Super Glossy!
⊆ June 21st, 2007 by courtney | ˜Today I had lunch with one of my colleagues and favorite people, DC native Susan Oetgen. These days, it’s difficult for me to even think about scheduling a casual lunch with anyone because it’s like I HAVE TOO MUCH TO DO!! But I believe it is extremely important, especially in times of crunch, to take a moment and connect with the people that inspire you to do what you do. I don’t know if you were lucky enough to see Susan’s show, “EID: Experimental Improvisational Diva,” at last year’s Cap Fringe, but I loved it. Susan came and saw my show last year too and the feeling was mutual, but we never exchanged information! I guess we just assumed we’d run into each other being that we’re both artists in New York and that’s what happens - you just run into people. And we did!
At my “day job” in the fabulous restaurant Penelope, where she came in with a colleague of hers to eat. Crazy! Anyway, that launched a series of events including my joining The Field as a member and sponsored artist. And of course, a budding friendship with this incredible musician artist. Our conversation flew all over the place, but she helped me sort out a recent criticism of my work from someone that’s never actually seen my work, but made a lot of assumptions based on the press release and my interview on Gothamist. We talked about how putting ourselves “out there” is going to welcome the whole gamut of reactions, praise, and criticism, but we have to remember that the ones doing the criticizing are usually not the ones putting themselves onstage. She told me something a friend said: “Jealousy is a good tool for specifying exactly what you want.” Not saying all critics are operating out of jealousy, but in relative and speculatory terms, this seemed appropriate. And when I think of my own feelings of jealousy in the past (not-so-distant past!), I just think this idea is brilliant! Not sure what you want to do with your life? Ask yourself of whom are you jealous? Then get off your jealousy train and do something towards what you want! The more I work on my “craft,” the less jealous I find myself of others and the more I discover that I’m on my path and they’re on theirs.
