Passing Torches

Since September, I have served as assistant manager here at Capitol. Funny thing, though. There has never been a job description. I basically do the things that Steve, our manager, doesn't. Mostly, I process web orders, make all publisher contact, and answer customer e-mails. And of course I also help our customers, like I have all of these years. It's rewarding work, but I don't suppose I will always be Capitol's assistant manager, so I have been starting to write a manual for whoever might take my place someday.

It's an interesting exercise. You need to step outside of yourself and look at your process in a new way. You have to break down each thing you do into its most basic elements. The goal is to be able to hand someone your manual and say, "Here you go - you're on your own now." Make yourself obsolete, as it were.

The same thing happens with the creative process. Me and my friend Marie have written an original musical together. We're very proud of it, and we want to get it produced. So far, it has been just me and Marie creating together, plus our arranger, Paul. As we expand that circle, we will have less and less control over the process. We can describe our concept to the producer, and participate in production decisions, but we can only share so many of our thoughts with the cast and crew. At some point, we will have to let go and trust that they will honor our vision and create a show we can all be proud of. And when everyone adds their own ideas and talents to the production, it may even surpass our original concept.

Well, I hope someday our next assistant manager will appreciate the guidance of the manual I am writing now and will do the job well, and I hope the producer of our show will grasp our intentions and produce the wonderful show we have imagined. But it will be in their hands. All we can do is pass the torch, and hope it stays lit!

Ron B