Master of None
By Ry
A.K.A
RHATH
So, it’s four in the morning on a Monday, and I can’t sleep. My mind is in a million places at once.
That seems like a better time than any to write a blog post about being scattered and doing lots of different things. The pros and cons of being a generalist vs a specialist And in the case of Vibe Union, hosting events across various genres instead of one.
A project like Vibe Union, as much as any creative project, is an extension of our own psyches. It’s not us, but it doesn’t exist without us. The way my brain works is deeply connected to the way our events function and our general ethos.
I’ve always been scared, even to this day, that I’m not focused. That I would have a higher chance of being “successful” if I did just one thing. That I’m stretching myself too thin and not giving any one project enough time. And in the case of Vibe Union, could time spent writing this blog be better used promoting our poetry night? Should we drop everything and focus on our hip-hop showcase? Should we follow whatever makes the most money?
Of course, there is always a well worded saying that can be used to make the opposite point of view sound just as valid.
Isn’t it silly how many complimentary or paradoxical sayings or proverbs we can live by?
“Don’t put your eggs all in one basket.”
Alright, so I shouldn’t worry about doing too many things? That gives a higher chance that something will succeed.
Ah yes, but “A jack of all trades is a master of none”.
Well, that’s sort of true too. What do I think now?
Well, let’s get the full quote from ol’ mate, William Shakespeare.
“A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”
…
This is the closest I can come to summarising my own ethos, at least at this stage in my life. I have many different interests, hobbies, and passions. And as an extension, Vibe Union holds many roles. We aren’t a poetry night, we aren’t a podcast, and we aren’t an event management company. We’re a collective of chaotic minds holding space for other chaotic minds.
I think when it comes to art, for the most part, people are interested in people. It’s why we form parasocial relationships with our favourite singers, YouTubers, and celebrities. We like people. We want to know how their brains work and connect with them. We’re social creatures. And so yes, always, a project itself is of utmost importance at the time, but in the long run, it’s only part of a larger story. And that story (sorry to be dramatic) is the person, the creator.
We do a lot of different things as Vibe Union, but in my mind, they all connect at the core of what makes Vibe Union what it is. Our chaotic brains and the various ways they need to express themselves. The community coming to our events is no different. It’s amazing having singers from Dusty Sessions come and read poetry. Poets jump on the podcast and pull apart topics in a way wholly unsuited to a rhyme scheme. And for us to be writing this blog allows our thoughts more clarity than I think either Jason or myself experience in many other facets of our lives (speaking for myself, but...)
To do all these things requires various skills and interests. I count myself very lucky (when I’m being kind to myself) that I have the curiosity to learn so many different things. In fact, Vibe Union, at least in terms of how it runs on the back end, could be jokingly looked at as a symptom of my chaotic brain.
I feel there is more to go on about here, but I’m going to tie this up by saying, Vibe Union just likes making stuff. We like running events, making podcasts, and writing this blog. And we do it for the other chaotic brains that have many interests and a million thoughts in their heads at four in the morning. To do all of this, doesn’t need a specialist. A specialist will, of course, take a project to a whole new level in one aspect of it.
But Vibe Union needs generalists—jacks of all trades.
We’re going to have a lot more projects over the years across various genres and styles. And we’ll keep providing spaces for people who specialise in one thing or find themselves dabbling in a new interest every month. It’s all connected somehow.
Alright, hopefully I can get some sleep after writing this.
Catch ya next gig.
-Ry
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Graphics by Rhath