I first heard the term ‘creative date’ from listening to the ‘So You Want to Be a Writer’ podcast with Valerie Khoo and
(though Allison isn’t a regular host anymore but I’ve listened to hundreds of episodes with her as co-host so she absolutely deserves a mention here).What on earth is a creative date?
Well, it’s taking yourself out on a date (solo is key) somewhere inspiring that nurtures your creativity. It could be anything from going to an art gallery, attending a painting class, watching a performance, or taking part in a jewellery making workshop.
It doesn’t have to relate closely to your usual creative practice; it just needs to be something you’re interested in seeing or doing.
The point is to soak up and enjoy creative experiences that might just spark new creative ideas, or perhaps reinvigorate old ideas that have lost the sparkle that had you flying headfirst into them in the first place.
Now, I’ve known about creative dates for a while, but I’m a mum of two little kids, plus I’ve got this annoying little gremlin called anxiety that sometimes makes doing things on my own a little difficult.
I mean, there was a time when it was a battle to get out the door to go for a walk or go to the shops. I’d work my way up to getting dressed, then I’d sit on the stairs of my apartment with one shoe on, holding the other and trying to figure out how to put the other on and make my legs move towards the door then right out of it.
The thoughts would take over.
I’ll drive to the waterfront for a walk.
But what if there aren’t any parking spots?
Maybe I should just walk up the road …
Then you should take the dogs with you.
But then I’ll have to get their leads and harnesses on them and take poo bags but I don’t have any pockets.
You’ve got that bumbag you can take to put things in, remember?
But then I have to try to get into the lift without seeing anyone because there were some people who voted against us having dogs here and they might be nasty if they see me with the dogs and then the dogs might bark at them and I’ll be stressed before we even go on a walk, and oh … look at the time. It’s getting late and I should start making dinner.
The one shoe comes off and they both go back in the cupboard before I walk upstairs and curl up into a ball on the lounge before attempting to make dinner.
What I’m getting at is that it’s a BIG DEAL that I’ve reached this point where I actually want to go to things at all and even more so that I want to go ON MY OWN. (Don’t get me wrong, I do still have days where I feel anxious, but it’s mostly manageable.)
I know that might all sound ridiculous to some of you, but it was reality for me and I know it’s like that for others like me too. It’s hard to be like that and hard to push past it.
So as I already mentioned, a solo creative date is a BIG DEAL for me, so here’s how it all went down.
I’d been wanting to see a Bangarra Dance Theatre performance for a long while now, so when I saw their production called Yuldea pop up at a theatre near me, I knew I had to go. I invited my sisters but they dogged me – kidding, well, they did dog me, but they had good reasons to not be able to attend, so we won’t hold it against them.
In the past, I would’ve just left it at that and not attended. But this is the new, brave me, remember? So I bought a lone ticket for yours truly.
I was excited, a teensy bit anxious, but mostly excited. I had to get my husband and kids to help me decide what to wear (green skirt, but one with sparkle or the satiny one? Should I wear my Clothing the Gaps shirt or just a plain black tee with my black denim jacket that has my Aboriginal pins?). Decisions, decisions.
I dressed up, I did my makeup and I felt good – all just for me.
The show was either completely sold out or very nearly. So when I arrived, the foyer was noisy and packed with people, but that didn’t bother me one bit because for once I didn’t have to almost yell at my companion/s over the noise.
I lined up, purchased a drink and waited patiently to take my seat. I felt calm and content as I looked at the art on the walls and did some people-watching.
The performance itself was POWERFUL.
It was a moving depiction of the effects of colonisation and the displacement of the Aṉangu people of the Great Victorian Desert.
One particular scene that I can’t get out of my head had three dancers in chains trying to break free. They kept being pulled back as they surged forward, with other dancers trying to help free them. It was painful and moving to witness.
At the end we see the Aṉangu people endure. There is hope and determination in amongst the pain of the past.
Nearing the end I thought, ‘I’m going to give a standing ovation and I don’t care if I’m the only one doing so.’ I’d already figured out in my head how I’d have to drop my bag on the ground in front of me and place my bottle down underneath my seat while I stood and clapped as loudly as possible.
But I needn’t have worried. Others beat me to it and were on their feet immediately with the whole theatre rising to join them.
As I walked out, my heart felt full overhearing the voices of attendees around me exclaiming how incredible it was.
It was a moving and powerful work that had the dancers leaving nothing behind. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.
What a way to spend my very first creative date. I left feeling incredibly inspired, and the biggest takeaway for me in terms of my own creativity was to push my own work and leave nothing behind when I write or draw. Let it be authentic, real, and honest, and straight from the heart.
Now I want to hear from you. Have you ever been on a creative date? If so, what did you do? I’d love some ideas on what to do next. If you haven’t been on a creative date before, what would you like to do?
Before I say goodbye, there are now paid monthly, yearly and founding member subscription options that include a free piece of my art. A print for monthly and yearly subscribers and an original for founding members. But if you can’t upgrade to a paid subscription, no worries. My posts are still free and I appreciate you being here and reading or listening as I navigate my way through life and publishing and all the rest.
Here’s the witchy art piece I sent out to my first paid subscriber:
That’s all for today.
Yanu!
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I acknowledge the Darkinyung people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which I live and work, and I pay my respects to the Elders past and present.
Your solo date sounds a huge success! It was lovely to read about it! I completely identify with everything you said about sitting with one shoe on and thoughts taking over, that happens to me too. It was inspiring to read how well your date went xx
Thanks so much for the shout-out! It will come as no surprise to know that I love a creative date. My last one was to the Kandinsky exhibition at AGNSW. :-)