POWER TRIPPING
“I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind…………… Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.” Eccl. 1:14 & Eccl. 12:14
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer
Since I was 15 years old, I spent my life chasing the elusive dreams of show business. I started out as a guitar player and then moved up (or down depending on your perspective) to a Front of House sound mixer, and later to a Production mgr and Tour mgr. I have a very strong resume that includes handling some of the most popular music acts in the business. I was one of the lucky ones out there, I realized early in my career, through a series of failures and some wins, that real success was being content in the state I was in (no pun intended) and that is a lesson I am still learning. It’s an understatement, but bears repeating, show business is just a job, and no more or no less important then any other career out there. If you are a shoe salesman, be at the top of your field. If you are a musician or actor, fine tune your craft until you hit “substantial” perfection. I am convinced we are all born with a calling that is unique, and until we understand that, we will always be chasing the wind. I had a friend, Ken Marquis, that was a very successful bloke, who went to India to work w/ Sister Teresa back in the day. He told me what I have heard since then from countless others, that he had never met anyone happier and more content than Sister Teresa, who was working in one of the darkest and, from the outside, most depressing corners in the world.
What has always amazed me is the arrogance and power tripping that goes on in the entertainment industry. Malcomb Muggeridge, the famous commentator, referred to it as the “roots of power itself, and the fearful passion men have to dominate other men”. After spending most of my life in this business, I have a very clear understanding of what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said so well “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” What’s interesting to me is that the amateurs are the people who I typically have difficulty with, those who have the least talent or skill. These people often come hand in hand with monster egos and bad attitudes, while those at the top of their game, (usually), have a healthy sense of humility. Funny how it turns out that the very people I would have over for Sunday brunch are the likes of Garth Brooks, Donny Osmond, Lionel Richie, Jon and Tim Foreman (Switchfoot), Barry McGuire, Cliff Richards, Linda Ronstadt, ,…………………
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