Take this routine theatrical tradition into all your creative pursuits.
Closing night for a musical or play is always a time of intense emotions. The joy of doing the show, of completing the challenge, combined with the deep grief of it ending.
We have those emotions in a lot of creative experiences, though. Whether it’s a choir’s year, a series of private lessons, a class, or a composition, finishing comes with a lot of emotions.
What theatrical productions always have is strike. The few hours spent at the end of the production taking apart the sets, cleaning up the dressing rooms, and putting away costumes, are an essential catharsis for the company. It provides a tangible way for the participants to process their emotions and come out on the other side.
What would “strike” look like at the end of composition, or at the end of a choir’s year? I think it’s worth developing some traditions that mimic the emotional catharsis of strike for all of your creative endeavors.