Taking chances and giving up control...

This morning I was pondering how hard it is as an artist to "give up" control of your work. Whether you're a painter, singer, writer, or actor...when you put your work out there for the public you lose a bit, well, sometimes a lot, of control on how you're work is presented.

Case in point: In the past few years, my hubby has renewed his passion for acting. He has been working constantly, often acting in student films or other small film projects for NO pay, just to gain the experience and film credits. I must say I admire how hard he has worked and how far he has come in such a short time.

Near the end of last winter, during probably the last big snowfall of the season, hubby acted in a video for a local musician. It was a beautiful video for a beautiful song, but as winter quickly turned into spring the video was never released. We figured it would turn up this winter.

And it did. Sort of. This morning I woke up, checked Facebook and saw a link for the video. I yelled up at hubby and excitedly started watching the video. And then I realized...hubby had been cut out of the whole thing. Completely.

I had seen the original cut of the video with my hubby in it. I know I'm biased, but I thought it was beautiful. The video told a great little story of kids fighting it out, the "bad" kids going after the "good" kids with snowballs. My husband, the only adult in the video, came to the rescue of one little girl--the star of the song/video. The picture above is from the final scene of the original cut.

Don't get me wrong...the new version of the video is still lovely. But I felt disappointed for my hubby...to see his work "disappear".  (Fortunately, he still has a copy of the original cut.)

I have experienced similar situations so I understand how hard it is (no matter how much you say otherwise). I have entered group shows, paid my fees to be a part of the show, handed over my work, and walked away hoping ... hoping that my work would be shown in the best possible spot. But not everyone can get the "best" spot and you just have to roll with the punches. What's hard is when you go to the show and you feel your work is in the "worst" spot. It happens. I've been there. It sucks.

And then you just have to move on. I think along the way you learn to enter the shows at the venues that best fit your work. I'm still learning that one. But it's still important to take some risks, because you want to get your work out there.

Keep trying, as they say.

And so I will.

And for my hubby-- When one door closes, another one opens: Here's a link to a Chevy commercial contest he appeared in. The top finalists will be shown during the Super Bowl. His commercial made the top 50. He's Grandpa going after "the squirrel". Just click on the link and give it a thumbs up:  http://msn.44d.me/2uw9