‘Once anyone becomes popular, there is the temptation to play to the gallery’
Indian Ocean is one of India’s foremost fusion bands. Having seen them live, I can attest to the fact that they are also one of the best live acts in the business.
The line-up of the band has changed quite a few times owing to the tragic demise of tabla player and vocalist Asheem Chakravarty and the departure of founding member and guitarist Sushmit Sen.
After his departure from the band, Sushmit Sen wrote a book on his life as a musician and why he chose to leave one of the most popular bands in India. I haven’t read the book but have read a few of his interviews and excerpts from the book. In all of it, one line stood out:
“I began to feel that our music was gradually being driven not by what we liked to make, but what people expect us to make.”
He goes on to say that the band singing a nursery rhyme in the middle of a song was the last straw for him and he decided to leave the band soon after that.
Once anyone becomes popular, there is the temptation to play to the gallery.
Even in sport, if a batsman hits a six, the crowd clamors for more of that. Buoyed by the crowds, the batsman gets carried away and goes for another big shot, only to find a fielder in the outfield.
At the other end of the spectrum is someone who feels they have nothing to share so they don’t even try facing an audience.
‘I will be ridiculed’
‘I have nothing worthy to share’
‘I feel like a fake’
‘I don’t have what people are looking for’
‘I am not an original’
This doesn’t apply only to musicians and sportspeople.
If you are not sharing something with the world because numerous fears are holding you back, you are not doing yourself any good.
First, start by sharing your work with the world.
A blog post. A photograph. A piece of art. Music you have composed. A badly recorded podcast.
Playing to the gallery comes much later.
Most importantly, don’t fear the gallery.
