Outside Looking In

July 28th, 2010 by Peggy Vinson

Blog 1 Comment

There is nothing better than enjoying summer weather at an outdoor concert! This summer, I got a chance to experience two of my favorite artists in concert – Kenny Loggins and Eric Clapton.

Both were great concerts and both men are accomplished musicians. As different as these two artists are, however, I noticed something very similar. Kenny and Eric were both totally immersed in their music. It was like watching a jam session. Both artists were totally removed from their audiences.

You would think that this would be a real turn-off for the audience, but these men are such great artists that it was still a treat to watch. (OK I can hear some of you questioning this categorization of Kenny, but you’ve got a HUGE Kenny fan here.) Anyway, it was like being a fly on the wall of their studio… They were so into their music and so passionate about it. They were creating art right before our eyes.

Afterward, I thought about why the lack of interaction with the audience did not feel like a turn-off. I think maybe in these two cases, they had both “earned” the right to perform that way. However, most artists could not do that and get away without great criticism.

I continue to be nagged with the thought that there is somehow a tie-in to what we may do at times within our own organizations.

Last week, the Y of the USA released the new logo and branding “voice.” At the Ys we work with, everyone is so energized and renewed by this exciting new approach to the Ys mission. And then it hit me… What if we are so excited about all of the new ways to talk about the Y, that we celebrate and develop our “voice” and forget to open up the energy to the outside world? Right now the media has helped the Y by letting the “outsiders” in on what is going on, but they remain on the outside looking in. What are we doing to turn around and open up our “jam session?”

The outsiders may want to play with us!