Context, Creativity and Crazy Dancing Guy

by Todd Henry on Jun 24, 2009 in Creating

Thanks so much to my friend Brad for sending this video. I know that I’m often harping on doing something unique and how “cover bands don’t change the world” and I think that this can be misunderstood as “do anything you want, whether or not it’s relevant to the situation at hand.”

It’s important that – within the context of our creative work – we understand the importance of relevance and establishing good rails/objectives. There are a few things that I notice about the “crazy dancing guy” that I think apply to many create-on-demand situations:

1. His behavior – while odd – made sense in this context. He wasn’t dancing in the subway station during rush hour. He was having a genuine – though very possibly substance-fueled – response to the music. We often confuse “creativity” with “novelty”. The main difference is that the “creative” solution is always appropriate to the context whereas “novelty” is simply making a unique connection.

2. He is committed. His enthusiasm is contagious. Once he makes a decision to dance, he doesn’t hold himself back or curb his enthusiasm based upon public response. He is committed.

3. He does what he does, and lets the world change around him. The guy just wants to have a good time. He’s not trying to start a dance party. In fact, I question whether he was capable of that kind of strategic thought at the moment. He’s just having fun and throwing himself into the moment.

Again, I certainly don’t want to be guilty of reading too much into a YouTube clip, but I’m always inspired by people who throw themselves into what they do. Even when it’s a little “out there.”

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