I am not ashamed of this, nor am I shy about bringing it up. As a matter of fact, I'm rather proud of it.
For the unenlightened, a Brony is a fan (either young or old) of the Hub network cartoon, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. The show itself features colorful cartoon horses who live their everyday lives, who heroically triumph over evil, who learn from their mistakes, and who help us understand how to better our own lives. The show has plot, character development and excellent comedic timing. The Bronies themselves draw inspiration from the show to live altruistic lives. Their motto is "Love and Tolerate."
Not a bad idea, if you ask me.
That's nice, you may think. But, honestly, what does a cartoon intended for little girls have to do with the creative field?
Glad you asked...
In the spirit of the old Warner Brothers cartoons, the writers and artists who create My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic do not necessarily make the cartoon for little girls. There is always a wink-and-nudge tone written for us "grown-ups." One such nod was meant for those of us who make our living through creativity. That episode is titled "Suited For Success."
This story centers on a pony (a unicorn, to be precise) named Rarity. Rarity is an admirable and generous pony who works as a fashion designer and seamstress. She has won a major fashion show in Manehattan, and holds smaller shows in her hometown, Ponyville. She owns and operates a business to sell her designs called The Carousel Boutique. And, she has clients.
In "Suited For Success," Rarity deals with a group of clients (her five friends), for whom she's made ball gowns for an upcoming ball. Her song, "The Art of The Dress" pretty much sums up the roller coaster ride we all face when creating for a client.
See it for yourself. Go ahead and watch it. I'll wait.
We are not alone, fellow artists. Even color cartoon characters have difficulty with clients.
Of course, at the end of the episode, her friends realize the skill and experience Rarity holds are what make good fashion sense. All ends well.
Not so much for real life outside of the animated world of Equestria. More often than not, our skill, expertise and years of education are pushed by the wayside by the client so that we will get paid for our efforts. It is a rare occasion that we have the trust and respect of our clientele. It's about as rare as... a unicorn.
Of course, not all clients are that way. Some do actually work with you, listening to ideas while truly understanding the technicality behind the work. They are a joy, and we cherish that relationship.
What of the others? All we can do is listen carefully to their needs and hope that all ends well.
Love and tolerate!
