Borrowed Fire: The Creative Power of Collective Effervescence

This week I had an experience that left me feeling excited, recharged, and optimistic about the future. It reminded me of something I’ve always known, but that I don’t put into practice nearly as often as I should: seeing a live performance is one of the most powerful ways to refill the creative fuel tanks.

For me, there’s always been something restorative about experiencing the fruit of someone else’s creative labors. It’s like the creative aspect of my soul sees itself reflected on the stage or screen and is validated. “Here are other people executing a creative vision,” it says. “I can do this, too.” It’s one of the rare times when I can feel myself brimming with enthusiasm – a word with an etymology related to being inspired by the divine or to feel the God within – which feels apt.

I want to commit to seeing shows more often. It could be attending a concert, seeing a movie in theatres, taking in a musical, or watching stand-up. The medium doesn’t matter so much, as long as I’m watching something live and, most importantly, in a group of other people. 

There’s a sociological concept called Collective Effervescence, wherein a room full of people focused on the same creative expression creates a powerful sense of unity and shared purpose among them. When we watch a performance in a group, our personal identities fade to the background to let our emotions and our sense of belonging to the group rise. This sense of oneness and harmony is similar to how researchers describe the effects of psilocybin, so make of that what you will.

The phrase “you can’t pour from an empty cup” comes to mind here. It’s most often used in relation to mental health, as in you can’t take care of others without first taking care of yourself. But I think it’s just as true for creative pursuits.

Inspiration is the spark that lights the fire for our screenplays, books, and song lyrics; and experiencing live performances with others fans the flames of these fires and keeps them burning. To not do so runs the risk of our flames dying out. I truly believe this. I would encourage anyone feeling creatively stuck or battling with that perennial demon “writer’s block” to get out there and take in some art. Go see live music, support your friend at their improv show, or wander into an open-mic night. Bask in the creative energy of another and let it fill your tank.