That moment when you finish the last song, and the audience erupts - art happened.
Art happened because you connected with the mind of another, shared a message worth sharing, and did so through a medium that you've mastered - and - the other received and appreciated your message. Art requires a response.
The artist's desire to communicate an idea and create better art is only as strong as their audience's desire to give meaning and definition to the piece. You need your audience, readers, listeners, clients, customers to create art.
It's easy to take the posture that we're artists and those that will appreciate our work will, and to hell with everybody else. It's also easy to say we're not creating this piece for someone, it's for us and it's a reflection of what's in our minds. You would be within your rights to have those thoughts. However, if you want to reach the others and serve them, you'll need their response.
When an audience responds, it means they felt something so powerful that they needed to express their feeling outward. This expression takes energy and vulnerability. Also, the audience will likely share the experience with friends; they want their friends to feel what they feel. When that happens, others will come to know about your work and want to see you. When that happens, you'll create an epidemic. You'll thrive.
Make art that inspires a reaction, a response.
Serve the others.
Come alive.
