Last week a friend and I attended a benefit for The Ark in downtown Ann Arbor that was a tribute to the music of Jay Stielstra. From Jay’s website: “For over 50 years, Jay Stielstra wrote songs, plays, prose and poetry about the beauty of Michigan’s rivers and north woods, of love and friendship, peace and war, and the passage of time.”
The roster was a “who’s who” of Ann Arbor’s folk scene and it was quite a beautiful night of music. For any of my readers who dwell in Michigan, if you haven’t been to The Ark, I highly encourage you to do so! It’s a nonprofit and largely volunteer-run organization dedicated to providing a music venue for folk musicians in Michigan and worldwide.
But let’s get to why mistakes are the best 🙂
During the second set, a man who is a true mainstay in the Ann Arbor folk music scene took the stage. He started the song and at the beginning of the first verse had to stop. He apologized as he was having trouble remembering the lyrics. The bass player told him the first line and they started again, unfortunately only to stop in the same place. “I’m sorry,” he said “And this is one of my favorite songs too!”
Just then, the organizer of the night, a fellow guitarist and singer/songwriter, ran onstage as she called out “Here, let’s sing it together.” She counted off the tune and the two of them sang in perfect unison, sometimes breaking into harmony. And of course, once he got going, he knew every word.
I think I speak for many people in the audience that night when I say this was one of the most memorable musical moments of the evening. It couldn’t have been planned for – it was a moment of vulnerability and love (which, to me, is what folk music is all about).
As a singer/songwriter myself, it was incredibly helpful to have this experience. Why? Vulnerability is a beautiful thing. Being in the audience, we love it when our performer makes a mistake because it makes us realize they’re human just like us. It makes us love them all the more.
So the next time you make a mistake (which if you’re anything like me, it won’t be long before that happens!) remember this. People don’t look down on mistakes – it’s actually quite the opposite.
Our mistakes make us more endearing to our audience every time.
And that’s why mistakes are the best.
