A friend recently reminded me of this wonderful little story: 

”Years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilisation in a culture. The student expected Mead to talk about fishhooks or clay pots or grinding stones. 

But no. Mead said that the first sign of civilisation in an ancient culture was a femur (thighbone) that had been broken and then healed. Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, get to the river for a drink or hunt for food. You are meat for prowling beasts. No animal survives a broken leg long enough for the bone to heal. 

A broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone has taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery. Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilisation starts, Mead said." 

We are at our best when we serve others. Be civilised. ” 

Margaret Mead’s words are a great place to start in anything we do aren’t they? 

What I really like about small gigs, Homesongs, is that it allows the possibility for these sort of civilised relationships. The possibility of genuine and healing interaction. 

Crowds and big congregations can be a powerful force, but they  don’t often provide the opportunity for personal, intimate connection. 

And maybe that’s something to think about for those of us songwriters and artists of any kind who are waiting for The Big Break. 

Perhaps it’s not such a bad thing to stay small.