One of the themes running through the conversations I have with my daughter is professionalism. Not how to be a professional. But understanding that you are one. And acting with the confidence and full authority that implies.
Now, my career as an editor and composer has always been set a few rungs down from the top. My efforts always serve the vision of others. And while that absolutely means I don't have the final say... that doesn't mean I don't have specific expertise in what I do.
I'm a specialist who helps manifest the intentions of producers… with a little something extra thrown in. Always always always, though, with their go-ahead. Because while I don't wield the authority to have my own way creatively, I do have the authority to convince producers that I may have a better approach. I have the authority to state my case. To persuade.
And then it's in their hands. Because the final say is theirs.
Full stop.
Linzy's situation is different becauase while there are any number of circumstances in which she's working for someone else and is bound by the same obligations as I am... there are circumstances in which she, in fact, does have the final word.
And, in general, the conversations we have about understanding yourself as a professional focus on being young and having spent most of life answerable to someone else and then working for someone else. So stepping into the role of the person in charge might not come easy. Or, if it does come easy, embodying the authority vested in that role might feel tricky. Especially when the final word can seem aggressive or mean.
For me, now that I think of it, my confidence as an editor clicked into place when I was promoted to that position years ago after working in production and then serving as an assistant editor. I was promoted to editor at this one company... and then I was known and hired as an editor forever after that.
I don't know how else to put it: I just became that guy. Because I was given his shoes.
Recently, a friend of mine, a producer, needed a little consulting on a sound recording issue and I referred her to Linzy. Not as my daughter but as a music producer and engineer. Because this is an area in which she wields expertise and my friend treated her accordingly. And then sang her praises to me afterward when everything worked according to Linzy's advice.
A little later, Linzy composed a score for string quartet to be performed live. During rehearsals, one of the performers made their case to the conductor for a change and, after a quick conversation with Linzy, the conductor let the performer know "the composer has decided this is the direction they want to pursue."
Or words to that effect.
But definitely starting with "the composer has decided".
The composer.
Has decided.
Where I’m going with this is that while I don't think we all step into our professional selves the same way and that I’m sure there are ways and ways and ways of accomplishing that transformation... what's interesting to me is that Linzy's stepping into her role, her professional self, in kinda sorta the same way I did a long time ago: she's being treated as that person.
Which leaves open the question of how does she fulfill the role of having full authority?
How does she make the call...
And make it stick?
I'll take a stab at that question...
Tomorrow.