I’ve been coordinating and curating events for a long time. Planning or coordinating an event is not easy. There are moving parts to manage and logistics to stay on top of. I take great care in how I layout the events I am working on. I want anyone who comes to leave feeling like they went to a quality event. Even in collaboration, I want to create the best experience possible. That means making sure my collaborators understand the assignment.

Seeking to meet that standard makes the task harder. It can also make the day of the event stressful. There are phone calls and emails that are filled with questions, changes, or fires to be put out. There are emails to answer last minute. Folks are waiting to grab your attention as soon as you show up. You never know what could happen. It doesn’t matter. You make adjustments and stick to your goal of making the event worthwhile. There is faith in this thing. A faith that it will all work out if you do what you know should be done.

How I handle the weight of it all is to play a few favorite tunes and dance. It helps me keep my blood pressure down. It helps me not to cuss people out. It helps me not to worry about the event. It helps me visualize the excitement people will have and the fun they will experience. It helps me loosen up.

It will be a roller coaster ride. Not everyone will play nice on your watch and they don’t have to, not artists, not vendors, and not venues. Not everyone sees it the way you do. Not everyone will embrace the moment. It doesn’t mean folks aren’t engaged and committed to the success of the event. It just means that you will have a few things to work through. This wild dance is yours to manage and that includes all the idiosyncrasies that come with it.

So to all my folks looking to create that beautiful moment for the art lovers around you… Dance.

“While I dance I cannot judge, I cannot hate, I cannot separate myself from life. I can only be joyful and whole. That is why I dance.” – Hans Bos