I lived in Orlando when the Pulse nightclub shooting happened. I also used to work in the arts and was transitioning into a different industry when it happened. In the days following the shooting, every arts organization in the area contacted each other about putting together some kind of tribute. They asked me to stage manage it. There was next to no rehearsal time, so many opportunities for people to get self-conscious and let their ego take over (and there’s no shortage of that in the arts), and everything just… came together. My boss volunteered to be my assistant for the day, because titles didn’t matter and everything was about making this beautiful offering to the community to help process what had happened. Anytime someone would ask, “would you consider trying this crazy thing?” the answer was always, “Absolutely. We can do that.” Local companies donated supplies. World-renowned artists shared the stage with virtual-nobodies, and everyone was so earnest and genuine in the offering they wanted to make to their community that there just wasn’t room for anything except the very best of every person. No one knew how it was going to turn out, and the fact that it ended up being perfect was a testament to everyone’s trust, talent, and courage. It was the most stunning display of collective selflessness I’ve ever witnessed.
cw
I lived in Orlando when the Pulse nightclub shooting happened. I also used to work in the arts and was transitioning into a different industry when it happened. In the days following the shooting, every arts organization in the area contacted each other about putting together some kind of tribute. They asked me to stage manage it. There was next to no rehearsal time, so many opportunities for people to get self-conscious and let their ego take over (and there’s no shortage of that in the arts), and everything just… came together. My boss volunteered to be my assistant for the day, because titles didn’t matter and everything was about making this beautiful offering to the community to help process what had happened. Anytime someone would ask, “would you consider trying this crazy thing?” the answer was always, “Absolutely. We can do that.” Local companies donated supplies. World-renowned artists shared the stage with virtual-nobodies, and everyone was so earnest and genuine in the offering they wanted to make to their community that there just wasn’t room for anything except the very best of every person. No one knew how it was going to turn out, and the fact that it ended up being perfect was a testament to everyone’s trust, talent, and courage. It was the most stunning display of collective selflessness I’ve ever witnessed.