Thomas Edison said something to the fact what invention “boils down to is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration.” (source)
I’m going to write a couple short blog posts on inspiration and perspiration over the next week. In relation to creating stages for worship. I will say that Edison has it right when he says that its only one percent inspiration, but that one percent is the catalyst for everything you do.
I personally don’t spend a ton of time researching and diving into inspiring stuff because it is all around you. Let others inspire you, there are tons of other great creatives out there who are doing the same thing you are beating your head against the wall with. Ask them questions about what they did and adapt it if you like it. Another resource is tapping into creatives in your church. I’ll bet you’ll find a few untapped super creatives in your congregation that could help you with your stage designs and builds!
Other inspiring forces include but are not limited too, nature, music, art, Home Deopt, necessity, architecture, movies, or concerts. Yes Home Depot. Every building material you need is in there and sometimes when you need something you can’t find, just wandering down it’s aisles can give you that right piece of inspiration.
Necessity can be an inspiring factor as well. Sometimes you have a pressing deadline to either come up with an idea, or find a solution for a prop or stage that is just not coming up by itself. The last post was on a quick stage prop I built. You can find candle stands in most home goods store but not many tall ones, and not many options that fit with a stage look you may have. So out of necessity, because I had nothing I liked, I built my own by wandering through the aisles of my favorite store Home Depot. (I had to go in there because I lost my man card going into stores like Michael’s looking for pre-made ones)
Now that being said…don’t spend to long being inspired because other wise you’re not going to get anything done.
Next up: Perspiration, or Sweat It Out
Cool site. I like. I have a tumblr, but I don’t update like I should.