Stacking layers of broader focus.
I'm staring intently at the lead guitarist. At least, at first.
Toward the back of the small concert venue, I'm looking from the guitar player's hands to his face, then to his overall posture. The house lights are down, and above the band I see the stage lights oscillating between blue, purple, and orange. The band's playing a song I know, but this guitar solo is new. And I'm wondering if it's the same solo he plays every night on this tour, or if he switches it up.
That's what I'd do, if it were me—switch it up.
It's strange... I used to come here in college before I could even drink legally. The place would be packed, no matter who was playing. Now, I can't help but notice the room is only three-quarters full. At least people are dancing now, though. Things were a bit stiff at the start. Which seems odd because the band plays a lot of funk.
Probably the change-over after the opener.
They'd been good but slow.
As I'm honing in on the guitarist, my focus drifts to the band's front man. He's watching, too, and looks impressed.
Maybe the solo is new tonight after all...
I recently read a piece on the art of enjoyment by Sasha Chapin. Standing in the crowd, almost 5 years sober, it's all I can think about. My eyes migrate to the keyboard player now, but my ears stick with the guitarist.
In that piece, Sasha surprisingly advocated against mindfulness; well, against mindfulness as an antidote to apathy. To enjoy things more, Sasha made the case for stacking layers of broader focus, rather than narrowing it as mindfulness would generally instruct. The part that resonated most with me, though, was where he described zooming in and out of the focus layers from different angles.
Still flipping between the keyboard player and the guitarist, I'm realizing that's how I watch concerts. From my spot in the back left-center of the venue, I kept picking out instruments from the rest of the band. Then, I'd watch the other band members responding to that specific instrument.
And I smiled, with renewed appreciation for the ensemble I came to see.
Our Daily MAP Year Prompt
223/365
Do you prefer to focus on the whole picture, pieces of it, or a combination of both? Why?
onward.
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