There’s a saying in the entertainment industry that talks about someone phoning in their performance. It means that the actor/music/performer is only going thru the motions of their performance without putting any heart and soul into it. Phoning a performance definitely extends into real life. I’ve been witness to people who are ‘phoning a performance’ while out with a significant other or a group of friends. I’ve done it once or twice in my life with friends. However, I’ve never phoned in a performance while actually performing music.
I recently witnessed a phone in and it left me feeling a bit flat. As it goes, I’m letting it roll off and I’m on to the next moment in life to enjoy. Too many things happening that involve more detail and attention. Happiness is getting things coming together. Be it the home. Be it the career. Be it relationships. Be it life. Right now I enjoy the things coming together in a positive fashion.
I must be on a phone kick this week…
The song I’m running with about calling it in is Phone Call From Leavenworth by the blues master Chris Whitley. What more depressing concept could you have about calling – anything in general – when it is from a prison. I’m sure there’s a bit more heart and soul coming out from there being that I lot of people would be desperate to get out. Chris surely isn’t phoning in his performance either.
I once saw him play this song live where it was him, his foot, a board and his guitar. Powerful. Masterful. Amazing. Those are the words that I can use to describe it. Very much the opposite of phoning it in.
One thing I hope going forward is that the phone in I recently was privy to ends up opening up into a fuller demonstration. Until then, I’m in need of getting some things done. Have a great day!