In 1970, Alvin Toffler wrote a pop-culture hit book, Future Shock.

In a fairly schlocky ‘70s documentary special that attempted to define the title, host Orson Welles called it “A sickness that comes from too much change in too short a period of time, a feeling that nothing is permanent anymore.” Or “A reaction of changes that happen so fast that we can’t absorb them…the premature arrival of the future.”

In the past, we’ve thought and assumed that human beings require some sense of stability in order to function properly in society, plan for the future—indeed, to be able to comprehend what may be “coming around the bend.”

But Toffler’s thesis was published almost 50 years ago, and in that half century, what’s happened is that stability as the human condition basically doesn’t exist. The mantra is now “adjust—and have a good time doing it—or die.”

Long-time readers of OffBeat know that the magazine first came into being as a newsprint edition that was, shall we say, pretty unfocused, and it remained that way until yours truly and her staff sort of figured it out. We’ve always been very music-centric, because that’s always been my passion and if you can’t follow your passion, then what is life about? (thank you, Joseph Campbell). As time went on, we added more elements of what comprises the appeal not only of New Orleans, but of the rest of the state of Louisiana: food, culture, art, and frankly, an attempt to capture the joie de vivre of being able to reside in such a culturally rich environment. We love it, and we want you to love it and appreciate it as much as we do.

But—things change. This became most evident to me when OffBeat‘s original long-time staff members started to move on to other things (e.g., Alex Oliver—who developed OffBeat’s first web site and eventually joined the newly formed Nola.com; Keith Spera moved to the Times-Pic; Scott Jordan left for Gambit). I realized then that I had to adjust my expectations on how the magazine operated, and that change was not only inevitable, but had to be accounted for, mixed into the equation, and welcomed with open arms.

So when Oliver, bless his little geeky heart, convinced me to hire him to create a website, I never dreamed how much it would change the structure of OffBeat. But from then on, I’ve never looked back. Change is good; changes presents new possibilities, if you’re willing to jump through the window of opportunity and take a chance. Moreover, change is crucial to staying in business, especially in media, which has probably been affected by the impact of the internet second only to the impact felt by the entertainment industry…and interestingly, OffBeat has its foot in both worlds.

It was easy to see the changes coming in the music business. That world was not only put on its head, it was turned into a whirling dervish of activities that spun off all kinds of businesses, similar to a kitchen mixer whose beaters spin off blobs of cake batter. Some stick to the sides of the bowl, some splatter all over your apron, some stay in the bowl and create the basis of a cake.

So on to Napster, iTunes, Spotify, and god knows what will happen next. I’m waiting for the chip they can install in my head where I can download music (wirelessly, of course) and somehow keep all my favorite tunes in my head, ready to be switched on in the blink of an eyeball. It’s coming…!

It’s kind of exciting isn’t it? But then, I dig on change.

Of course, it’s scary too (I’m an adrenaline junkie, so that’s one explanation for my being somewhat of a geek). Scary is good. It means you’re trying something that’s risky and potentially rewarding. If it fails, well, then you start over with something different, or you pick up the pieces and you move on, hopefully to something better and even more rewarding.

OffBeat aspires to be on the cutting edge of technology. We have big ideas, my staff and I! Unfortunately, we’re always constrained by resources, just as any business is.

But underlying our affinity for technological change, is the basis of where our passion lies: music, an art form that’s based in emotional appeal.

We’re dedicated to keeping the emotional fire of our music and culture alive, kicking, and changing. Long may it live…changing technology and all.