What Is Support?
A few days ago, I had an interesting interaction I’d like to share. And it leads me to an essentially important question for those of us who care to cultivate community.
What is support? What does that mean?
An event was looking for my participation, and it was an offer I felt was deeply contradictory to a healthy music scene, or of any real support to a local musician. After some back and forth, it was quite clear that we had two absolutely different and opposing views of what “support” means and is.
According to a top life and professional coach, these are the basic supports that a human needs:
Emotional
Practical
Financial
Thought Partnership (problem solving, decision making, brainstorming)
Personal Growth
Skills Development
Information & Strategic
Professional (Time Management, Client Management (relationship building, conflict management, onboarding, marketing, starting and running a business )
Networking (Teambuilding, Community Connection)
Technological
Feedback and Evaluation
Resilience Building (stress management)
Work-life Balance
Legal & Contractual
Celebration & Recognition
So, I ask whoever reads this to take account of these needs. It would benefit our communities if we ask events and organizations (especially those music and arts events) how they are filling any of these supports, and to be specific. No one will be perfect, or hit on all of these, or maybe even most of these, but all events and organizations can be focused deeply on at least one.
Too often, we perpetuate structures that are not meeting the needs of the community, simply because it’s the way its been done. All of our structures are crumbling, and now is the perfect time to put energy into new structures, ones that put community and people first.
We need to look toward new funding structures, ones that dont either pillage musicians, or ask them for free labor. These structures are possible.
So, what is support to you?
And, if you’re a musician, i’d love your thoughts on this, and you’re input on how many of these supports you need, or are seeking in your community.