Vertigo
July 23, 2025·5 comments·In Brief
The piece uses a Béla Fleck concert as a lens for a deeper question: when reality and the story collide mid-performance, what do you protect? Most moments of public vertigo force a choice between acknowledging what's wrong or preserving the narrative. But some people navigate it differently, and understanding how they do it matters more than ever.
- Sound failures aren't just technical problems. When a once-in-a-lifetime performance becomes inaudible, the moment of vertigo arrives: fix the broken experience or maintain the perfect story about what should be happening.
- The socially networked world pushes toward extremes. We swing between obsession with powerful narratives and obsession with scientific precision. Most people and institutions choose one or the other.
- Fleck had what most don't: reserves of trust and competence. He could acknowledge the problem subtly, adjust course mid-performance, and make people feel part of a raw living moment instead of a managed narrative.
- Integrity isn't about choosing story or reality. It's about building the kind of reputation and skill that lets you protect both without sacrifice. The audience felt it, which made the authenticity even stronger.
- The vertigo is everywhere now. Every leader, performer, and institution faces this choice constantly. The question isn't whether you can avoid the moment. It's whether you've spent years building what you need to navigate it.
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