Groundhog Day, directed by the late, great Harold Ramis has always been one of my favorite films.
The premise is eerily applicable these days in the wake of COVID-19; Not only because of the “recurring situation with no end in sight” we all find ourselves in at home, but on a deeper, metaphysical level.
Free from any mortal consequences, TV weatherman Phil Connors, played by Bill Murray, can do anything he basically wants… Except, a snowstorm keeps him physically trapped in the same town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (his worst nightmare), and for unexplainable reasons, he keeps waking up on February 2nd, Groundhog Day.
We watch him go through anxiety, elation, depression, and then acceptance (mmm, what stage are you at?). In the end, he decides to spend his limitless time to be the best human he can be. This routine frees him and brings tomorrow.
The idea that you can stay still, in one place yet achieve peace, transformation and transcendence through repetition — keeps me returning back to this movie.
I think about this idea, as I speak to our community of artists, managers and creators these past three weeks. Countering the pain and shock about not knowing when they will perform in front of their audience again, they move forward. They create.
The music business, always a bit bulletproof through difficult times, has been dealt a harsh blow. It was always what people turned to during hard times, and still is. Yet big parts of what heals fans with music is unavailable. And like Phil Connors, musicians, nomadic by nature and their craft, find themselves stuck.
Some are pouring themselves into their writing, while others are forced to confront social media. If they are not Chris Martin, the divulge of live streams may leave them feeling a bit confused and empty.
Happily, there is never only one way to connect with your audience.
What creatives can do, better than most, is access truth in their deeply unique and original ways.
When you are in touch with this authentically, you have intimacy with your fans. When you have a real connection, you can continue to grow your life’s work.
I have been seeing some of the best examples of social media connections during our self-quarantine.
And the best part is — it’s happening not because some music executive thinks it’s the right thing to do, or warning social media pundits are saying that if you ignore it, it’s at your peril … but because we want and need to connect now more than ever.
It starts with being human first. And doing you.
From D-Nice‘s Club Quarantine to Ben Gibbard‘s by request, at home concerts, there’s enough genuine inspo to move everyone. Some of our clients’ most original, authentic moments range from Hunter Hayes allowing his fans to peek behind the curtain at his creative process with In The Lab, to Jesse McCartney’s humorous and real take at being home with The Quarantined Couple, and the healing vibes from Nahko And Medicine For The People’s Real Medicine Series interviewing public figures on their spiritual journeys…Every fan/zoom to happy “sloth” pic that we are seeing from our artists’ spontaneous desire to connect makes us feel better.
If you need help to get the juices flowing, check this out.
I will end this with the unsinkable Rita Wilson…..Today, she releases a remix of Naughty By Nature’s classic “Hip Hop Hooray”, featuring her rap. 100% of all proceeds go to MusiCares® COVID-19 Relief Fund. It started with an authentic moment on IG:
“Hip Hop Hooray is like modern day Shakespeare. I originally learned the song for one of the most fun roles I ever played in the film Boy Genius. It took me a month to learn because it’s so complex and nuanced; it was like training for a marathon. The rhythms and tempos are so unique and creative. When I was quarantined and recovering from COVID-19 I wanted to see if I still remembered it, kind of like a brain exercise. To my surprise I did. I thought it would be fun to put it on my Instagram to show people I was doing okay and to make them smile. When Naughty By Nature commented about it, I couldn’t believe it. What a joy to be doing this remix with legends of the Hip-Hop world. I’m forever grateful for their generosity of spirit and for being able to raise money together for MusiCares® COVID-19 Relief Fund.”
Don’t be distracted by tomorrow. Don’t be distant.
Stay in the moment with your family, friends and fans.
Great things will always happen when you do that.
We love and thank you. Stay safe.
-Livia