Who do you play to? That is, who is responsible for the conforming of your work? What pressures exist that bend your choices?
In the world of the performing arts there many such pressures. These include agents, producers, grant making committees, and of course, the audience – to say nothing of collaborators. All have their own purposes. These weigh in on the creative space in which a piece is created. They weigh on the ability of a artist to stay true to the voice they’ve been given, the message they are meant to carry.
That is unless the artist reframes their life. The artist’s role is not primarily to conform to the pressures of the space. That is secondary to the message. For it is the message that affects people, changes cultures, can heal or bind, and can really and truly change the world.
This is true for everyone who has been given a message to share. Be courageous. Stay true to the message you’ve been given.