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This module is about the essence of “The Creative Audience.” As a member of the creative audience we can understand the knowledge gained from a performing arts event; We can appreciate the risk, feel the authenticity and … our topic for this module… we can connect and support others through shared empathy, enjoyment and support. The performing arts depend so much on the moment and the connections shared between all those present, regardless of who they are. Participation and social connection amplifies and sustains the efforts of the performing arts. We call this a learning community for a number of reasons. One reason is that we have multiple voices, to help you make sense of the Performing Arts. In each live meeting we invite an artist and a mentor to share their perspective. We have also asked faculty at the Conservatory to share their thoughts on the topic of Social Connection. Michael Blake - (03:33): I think it's not a conscious connection, but there is an atmospheric connection, which makes it really wonderful. When you walk into a theater, the first thing you feel is the atmosphere. It's like going into a cathedral. There's a sense in there that you feel something has pulled you in or you are a part of something. It's the same thing in theater. It's not religious, but maybe it could be for some people, a religious feeling, but it is like you're in the atmosphere of theater. Greer Gerni 1 (14:14): I think we're in a time right now where social connection is important. Full stop. It's always been important to humanity. We are social beings. We have formed societies for our own good, and we've spent a few years distancing ourselves from each other really. And I really think there is no better place to practice strengthening our ability for social connection and our need for social connection than in a performing arts space and experiencing something together that is meaningful and true. CHRISTOPHER KELTS (15:33): I think people love to be around people who are experiencing it at the same time as well. And that for a couple of reasons. One, they want to usually share the same experience that they've had, or B, they want to know why someone didn't have the same experience that they did. Or three. And this is the last one. People will often want to know if they are actually having an experience. They look for validation in other people's opinions, or they'll measure their own experiences with others. Greer Gerni - To go back to this idea of authenticity, to experience something that impacts me and impacts my neighbor differently, but it's the same experience and there will be some overlap. You don't have to talk to anybody to go to the theater. Actually, it is quite possible to buy your ticket online, pull up that QR code on your phone, have it scanned at the door, go sit in your seat, turn your phone off, sit and receive. And in that practice, you won't realize it at first, but you're also giving. There is a social exchange, but it doesn't require any verbalization, in fact, not something that I think is much needed right now just to sit and be together. Steven Davis - (19:57): … yeah, it's critical. I think it's and it's everything. And support your friends and support your peers and make friends with those musicians on stages. They're not aliens. They're people just like you that deal with the same exact things you're dealing with. So with your life might be enhanced. Greer Gerni (16:01): So I do think that is important to lift the veil, to make it not so scary, to acknowledge that there is so much value in being an audience member, to acknowledge that it is actually participatory and that the audience is also a creator in the production. CHRISTOPHER KELTS 16:53 : The social aspect is that is an onion that never goes away. … cut …. At the end of the day, I think that an audience, a community, a student body, whoever they are, need to ask themselves is X, Y, or Z arts organization an enriching aspect of our culture or not? And if it is, then it needs to be something. We as performers hope that they will support not only in being there, but with resources. I'm this module, we would like you to reflect on Social Connection the next time you attend a live performing arts event. Observe how people interact. Do you have shared responses during a performance? Can you sustain the experience, by sharing the event with others after the performance? We don’t have many activities in the module, to give you time to attend an upcoming performance. Remember, we want you to go to at least three performances during this eight week session. You will find an activity to document your attendance in this module called Performance, your personal feedback. We have two other activities designed to strengthen your ability to be socially connected. First, we would like you to share the TCA APP with a friend. There is a tool within the app to share it with others either by using a QR code that they can scan on their phone, or a link you can send to them. There are also links to share it on popular social media sites. Don’t be shy about reaching out to them to help them understand a little more about this learning community and the performing arts. Each one teach one. The last activity is to take a look at the Performing Arts Audience Experience Survey. You will find it in the Module Five activity and in the TCA App. It is best to complete the survey soon after attending an event. The survey will guide you through the Experience index, but it’s helpful to provide some short comments about the experience as well. You may copy your responses and use them for your final project. You may even want to share your overall score on social media. Click Next below to continue to share the TCA App with others, and you can use the TCA App to complete the experience survey, right from your mobile phone. Enjoy your next performing arts experience! =======END======