Is talent a lost art?

After watching the recent variety show and open mic night, I realized that true showmanship is few and far between these days. There are not many local bands and there aren’t that many local venues. Major cities like Sacramento are a different story however. There are many clubs and bands down there.

I don’t know for sure why this is, but I think the cause may lie in our over reliance on technology. Society tends to expect things to happen at a moments notice. Instant streaming from sites like Youtube, or communication through Facebook has made many people increasingly anti-social.

Few people are willing to sit through a band’s gig or a performance artist’s show, and fewer people have the patience to learn an instrument or build the courage it takes to present their talents in front of a crowd.

I mean it when I say that true talent is a lost art. If I hear about something like the variety show or a local band’s first show, I try to go because it is important for them to receive support from people in order to continue.

So the next time you hear of a show make sure that you go, because every person in the audience counts towards the success of whoever happens to be on the stage. It is true what Shakespeare said, “all the world’s stage.”