The Audience Cycle

When no one’s listening to you yet, most people aren’t convinced you’re any good.

You play for a few people. One person thinks you’re good. The rest don’t take you seriously. Because if you were great, then why would you be in this pub/bookstore/basement….

You play for a few dozen people. A few people think you’re good. The rest don’t take you seriously. Because if you were great, then why would you be here in front of just a few dozen people...

You play for a few hundred people.

A few thousand.

And then the rubber band springs backward. And what’s really great is when you’re great and everyone knows it and you play for a few people. In a living room/pub/bookstore/basement.
So whether you’re playing in a band or launching a business or starting a career in stand-up or doing just about anything else that requires an audience or a tribe or whatever you want to call it (and that’s most things), keep playing. Treat yourself -- and what you’re making -- like it matters. Because it does. And not just because the masses get it...yet.