Posts by Aaron J. Shay

3 Things That Make a Performance Unmissable
Over time, our choices start to form a theme, an overarching message to the world about us and what we stand for. I think about it like a motto on a coat of arms, or the mission of an artistic ministry. What does our work stand for?
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So You’ve Got a White Supremacist in the Audience
Staying silent is a way of obeying the rules and protecting yourself while doing nothing to address the bigotry on display in front of you. Every day that a bigot thinks they can get away with their hatred in public is another day they can influence others to their way of thinking.
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Art is Political Because Life is Political
Everything we touch and use in this world has been affected by the choices of businesses, governments, activist groups and individual people. The instruments we play our music on, our paints and canvases, the plays that we read from, the books that we publish.
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This Is Why I’m Feeling Obsolete Is this what the economy truly values about me?
Even when I am successful at my chosen work—music—is there anything about it that does good work for society? Does it change anyone’s perspective for the better?
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How to Meet Other Musicians Artistic collaborators are out there
Even those among us within the music community can feel like outsiders to another niche. When you’re a lone artist out on the lookout for collaborators, it can feel like the world is dead-set against you.
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The Musician and The Performer
When there are established expectations, you can use that expectation as part of your art. You can distort it. You can reject it. You can play with it. An audience’s expectation of you is material you can shape, and you don’t have to follow the instruction booklet.
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Lying Through Your Lyrics: Fact And Fiction in Songwriting
I want to have the freedom to write about my experiences without causing unintended stress to those who are listening.
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Sci-Fi and Folk: They’re Not Mutually Exclusive
Science fiction and folk music are complementary ideas. This may sound strange to some, but for me, it just makes sense.
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House Show Manifesto, Part 4: Tying It All Together
House shows are popping up to fill the void that small and mid-size venues are leaving behind.
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House Show Manifesto, Part 3: A Guide to Respecting Others
Today, we’re gonna talk about Respect. It’s a critical part of a successful house show.
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House Show Manifesto, Part 2: How Does Money Happen?
In the USA, we often feel that talking about income is coarse and rude, but it’s a critical part of ensuring workplace equality, and this goes for artists, too.
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House Show Manifesto, Part 1: Where Do Audiences Come From?
The best house concerts for me have been where people from many walks of life come together and interact in a neutral space.
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Lessons I’ve Learned From Busking
Some people will tip you with fresh produce. These people are your friends.
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7 Productive Things You Can Do During Long Drives on Tour to Stave Off the Madness
Luckily for you, I’ve compiled a few recommendations, culled from both personal experience and the experience of friends.
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My First Concert, My First Failures
I thought, surely our friends will come and support us. Surely. We’re good enough; people like us.
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Life Must Be Added, or: Some Guy You’ve Probably Never Heard Of Talks About Creativity & Songwriting
We learn far more from the works we complete than the works that stand waiting in the wings, hoping and waiting for perfection to show up.
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