Would you like some Bluegrass with your Root Canal?

My dentist’s office is pretty high tech, with all the bells and whistles, a one stop shop for all of my dental needs. 

The office also has a music sound system piped in to each room, with a playlist curated by the Dentist in Chief.

Bluegrass dominates the playlist with a touch or two of Elton John and Kenny G.

Bluegrass can be cool, especially with today’s emerging artists who have created a 21st century sound that is still true to Bluegrass traditions.

The sound system is so good, you can hear it over the sounds of the high-pitched drilling and the air and water blowers.

Even for us pain weenies, Root Canal procedures are now for the most part painless, inconvenient at best. Novocain is still a beautiful thing, and music can increase one’s comfort level.

For me, a little Bluegrass goes a long way, but I’m not judging this music and its ardent fans.

What’s my point?

My question is this: during your root canal, who is the music for?  You the patient under the drill, or the office staff?

Who is your music for?  The experienced, long time classical music lover or a broader range of future fans and enthusiasts?

Who is your desired audience, and what do they want? And are you prepared to give it to them?

A successful life in the performing arts is a balance between you standing up for what you believe in -- being passionate about it and doing it very well -- and the real world.  What does your audience want, and how can you deliver it and still be true to yourself?

Find that balance and you’ll gain your audience’s trust. You’ll become even more influential, and they will happily follow you anywhere, including into foreign musical lands.