Have you ever had the thought when hearing a piece of music “I could have done that”. Yep, but you didn’t, did you?” All you need is a good idea, the rest is just details. It is often repeated that Dolly Parton wrote Jolene and I Will Always Love You both on the same day. That would have been a very profitable day’s work if it were true, but the fact remains that once you have something good to work with, the rest is work as opposed to that most elusive thing - Inspiration.

In audio production, songwriting or music composition, creativity isn't just a desirable trait; it's the lifeblood of the industry. Yet, despite its importance, creativity remains an elusive concept.

The most enlightening, and entertaining breakdown of creativity has to be a lecture, first delivered in 1991 by John Cleese. In it he methodically explains the role of the two modes of working necessary for successful creative work - the open and closed modes, and introduces five conditions necessary for creativity to flourish. Unfortunately a video of the full lecture doesn’t seem to be available online, this short extract will have to suffice but if you want to read a full transcript one is available here

His lecture is based in the work of psychologist Donald MacKinnon who conducted groundbreaking research on creativity at Berkeley in the 1970s. His findings shed light on the nature of creativity, particularly that creativity is not simply a talent but a distinct mode of operation—a way of being.

Intelligent People Are No More Creative

One of MacKinnon's most striking revelations was the lack of correlation between creativity and IQ. Contrary to popular belief, the most creative individuals were not distinguished by their intelligence alone. Instead, they possessed an ability to immerse themselves in a particular mood—an open, playful state conducive to creative exploration.

This notion of playfulness is pivotal. MacKinnon likened the most creative minds to children at play, unrestrained by practical constraints and driven by curiosity. In this ‘open’ mode, creativity flourishes, free from the pressures and anxieties of its countertpart the ‘closed’ mode - the state in which most of us operate during our daily work.

Closed Vs Open

The closed mode is a necessary part of completing any work. It is characterised by purposefulness, urgency, and a narrow focus on tasks at hand. While this mode is necessary for implementation and execution, it stifles creativity.

In contrast, the open mode is marked by relaxation, expansiveness, and a playful demeanor. It is within this state that true creativity emerges, fueled by curiosity and uninhibited exploration. Being able to switch between these modes is crucial, yet many find themselves trapped in the closed mode, unable to access their creative potential. Because of this it is necessary to give oneself room to be open, to be creative.

Five Conditions Of Creativity

So, how can audio professionals break free from the confines of the closed mode and tap into their creative reservoirs? MacKinnon's insights offer valuable guidance in the form of five conditions which must be met. And we can manipulate our environment to make sure this happens without interruption and for as long as is necessary.

These five conditions are:

• Space: You can’t get into the right frame of mind if you allow the everyday distractions in. Create a quiet, undisturbed environment where creativity can thrive. Sealing yourself off from external pressures is essential for entering the open mode.

• Time: Allocate a specific period of time for creative exploration. Cleese recommends an hour and a half block. Knowing that you have dedicated time for creativity allows you to fully immerse yourself in the process without distractions. Too long and focus will inevitably wander but too short and there won’t be enough time to explore ideas.

• Time: But this time in a different way. Identify by when it is that the decision you are making has to be made by and use that available time to fully explore the possibilities. Rushing into an adequate idea will preclude a subsequent better idea which might have presented itself from being explored.

• Confidence: To overcome the fear of making mistakes. Embrace the freedom to explore unconventional ideas without judgement or self-doubt. This is something which is sometimes easier for the young and inexperienced to avoid. It is commonly held that many creative people have their best ideas when they are young. This might be due to more than just the fearlessness of youth. Novelist Kazuo Ishiguro suggested that as short term memory declines with age, we are unable to keep in our heads multiple, disparate pieces of information needed to synthesise something new. This is also why abuse of substances as part of the creative process is rarely very productive.

• Humour: Makes us playful and playing is central to creativity. Laughter relaxes the mind and fosters a conducive environment for innovation. Serious work can be done while still being fun. This is also a great reason to make creative sessions a group activity.

Inspiration Strikes But It Has To Find You Working…

This well known quote about the relationship between creativity and work is useful inb that it correctly identifies that fact that you have to work at being creative. But you also need to make space for it within your work time.

Pretty much by definition busy people have too much to do. The tasks which are most vulnerable to being crowded out by urgent but simple things like replying to emails are the poorly-defined, open-ended tasks like taking time to experiment, make connections and create something new.

The shouty, impatient part of ourselves will always dominate if we let it. But by cultivating the conditions conducive to creativity and embracing a playful mindset audio professionals can unlock their full creative potential and hopefully have an idea that someone who is too busy to actually have a good one of their own will hear and mutter “yeah, I could have done that…