I saw two musical performances recently. Each performance had one song that didn’t receive any applause.

It’s an odd thing. Someone plays to an audience ... and no one claps.

What’s an artist to do? Say, “This is where you clap”?

No. The musician plays the next song. Maybe noting, “That song didn’t work so well,” but not stopping. Just moving on. Maybe it’s a little like stand-up comedy in that way.

And like the musicians and comics, we do the same. When our work doesn’t resonate with those we seek to serve, we create more work. Better work, if we can.

Applause or not ... we play the next song.