'm having to create something because I don't find the process to be all that easy. I also don't find it to be all that enjoyable. In the process of doing it I find it to be frustrating sometimes and painful. Its later on where I start to enjoy it. It's the fine tuning and the editing and the crafting after its at a certain point I can begin to appreciate it and enjoy some of it. But in the early stages it is like pulling teeth.

This is Thursday January 11th and this is my sixth thought.

I've been going to some modern art museums here in New York City and I've decided that I think I like about 20% of what I see, the rest of it I'm indifferent to. But I wonder why in theatre we hold a higher bar that like everyone needs to like it. Or there needs to be some sort of consensus and that the response is like, you know, we want people to feel connected to it in a really deep and meaningful way. But in visual art or other art mediums that's not the case and that's ok. So why can't we just believe and hope that we'll be that 20% for whatever audience who comes to see our work?

This is Wednesday January 10th, and this is my Fifth thought.

Today, I'm in New York City pitching at the ISPA conference. I'm pitching Children of God, its a musical that I premiered last year in Vancouver and in Ottawa. And my thought for today is how even after you've created a show and produced that show, and feel that you know everything about that show, that you really don't know everything and that you can never know everything. And so, as I prepare to pitch, and get ready for this sort of weird process of art-selling. I think about how much I really know about the work and what people actually need to hear to believe in it.

This my fourth thought.

I think this has probably been on a lot of people's minds lately if you are following what has been happening in Toronto with Soulpepper. But I have been thinking about how grateful I am to Hannah Miller, Patricia Fagan, Diana Bentley and Kristin Booth for their bravery in the last week in coming forward and speaking up for what they know is the truth. I think that the next generations will owe them an enormous debt for their courage and bravery. That's my thought for today.

It's January 4, 2018 and this is my third thought.

You guys, tomorrow is my birthday. My birthday is January 5, I'm turning 31... I think... yes... 31? No, yes I've already turned 30. I always have this problem of not actually knowing what year, and I always have to do the math to get there. No... you know, it is. I'm turning 31. (Laughs) Umm... I don't feel 31 but I also don't feel younger than that are older than that, sort of like I feel a bit ageless but I'm excited for the day. And I think because when your birthday is so close to the holiday season like Christmas and New Year's, like my family has always tried to make a big deal out of my birthday. But, that's the day. And it's tomorrow. So... happy birthday.

Today is January 3, 2018 and this is my second thought.

Immediately after sending my first thought, my next thought was how unoriginal I was. And how I was talking about creativity and yet my first thought that I was sharing had a lack of it. So I thought my second thought would be about fear and doubt. I think it's interesting how our thoughts turn to the negative and how these sort of, vampires creep in and try to suck away the joy and love from our creativity. And so... ya, from title show, they used to say "die vampire die", and that's what I think about those negative thoughts... so unoriginal or not, here they are.

Hi, this is Corey and it's January 2, 2018 and this is my first thought.

I'm always thinking about ways to be more creative and how to carve out time for creativity even in the smallest way. I think that's what I'm going to try to get better at, is planning for creativity and making space for it in my day. I've heard a lot of people talk about this and it sounds like it's successful, it sounds like it's a better way of doing it than like thinking that the time will make itself available. But maybe when you actually write it down and like, you know, be a grown-up about it and actually make time for it that it will actually happen. And maybe it won't! And maybe I'll find out just like every other resolution that it didn't turn out the way that I thought it would. I think making time for creativity kind of keeps me sane so that's my thought for today.

All right, happy new year everyone!