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In the age of social media, keeping the magic, where the pressure to be constantly visible can be overwhelming, can feel impossible. Many artists feel the need to share every detail of their lives with their fans. While it’s true that maintaining an online presence is crucial for building and sustaining a career, there’s a delicate balance to strike between transparency and keeping the magic of what makes your art special.
The charm of a musician or artist often lies in the mystery surrounding their work. Think about the artists who have captivated audiences for decades—many of them maintained a level of enigma that added to their allure. This mystique isn’t just about maintaining a secretive persona; it’s about carefully managing what you reveal and when you reveal it. When you’re always online, always sharing, you risk eroding that magical quality that initially drew people to your art.
The Allure of the Unseen
One of the reasons people fall in love with music, art, or performance is that it feels special and somewhat exclusive. It’s part of what helps us to keep the magic in any relationship. When an artist maintains a level of privacy, it allows fans to imagine, dream, and interpret their work in personal ways. This allure can be diminished if everything is laid bare. Behind-the-scenes glimpses and personal updates can humanize an artist, but they can also strip away some of the mystique that makes their work feel unique.
Think about the magic of a concert. Part of the excitement comes from not knowing exactly what will happen. If artists were to share every detail of their setlists, rehearsal struggles, or personal quirks, they could potentially reduce the sense of anticipation and surprise that fuels the live experience.
The Art of Stage Management
Stage management in this context isn’t just about organizing a show; it’s about crafting an image and a narrative that resonates with your audience. Keeping the magic by keeping something of ourselves to ourselves needs us to manage exactly what is on view. Just as a director carefully plans a performance, an artist needs to think about how they present themselves online. This doesn’t mean being dishonest or deceptive, but rather strategically managing what aspects of their life and work are shared.
Think about how certain celebrities or artists use social media. They might post about their latest project, share a behind-the-scenes photo now and then, or interact with fans, but they don’t give away every detail of their personal lives. This controlled approach helps them maintain a level of intrigue while still engaging with their audience.
Think about it this way, arrest warrants aside, you wouldn’t post a video of you in the toilet doing what nobody can do for you. At least, few would. Why would you? It has absolutely nothing to do with your music. Showing it doesn’t benefit you. Not showing it almost certainly benefits you with your main audience… yet you probably choose not to air that sort of video. With good reason!
Even with a view to being musically open, to be open, do you have to post videos of all your mistakes? If not, why? By not posting it are you not being dishonest with your audience? Of course not. By choosing not to shine a light on it isn’t a reflection on your honesty. However, showing it can ruin the magic. Your audience isn’t overly interested in how hard something is to play. If they are they don’t need to know exactly how hard it is to play. As a singer, you don’t stop after performing every song and comment on the easy and hard bits.
The point is… you already edit yourself. You already do that by choosing what clothes to wear, even if you think “I’m not wearing that. It just isn’t me”. You are thinking about how you look and present to the world.
So, own stage management. It’s taking your ability to edit yourself to a whole new level, but it is simply an extension of what everybody already does.
Preserving Artistic Integrity
Artistic integrity is about staying true to your vision and not compromising it for the sake of immediate popularity or engagement. When artists over-share, they risk diluting their message. Constantly updating fans with every minor detail can shift the focus from the art itself to the mundane aspects of daily life. Maintaining some level of privacy helps keep the focus on the art, not just the artist.
Moreover, the process of creating art involves vulnerability and experimentation. Sharing every struggle or failure might make an artist seem more relatable, but it can also make their work appear less polished or less deliberate. By selectively sharing insights into their creative process, artists can maintain a sense of intentionality and purpose in their work.
Building a Narrative
To help you to keep the magic, creating a compelling narrative around your art can be more effective than sharing everything in real-time. This narrative can include the inspiration behind a piece, the journey of its creation, or the themes it explores. By sharing these elements at strategic points, artists can build anticipation and deepen their audience’s connection to their work.
For example, releasing a series of teaser posts or videos that hint at an upcoming project can generate buzz and excitement. These glimpses can be intriguing and informative without giving away the entire story. This approach allows fans to engage with the art on a deeper level, as they’re invited to uncover and interpret the narrative in their own time.
Again, this narrative should be written so that the artist still gets to keep the magic of what they do and how they do it. It is a balancing act.
Avoiding Burnout
Constantly being “on” for social media can lead to burnout. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the pressure to produce content, respond to comments, and maintain a constant online presence. This relentless cycle can detract from the creative process, leaving artists exhausted and less inspired. By setting boundaries around their social media activity, artists can preserve their energy and focus more on creating art that resonates with their audience.
Finding the Right Balance
The key is balance. Artists don’t need to retreat into complete obscurity, but they do need to manage their online presence in a way that they get to keep the magic of what they do. This balance might look different for everyone, but it generally involves:
1. Strategic Sharing: Choose what to share based on what enhances the narrative around your work. A well-timed post can be more impactful than a constant stream of updates.
2. Controlled Access: Set boundaries for how much of your personal life you reveal. Share enough to connect with your audience but keep some aspects private to maintain mystique.
3. Focus on the Art: Ensure that the focus remains on your art and not just your online persona. Let your work speak for itself and use social media to enhance, not overshadow, your artistic message.
4. Engage Thoughtfully: Interact with fans in a meaningful way that adds value to their experience of your work. Meaningful engagement is more impactful than constant interaction.
Final Thoughts About Keeping The Magic
While social media is a powerful tool for connecting with fans and building a career, keeping the magic of their work is essential for artists. By carefully managing what they share and maintaining a level of mystery, they can keep their art special and engaging. Balancing visibility with mystique can help artists sustain their appeal and continue to captivate their audience in the long run.
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