Should I Stay or Should I Go: Do You Want To Be “Guy #3″ or “Guy #4103″?

Back in March 2009, I faced a choice that a lot of folks in the arts eventually face: should I stay in a small and/or underdeveloped arts market, like Ottawa, to pursue my career or should I head off to the bright lights of a larger more developed arts market?

I realized that the only way I could answer this question properly was to get a clear idea of what was and was not happening in my community — in this case, the Ottawa theatre community.

So, I introduced myself to leaders in the community, explained my situation, and asked them to talk to me about the Ottawa theatre scene.

Fortunately, for me, some did: Jessica Ruano, Nancy Kenny, Kris Joseph, Lise Ann Johnson, and Judy Pearl. It was these conversations that inspired me to imagine what might be possible for theatre in Ottawa both for myself and for others.

As I shook more hands, met more people, and got some gigs, two things became very clear to me. There is a lot of talented and dedicated people working in Ottawa and it is a place with tremendous potential for growth.

I had two initial ideas: 1) the community needs some kind of conference to bring stakeholders together to meet and discuss what Ottawa professional theatre needs to grow and develop; and 2) the community needs a one-stop and widely used on-line source of essential information for professional practitioners in Ottawa.

Then, to their enormous credit and my delight, the Great Canadian Theatre Company organized a friendly and informal conference to discuss the professional theatre scene in Ottawa. I was invited, but unfortunately could not accept the invitation because I was scheduled to be away on tour.

Although I couldn’t attend, I was pleased and excited that someone else identified the same need I had identified and then filled it. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one thinking about what might be possible for theatre in Ottawa.

Then, shortly after I returned, conference notes were circulated and it was clear to me the conference had been productive. There was useful post-conference social media debate and then John Collins and Nancy Kenny organized a meeting to figure out how to keep the ball rolling.

Somewhere along the line Kris Joseph created a Pbworks account for the fledgling organization. As I watched the pieces fall into place, I knew I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to help out.

The ball is still rolling, we have a name, goals, a rough but functioning website, a steering committee, and a hundred people who have signed up to contribute. None of this existed one month ago. Zero. In terms of starts, this is as promising as it gets.

I am reminded of Seth Godin’s post about “Guy #3”. Check it out here and watch the Youtube clip.

We, in the Ottawa professional theatre community, are at the “Guy #3” stage. For us, “Guy #3” isn’t a single person; instead, “Guy #3” will be that critical mass of people who pitch-in now and participate because they also see the tremendous potential for growth in the Ottawa professional theatre scene.

So, if you are facing the same question I faced, whether to stay or to go, wherever you may be and whatever your art may be, my suggestion is that you don’t make the decision until you know the who and what of your community.

Once you have a clear idea of what is or is not happening in your community, ask yourself: do I want be Guy#3 or “Guy #4103? Then, you will know what to do.

See you on the dance floor.

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