With One Look

Sometimes, a person has a talent so big, it can’t be hidden or disguised. It’s like there’s a flashing sign over their head that says, “TALENT!”

I woke up this morning thinking about that, I guess because of a bunch of conversations I’ve had this week and the results of a ridiculous art competition I read about this week. Judge not, lest ye be judged…just sayin’.

At any rate, it reminded me of a story. In 1995 or 6, thereabouts, I met Karen Mason. Karen is a singer, an actress, a chanteuse (how often do you get to use that word?), a Broadway star. She’s stunning, she’s lovely…and she’s talented! She’s a big presence with a huge voice. A belter!

A mutual friend had introduced us over the phone. Our friend explained that Ms. Mason was putting together a new CD and wanted to know if I could help out with the look and the graphics. Sure. Absolutely. We made plans to meet — she would come to my studio, bring a copy of the music, I’d show her some design stuff, we’d get to know each other a little and see if we were a good fit. A week later, there was a knock at the door and there she was.

Karen Mason is tall. I’m tall. She has a big voice. I have a big voice. She hugs on first meeting. Likewise. She has a gutsy laugh living at the edge of her smile. Ditto. Separated at birth? Possibly.

We had a great, easy, breezy time working together and she was excited about the end results. We laughed, we collaborated, we had fun and then it was done. I was a huge fan in record time! She was overly appreciative and asked how she could ever say Thank you. As it happened, she was currently starring on Broadway in Sunset Boulevard — one of those big, gaudy, Andrew Lloyd Webber monstrosities…not a fan of the show…or him…but an enormous hit, nonetheless, with a couple of full-throttle show stoppers for a big-voiced Broadway lady.

So I said, because why wouldn’t you, “There is something you could do for me, if it isn’t too much to ask?”

She said,”Do you want tickets to the show?”

I said that was much too generous (and dangerous. I’d already been almost evicted from another Lloyd Webber show…Phantom of the Something…for laughing at the wrong parts…a chandelier comes CRASHING to the stage at a tortoise-like 1 mile an hour…what’s not too laugh?..but that’s another story) Where was I? Right. So I asked,“Could you sing the song for me?“

The song. The signature song. The inescapable song of that year and a few others. The song that was in rapid rotation on nightime-talk-show-television. The song that was recorded by every somewhere-north-of-thirty female singer in the world. The song that was a club house dance hit that year with an enhanced, throbbing beat. The song of choice that year for people who love a big note and people who can hit a big note and people who think they can hit a big note singing in the shower.

And without skipping a beat, she stood, transformed herself from a New York City girl into a silent screen movie star and began to sing…no, perform…As If We Never Said Goodbye…a capella…in my studio…on West 26th Street…full out. Un-Be-Liev-Able!

That’s someone in full command of their talent. That’s someone who’s generous with their talent. That’s someone who appreciates and enjoys and revels in their talent. And knows just how fortunate they are to have it.

I think the real test of an artist, of a creative talent, is when they realize they have no choice in the matter — they are what they are and they have to do it, whatever the it is — sing, perform, write, dance, paint — knowing full well, that they may never get the recognition they deserve, or win the awards they should. But it’s in them. It’s who they are. And they have to do it. And they want to do it. And they want to share it. And they hope you like it. And if you don’t? That’s okay too. But stand back…because they’re gonna let it fly!

Karen Mason is not a household name, but reading that phrase as written, the title sounds too small. Karen Mason, like so many others out there, so many others I know, is an artist whose talent is too big for the house.

If it isn’t too much to ask, could you show me the wonder that is you?

We’ll have early morning madness
We’ll have magic in the making…
- Andrew Lloyd Webber