Commonality of purpose is essential in choosing the community of people you like to hang out with. It’s why I’ve enjoyed my connection with the boatbuilding community, woodcarvers, and anthropologists. There are some serious interests that everyone in the group coheres around. It’s not inconspicuous. It’s right out front, loudly proclaimed. We are nuts about ___________.
It’s important to understand, however, that in your initial honeymoon phase in such a group, you may miss the competitive edge that is also there. Boatbuilders and carvers are all seeking good commissions, and there can be a bit of competition. Specialization exists, But we are not all in direct competition. I don’t do caricature carving, so don’t compete with Harry, who does. Academic anthropologists compete for a desperately small pool of tenure-track positions. But I did applied anthropology.
I’ve been reliably told by people in the hospitality industry that anthropologists party harder but break less than most other groups of conventiongoers. When I attended anthropological meetings, we’d wander the hotel halls from party to party, all pretty well-behaved but with some interesting conversation – if you were an anthropologist.
It’s important to understand that it’s not all Kumbayah Moments. But, associating with groups of like-minded individuals can be educational and fun.
When I did boat shows, we did not talk about boats 24/7. We talked about materials, tools, the condition of the industry, and about you. That’s right, we spoke about you, the customer. You were milling about the convention hall floor like a school of fish waiting for a hook. We took in the attire – those who showed up in their boaty best, the ones in new expensive foul weather gear, the youth sporting their riggers knives prominently, trophy husbands and trophy wives. We also were ready for the ten top insane questions we knew you would ask. And for a woodcarver, it included, “Is this wood?” and “Will the wood float?”
Spouses and family? Craftspeople tend to have smaller business enterprises and are frequently family affairs. So, spouses are on the front lines to answer questions and take orders for their wives, husbands, and significant others. At my booth, you were likely to meet one of my four children eager to make a commission for selling an expensive eagle commission to you. What, don’t need an eagle? How about this lovely cutting board? You don’t want to disappoint a kid. Do you?
So yes, Like most of us, I enjoy being around kindred spirits. I don’t mind a bit of competition, but I am eager for the camaraderie that comes with community.
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You acquire trends and motivation from those whom you hang out with.
true
Most of the time I hang out with my dog. I think it makes me a better person- a little weird, but intertesting.
Hamish looks like he’s a good listener.
He is 🙂
The art community here is very competitive. I didn’t expect that when I moved. Some people played dirty. In CA in the groups of which I was a part it wasn’t competitive at all. Lots of respect for the different work people did but I think that might be because CA has an actual market. Such a thing doesn’t exist here. Now, I just don’t play. I have learned a lot — like if I’d started sooner there would be material things I would invest in that I won’t now. It’s been a very interesting evolution.
I wish our nation would return to e pluribus unum and drop the in god we trust.
Yeah. I selected that particular eagle from the Sherburne Museums with the logo in mind.
Regardding competition…well my last Federal job was interesting that way with cliques always jockeying for grant money and preference. Within some “communities” there is so little prestige that the elbows are sharp, and the tongues sharper. It’s like pulling a blade over a game of pitch penny to use an urban street example from New York City. It’s out of all proportion to the prestige value.
Yeah — I get when livelihoods are involved. In my case, it isn’t. I just backed off.