Is It Worth It?
By Jason, AKA
USER.NAME.UNKNOWN
In the words of the effervescent Missy Elliot "Is it worth it?".
Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gnaht ym tup i
Is it worth it?
Is it worthwhile?
Is it worth the effort?
These are the questions that I find myself asking myself and maybe some other creative folk out there contemplate the same things.
We could talk authenticity vs professionalism but I am more focused on the worthwhileness (possibly a word) of it all. As artists and performers, the goal is to perform, it is inherently a self serving endeavour but can benefit others around you. Rewarded with a crowd and an audience that can validate that hard work that has come before the final product.
I know for many artists it is an easy question.
Yes.
We now come back to the question:
Is what I do worth it?
Do I and should I put my thing down, thus, flipping and reversing it?
As you should be aware by now I am the MC of Vibe Union's poetry night, the self titled 'Poetry Daddy' that no one asked me to do. I have been successfully (Some might disagree) providing a space for new and emerging poets for over two years now, with the help of my fellow beefy boy, Mr. Ry.
You would think that by this time I would have ironed out most of the issues I have when it comes to being an MC, you would be wrong though. My anxiety fuelled chaos driven attempts to be a humanoid version of a 'proper' MC.
Is the constant mental strain I impose on myself worth while to put on an open mic night?
Is it worthwhile when people decide that our night is not worthwhile and are annoyed about how we run things?
Is it worth the effort when poetic gatekeepers are displeased with how we run a simple poetry night acting like petulant man babies?
As appealing as this juicy rabbit hole is, composure and self decorum is important
My answer is:
Yes
Although, I often wonder how many people have never returned to our poetry night because of me, not in a self deprecating sense, merely curiosity. It has been made clear recently that my style is not everyone's cup of tea, I will not be spilling it either, just making a note.
Once again I had a point but as I wrote it warped into its own beast and now here we are.
Does it make sense?
Let me know
xoxo
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Graphics by Rhath
