U-turn
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February 23, 2005
What do you do!?
The other day we had a craftsman in the house to fix something and he saw my portfolios containing my manuscripts. His logical question was: "Are you an artist?" When I told him I'm a composer, he stood thinking for a moment and replied: "Well, that's creative as well I suppose...".
His reaction is absolutely non standard. Most people ask what instrument I play and are stunned when I answer them (truth said) I don't play any.
They don't believe I am a really lousy pianist (I don't exaggerate). I am a nightmare to pet animals when I play my viola. To my (recent) astonishment I am able to play an eeny weenie tiny little bit of accordion, due to some dreaded lessons when I was a six year old.
All these awkward reactions from people, who think composers are grey old men at least a hundred years ago boxed up six feet under, learned me to tell what ever other profession I can come up with. So in recent history I have been a web designer (true), secretary (true), office manager (true) and editor (true) but hardly ever 'composer'.
I wonder if others (composers I mean) recognize this and how they deal with it. Reactions are welcome.
Posted by Renske at 18:20 UTC | permanent link