Creativity is Contagious

Have you ever watched someone doing something creative and thought, "I want to try that?"

Maybe you watched a musician perform and felt the urge to pick up an instrument. Perhaps you wandered through an art gallery and suddenly wanted to paint. Maybe you watched an improv show and wondered what it would be like to get up onstage.

There is something wonderful about being around creative people. Their enthusiasm has a way of rubbing off on us. Their willingness to experiment makes us a little more willing to experiment ourselves. And sometimes, watching someone else take a creative risk is all the encouragement we need to take one of our own.

Creativity is contagious.

I see this happen all the time at the Blue Door Theatre. Someone signs up for an improv class, perhaps just looking for something fun to do. They discover they enjoy it, make a few friends, and decide to take another class. Before long, they are performing with a team, attending improv jams, or encouraging their friends to give it a try.

However, what I find really interesting is that the creativity does not stop with improv.

Being part of a creative community exposes us to people with different interests, talents, and ideas. The person you meet in an improv class might also be a painter, a musician, a writer, or someone who has always dreamed of producing a play. Others may not even consider themselves an artist yet. No matter how they identify, their enthusiasm can introduce you to possibilities you might never have considered on your own.

The best thing is that you do not have to become an artist to be part of that exchange. Sometimes creativity spreads through encouragement. Showing up for someone's performance, asking about their latest project, or simply expressing genuine interest in what they are doing can give them the confidence to keep going.

A truth I have learned in the years of being involved with improv is that we do not just inspire one another by what we create. We inspire one another by making room for creativity. We hold space for one another to experiment without judgment.

I have been thinking about this as the Blue Door celebrates its 30th anniversary. Over those three decades, thousands of people have come through our doors. Some have taken a single class. Others have performed for years. Some have gone on to start their own improv team, create new shows, teach workshops, or pursue different creative interests. It is impossible to know how many creative projects, friendships, or adventures began with someone deciding to give improv a try.

We are also seeing that creative energy reach beyond our stage. With SPLAT and the Yes, And Art Gallery sharing our building, we are bringing together people who express themselves in different ways. Improvisers encounter visual artists. Writers meet performers. Our classes bring together different art disciplines such as improv and poetry. People who might never have crossed paths discover shared interests and new opportunities to collaborate.

One of the things I love about creative communities is that they create possibilities that no one could have planned in advance. However, creativity does not spread automatically. It needs an environment where people feel comfortable trying something new, where ideas are welcomed, and where we celebrate one another's efforts rather than comparing accomplishments.

That brings me back to something I have been thinking about since our last blog on the joy of not mastering something. When we stop worrying about whether we are good at something, we make it easier for ourselves to begin. Along with this idea, when other people see us enjoying the process, we might make it easier for them to begin, too.

You never know who might be inspired by watching you try something new. So take that class. Start that project. Go to that performance. Visit an art gallery. Encourage someone who is exploring a new creative interest.

Remember, do not underestimate the impact of your own enthusiasm. You might just inspire someone else to create something wonderful.

After all, creativity is contagious and that is one pandemic I do not want to miss.