What a beautiful, intimate event we had last September 25th at ESPIGA with the talented GUSTAVO COSTA! Thanks to everyone who contributed to a very pleasant mornings.

Gustavo Costa is a musician and entrepreneur. He is currently working on his PhD on Digital Media and working full-time at SONOSCOPIA, a cultural association he founded with friends in 2011. Gustavo graduated in Production and Music Technologies, concluded a Post Graduation course in Sonology, and completed a Masters Degree in Composition and Music Theory. He also has a professional degree in Percussion. 

Considering September’s theme, Empathy, we created name-tags for everyone with the question: What does it mean to put yourself in “someone else’s shoes”? 

and we got some interesting answers

We try to adapt our name-tags to each monthly theme so they become part of the event in a more significant way. We are very happy to see some our attendees actually collecting them!

The event began with delicious and much needed coffee right from the expresso machine, fresh bread, orange juice and amazing home-made cookies… all courtesy of ESPIGA! Thanks Hugo and Inês!

Due to few attendees and speaker’s preferences this particular event turn into a very comfortable and intimate encounter. Gustavo was very approachable, and suggested we all sat around a table instead of seating in rows of chairs in front of him (good call Gustavo).

Gustavo spoke about creative freedom. He talked honestly about his work experience, about some of the difficulties of his everyday creative atmosphere and pose some interesting questions.

Gustavo talked about some of the problems that creative people face. We all have to pay rent, or a mortgage.. we all have basic expenses and probably we all have jobs, some of which we do not enjoy, to be able to pay for those things and we constantly postpone, in favour of those paying jobs, doing other things that could be more fulfilling for us and that could eventually give us money. 

He said he is now doing what he loves, and working with talented people whose company he enjoys. 

Gustavo said that when he reached what he thought was a utopia, was something unreachable, he immediately began searching for more. I remember a phrase that said “The day I knew all the answers someone change the questions” because I agree with Gustavo… as we slowly reach the goal we had set for ourselves we are also slowly altering what we want, because our life changes, the world changes and the goal we set for a “future"may not be suitable for our future self. (but this is just me talking…)

Gustavo’s words generated a lovely discussion about music, life, challenges…

Some attendees worked doing what they loved, some others felt they had to adapt. We actually love when people take notes, because we feel that theses event actually leave a lot of food for thought. 

Now I will leave you with a little bit of what I am talking about as I close this post. Thank you very much Gustavo for your wonderful presence and for sharing with us.

(Photographs by Filipe Brandão)