LESSONS FROM PRINCE AT PAISLEY PARK

Recently I was in Minneapolis teaching a class and had some time to kill before my flight home. It was just enough time for me to tour Prince’s studio (which was essentially his home too, especially during the last years of his life). The property was converted into a museum when he died in 2016.

Two things that I really love are music and learning about creative people who are masters at what they do; specifically, what they do to create. I was excited to gain insight into his legendary creative work and his creative space.

I wanted so badly to take photos of the tour, but it is not allowed. The museum still operates under the same rules Prince had when he was alive: No Photography, No Smoking, No Alcohol. Upon entering Paisley Park, I was greeted immediately and my phone was locked up. (Side note: The tour guide takes a photo of you in one of his recording studios, and they send it home with you on a flash drive. That’s how I got the photo above.)

Prince truly elevated his craft and was ahead of his time when it came to creating. (Although, it’s interesting to note that he used his analog studio to record because he felt the sound was better and more authentic, more like “real music,” as opposed to the new stuff being made by kids on their laptops.)

If I want to elevate my craft and come up with more creative ideas and solutions in my own profession, these are some of the things I learned from the tour.

1. Have a Space Where You Can Create.
Prince built his own recording studio, something that was not common at the time. It gave him a creative space which included several recording studios, recording equipment, a sound stage, and a dance rehearsal room (which also had a basketball hoop). It also had a meditation room, and a room to preview and edit film. It was originally a very industrial type space and Prince felt like it needed to be decorated to invite creativity. The main room was built as an atrium, so it was open, airy, and light. The atrium wall is painted with doves flying up to the glass ceiling, representing that the sky is the limit when you’re there. Everything Prince needed to be creative was at his fingertips. Literally everything. If he wanted to run a new show by an audience, he would put out notice and invite the people of Minneapolis to come on a first come, first served basis. This way, he could test out new music or a new idea for a concert and put on a show there. He even had a small club where people could come and dance. If guests stayed long enough, they would see him perform. At any moment inspiration hit him, he could work on a project right then and there. His space inspired me.

2. Be Fearless.
How was Prince fearless? He spent money building his own studio. He came up with an idea to get out of the contract with his record label. He probably knew everyone would think he was crazy, but it worked. He came up with ideas and followed through with them. Rather than relocating to Los Angeles or New York, he kept his residence and his work space in the state where he grew up. Not very many people do that, even to this day. Prince also owned his own music. He found a way to have control over how his music was released, even before streaming was a thing. An example of his fearlessness was when he was preparing to perform at the Super Bowl and it was raining. A lot of artists would be afraid of slipping or falling, harming their equipment, or many other things that could go wrong during a rain storm. When asked what he wanted to do in the situation, he replied, “Can we make it rain harder?” He knew how cool it would be to sing Purple Rain with the rain pouring down. And it was. I’m sure there were times when Prince felt fear or doubt, but he clearly fought through those times and created anyway.

3. Always Be Creating.
Prince said, “Art is about building a new foundation, not just laying something on top of what’s already there.” Prince created so much that he had the equivalent of having written a song a day. He has enough material to release 100 albums. He has lyrics on scratch paper and notebooks. He has sketches of his outfits for his concerts and performances. He has drawings of inspiration for his movies. His studio is filled with content. He was practicing his craft every single day. He didn’t stop even when he could have. He kept on creating. But it wasn’t just music. He was creating in other ways too; Designing how he wanted his studio to be, his wardrobe, his piano, writing screenplays, etc. On the tour, I was allowed to hear a clip of something he was working on before he passed, and it had a cool vibe. His unique style, but different. I wish he would have been able to finish it.

4. Be a Student.
Prince studied many different styles of music. He studied funk, rock, R&B, pop, soul, blues, jazz, and psychedelic. He was then able to use these influences when he was creating his own music. He learned how to record his own material. He learned how to play different instruments. He studied contracts and law. He was constantly learning and observing things around him. He clearly observed relationships. He also studied religion and philosophy. That was very apparent in his art. His artwork on his albums had symbolism. His songs contained symbolism. His studio décor and the paintings on the walls contain symbolism. Knowledge helped him break boundaries, create, and become a master at his craft.

5. Give Back with Gratitude.
Prince gave back to the community that he lived in. He supported music programs and schools. He donated money to many causes. He supported businesses in the area. He supported his fans. He invited them into his home. He shared his talent with them and appreciated the gifts that he received from them. He said, “Every day I feel is a blessing from God. And I consider it a new beginning.” Prince not only developed himself as an artist, but he helped other artists along the way. I believe if you are generous with your talents and are grateful for the gifts that you have, you become increasingly better.

I came back very inspired and with a desire to continue to master my craft and to constantly be creating and improving. If you are ever in the Minneapolis area, I hope you get to tour Paisley Park.

“To create something from nothing is one of the greatest feelings, and I would… wish it on everybody. It’s heaven.” -Prince