How Do You Create Something Without Knowing the Way?
Most of my friends know I've been working on a musical for the past year. Musical theatre is one of the hardest creative fields to break into as a creative. As a performing art, it requires a strong grasp of dancing, acting, and singing. In addition to the on-stage talent, there's also the pit orchestra and the logistics of pulling off a musical theatre performance. That's just the day of the show– there's also the prerequisite of having a book written and producing the songs that thread together a compelling narrative.
When I decided to go on this adventure after seeing the songwriting potential of one of my friends and hearing the story he wanted to share, I knew it would be a long and fun journey. Neither of us knew anything about musical theatre, but we had a foundation in music and storytelling. The most we knew was about the most popular Broadway music and stories.
Step 1: Learn As Much As You Can
Be it through meeting new friends or taking classes, learn as much as you can about what you are trying to create and the industry/industries involved. When you have a strong vision, you need to search for mentors and supportive advice from anyone and anywhere.
I paid for $5 VOD masterclasses to learn from professionals in industry. I met a group of musical theatre fans through a drop-in a-cappella event and attended their jam sessions. I started listening to songs from musicals and analyzing their songs and story. Through my vocal coach, I attended an open mic to network with other musicians. I did all of these things out of curiosity and an eagerness to learn new things and meet new people.
Step 2: Leave It Low-stakes
When it comes to building something new, keep the pressure off yourself. Show up to the project when you can, as consistently as you can, but the timeline of finishing the project can't be rushed when you want to leave it fun for yourself. My friend said, "I'm not taking this seriously", and frankly, neither am I. I don't take any of my passion projects seriously– though the visions I see for each are strong ones. I'm not attached to a particular outcome and thoroughly enjoy the journey of progressing towards the finish line.
If the story is unique and the project challenging, it's hard to imagine someone else attempting to "steal" your idea. Be extra bold and build it in public. You don't have to share every single detail, but reveal that you are persistent and share any major milestones. This way, if you do happen to meet someone who shares the same persistent fervor to solve the same problem or create the same thing, it can turn into a mutually beneficial collaboration.
Step 3: Keep Yourself Accountable
Some people like to work in stealth to make sure they have something to show for when they finish. However, I am fueled by external pressure. Each of my quarterly blog posts and reflections are an example of this. This is also why I share my goals with my friends and the public. It keeps me accountable to making progress. The only reason I would ever pivot or deprioritize something is if there is enough of a compelling reason.
"Slow progress is better than no progress" in most cases when financials are out of the picture and the project starts as largely "for fun" and bootstrapped. If there comes a point when things become more serious, it will be driven by organic interest and support. There are many ways to go about your own investment of time into the project if your only aim is for something to exist. You can hire people or find volunteers and delegate responsibilities.