Take Offs and Landings
It’s that time of year when many artists and entrepreneurs are making their way home from touring and pitching at festivals like SXSW. I myself just returned home after the world premiere of an opera I co-created.
I realized that many artists (and entrepreneurs) focus a lot on taking off: how to build a critical mass for support, launching a new product/album, trying to get attention via social media and/or the press, and so on. In fact, when you look at the long list of consultant services, they’re all focus on growth, expansion, and scaling up. But very few, if any, ever talk about landing from those big moments.
It is apt that in aviation, almost all accidents occur on the runway: about 15% happen during takeoff or the initial climb and about 50% happen during the final approach or landing. In any kind of career, most of the big mistakes happen in the same place: an improper launch, poor transitions, and in major pivots. In other words, it feels good when you’re flying high but you also have to learn how to stick the landing.
For those who live off of the “high” of a successful project, and especially those who rely on the energizing moments of live performance art, it can be a tough transition to come back to the drudgery of day-to-day life when one isn’t enjoying an audience or new adventure everyday. I’ve seen it many times before: comedians, musicians, and traveling artists can feel invincible on stage and invisible when they’re home. The contrast can be crushing and the collateral damage is usually felt by those closest to us, especially our families.
And, like any addict, artists often are on the lookout for their next “bump:” the next tour, praise, or any form of validation for their art.
If we don’t learn how to land, we’ll crash.
Here are some best practices to help with landing from a tour:
Get a regular schedule: On tour, you’ll probably find yourself in a regular rhythm (waking, driving, playing, etc.). It’s important to get a regular, healthy schedule as quickly as possible.
Health & nutrition: Life on the road can be brutal on the body, especially if you’re drinking. You’ll need regular sleep, exercise, water, and quality meals to process periods of excess and movement. The sooner that you do this, the better you’ll feel physically as well as mentally.
Indulge in the mundane: It might seem unexciting, but you’ll want to remain productive by focusing on daily chores like cooking and cleaning. That’s because it helps you remain productive (this counts extra if you have a partner, family, and/or pets). Directly contributing to the household feels good.
Reflect: Take time to process your recent travels but don’t dwell on them (i.e, wish you were back on the road). Really take the time to think about what went well, what could have done better, and how you can better prepare for the next project. If you worked with others, consider doing an after action review.
Layover or destination?: Is this just another stage of your journey or have you reached the ultimate destination? If this is only a chapter, then you’ll want to recover so you can resume the story you’re on. If you’re closing the book on the project, then time to celebrate before you move onto the next project.
More than anything, landing requires self-awareness. You need to pay attention to your own energy levels, how you are interacting with the people closest to you, and treat your career as a marathon rather than as a sprint. It’s all too easy to fall into depression, feelings of loneliness or lack of purpose - and in turn, to lash out at others around you. But taking consistent, simple steps will help prepare you for that landing…and any future adventures ahead.
