Art and Life

By Deleuran There are more music producers scattered all over Kampala than there are studios for us from which to produce. Considering the film industry, it too is growing rather fast and with it directors and producers are sprouting faster than seeds at Kawanda Agro Research. It is a good thing that there is a vibrant enough buzz to interest more people to join these industries. However, it would be better if people went into it knowing in what capacity they are joining the industry and what skills are required to execute particular tasks. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. These days everyone who can rig together a computer with a microphone and paste together some beats is a music producer. Similarly, many chaps are apparently film directors/producers because they own and /or can switch on a DSLR camera and point it at something. One has to start somewhere of course and indeed most of us had very humble beginnings. I can recall the miserably sorry recordings that I fir...

Image from www.shanaschutte.com When you hear the word " but ", very often the rest of the sentence is not to your liking. "We received your application but...”, "the script was good but...”, "fantastic designs but...”, "exquisite meal dear but...”, "Kaz your blog is the best thing since Genesis but...". Well, you get the picture. Most creative people I know don't like to hear any criticism. Even after showering someone with praise;  the minute you say, "it was very good, but ...” you will have put  a  banana peel on the steps. If you weren't friends to start with, the criticism will be explained away as enmity or sour grapes. No matter how well meaning,  in Kampala, criticism is generally termed as " nugu " (jealously) regardless of the intent behind it. An Artist and Their Work Are One It is understandable why it is hard for an artist to stomach a negative reaction to their work. They have probably toiled o...

One of the trickiest thing in the creative industries is defining the value of the work we do and determining what to charge for it. When you are asked the question, "What do you do?" and you find yourself saying "I am a clerk but I play in a band on the side." not mentioning your art form as primary, you are always going to under price your art. From the moment I turned into a professional musician as opposed to a competent amateur, the question of what to charge for my services and products has been a recurring puzzle. Once I think I have figured it out, something changes in the industry, these days mostly the technology, which requires a rethink. Recently, I attended an arts business seminar which made me revisit this question; How do I set my price? This dilemma affects musicians, painters, designers, dancers, film makers, actors etc... Anyone who works in a creative capacity will have come across this once they got past the point of enthusiastic amateu...

 The daunting empty page and the luring phone. Procrastination ; simply put, the act of avoiding and postponing a task that needs to be done. Delaying to submit that application, write that report/essay, learn that instrument; postponing a practice routine, exercise, diet plan, visit a relative, finish that painting, put on that exhibition or concert, write that book, face that challenge, confront a fear etc... Usually these are put on a bench and in their place we insert whatsapp, facebook, video games, movies, TV, the bar, beach, candycrash... Basically more important life saving deeds, the crucial fun stuff. Artists haven't got a monopoly on this postpone-for-no-reason-whatsoever foolishness, it can affect anyone. But artists have truly perfected the art of delaying stuff. This is a disease for many creative people and I am not immune. It sure is something that I battle with from time to time. I was thinking a lot about why on occasion, it takes me so long to do cert...