Life Lessons | Entertainment
Great Fatherly Advice from James Taylor
If your goal is to be on stage, understand what you’re getting into
I grew up listening to and singing along with James Taylor and Carly Simon. In an interview, their son Ben Taylor (who was on tour with his talented father at the time) said this about getting into the music/entertainment business:
“My dad let me know that it’s a blue-collar job, that the glamour of it is largely created by the media.”
I was struck by the spot-on accuracy of that remark.
I’ve ghostwritten for people who are celebrities in the business and information products world. In that capacity, I’m often involved in what goes on behind the scenes.
I also frequently talk with my clients’ fans, and it’s clear to me that most of those fans have no idea how much work is involved in being the person on stage.
The successful speakers/performers make it look absolutely effortless.
Years ago, a business seminar speaker (a colleague of one of my clients) suggested to me that I might want to transition from ghostwriter to speaker myself. Even though I took it as a compliment, my response was:
“I don’t want to do that — you guys have to work too hard.”
He was surprised because the vast majority of the students in his seminars have visions of being the star on stage but really have no idea what’s required to get there.
He said, “Are you just saying that, or do you really know what it takes?” I assured him I really knew.
In spite of the bright lights, expensive cars, and designer clothes, James Taylor nailed it:
It’s a blue-collar job.
It’s long days and late nights, lots of grueling travel, and missing a lot of special times at home. It’s studying and practicing. It’s countless hours of rehearsing and more rejection than the human ego is designed to take.
If you have dreams of being on stage (whether in a theater, convention hall, on television, in the movies, or elsewhere) as an entertainer, business leader, or whatever, I wish you all the best.
Just be sure you go into it with your eyes open and your feet firmly on the ground, because you’ll be spending a lot more time backstage than on stage — and the spotlight can be a lonely place if you haven’t prepared for it.
A version of this article was originally published on my site at CreateTeachInspire.com. You can reach me there or email me at [email protected].
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