Is Music and Small Business Creativity Leaving Us?

Have you heard?  We’re still in a major recession.  Well, not according to our government.

However, according to Paul Resnikoff’s article, What is the Economy Doing to Creativity , our current economic disaster may quiet musicians because of their prolonged economic struggle.

I think Paul is on the wrong side of history.  Artistic and business creators could not have a better feeding ground than our current economic condition:

1. Slave Music:Prior to 1865, slaves obviously were in a hopeless situation.  Yet, while coping in their economic, social, and political dungeons, they created some of the timeless music.  Starting with their African spirituals, they created Gospel music which is still popular 150 years later.
2. Jazz:Moving to the early 1900s, struggling musicians were blending art in New Orleans.  Folk, blues, marching band, spiritual, and ragtime were just some of the music that fused into jazz.  The micro-economic environment of jazz musicians percolated creativity from some of the most legendary composers of the last 100 years.
3. Rhythm and Blues: Toward the end of the Great Depression and during World War II, music creativity morphed again into R&B.  Though many were just coming off of food lines and battlegrounds, creativity shined through the smoke.  R& B moved into rockabilly and rock and roll.
4. 1960-70s Counter Culture Music:This was the era where I learned to be a musician.  In spite of the Cold  and Vietnam wars, the musicians came out in droves spreading their music and lyrics into the halls of our government.  Dylan claimed that he did not create the movement, but just reflected it.

The stars shine the brightest in the darkest part of the night.  If artists were to stop creating, it would not be because of lack of finances, but because they lack the desire to  create.

This can be translated into business, also.  Small business owners become more creative when their backs are against the wall.  They question assumptions, rehash markets, and listen more to their customers.

Today is the time to stroke your creativity.  Small businesses and musicians, like never before, can reach thousands of people with  little investment via the Internet.  A small business  that sings the same song has a much bigger chance of failure than one who creatively changes (or leads) the industry.

So, how do you it?  I have written a number of articles, here, that sets out different strategies on achieving business success in this environment.  But, one thing I cannot teach is creativity.  That must come from your passion, or the passion of a person that you partner with.