What is it about an artist's dream that makes it just a tiny bit more unique than everyone else's? Is it the odds that you face being a musician, singer, writer, painter? Imagine there are thousands of individuals in the world who aspire to "make it big" and thousands more who just aspire to even "make a living" creating and performing this thing you call "art". See artists are here on earth to touch lives. I mean everyone is here to touch lives in certain ways, but there is something a bit magical about what an artist can create and how it can emotionally touch a person's soul. (As I see it anyway.)

Over the weekend I got invited to judge a performance competition. (Special thank you to the producers and staff of Kollaboration SF for having me.) I've judged competitions before, but I will say this is one of the very few competitions that showcased real aspiring entertainers. You can tell from each performance that they weren't there just because they wanted to win a grand prize, but because each and everyone of them had a message to share.

After the show several artists came up to me to either introduce themselves, ask for advice, or say hello. It happens often, but I start to notice it more as I get older. They don't know and they will now, but I can spot an artist a thousand miles away. Whether my conversation with this artist is one minute, five minutes or twenty minutes --- no matter what type of art or music genre --- there is always one thing in common. HOPE.

It strikes me every time. You can see it in people's eyes. You can hear it in their voice. There is a dream inside each person that has been pushed up, dragged down, motivated and defeated. We all feel it. I feel it too in my successes and challenges pushing my own dream. My dream just happens to depend on others dreams.

Wherever my business takes me -- up or down --

I know for sure I want to be a part of as many artist journeys I can be - whether I spare five minutes, a tweet, an e-mail, a few months, a full tour, one project, or a whole lifetime with them. To know that I can help someone to get at least an inch closer to their dream, I really don’t have it in me to turn away from that opportunity.

What's your dream?

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