The Art of Entertaining

"There is no such thing as failure, there are only experiences and how we respond to them" 

-Anonymous 

On Thursday September 15, 2011 my journey began. I drove cross country, 2,015 miles in my 98 Honda Civic for four days. Everyday that past in my car grew my excitement greater and greater to live out my dream in Los Angeles. Launching out of the windy city of Chicago, I drove through a farm in Omaha, Nebraska, into the beautiful mountains of Denver, down through the valley of New Mexico and finally over to Los Angeles.

The land of my dreams could not look any better, her perfect weather clothed me, her mountain view changed my perspective, her love for art painted my future, and her heart....well her heart was full of passion. She inspired me everyday, pushed me to become more than what I was and all that I can be. I never knew how great my love for art was until she disclosed it. Sinking in the depths of my own dreams I became more passionate and more eager to live out the purpose in which I have been made for. I had a new found love, but as we all know with any true love vulnerability and risk makes themselves fit right at home.

Although, I was aware of the risks that came with leaving my comfort zone, I was not prepared for the strength of the storm that was going to hit. Upon my arrival in LA I immediately began the search for a job and very quickly did I find out that the cut-throat competition was not going to make it easy. As time went by and my saved funds rapidly dried out, my situation went from affordable to desperate. Watching the numbers in my bank account decrease to the amount of just 37 cents, skipping meals for the sake of saving a dollar or two, and maxing out my financial debt drowned my heart in despair. This new love had stripped me of everything I had. I knew I was near the bottom of the ocean when the pressure sat heavy on my shoulders and I had no room to breathe. Life changes when you seriously contemplate living out of your car....when you feel like no one is willing to reach out and help you.......and with nothing on the table my hunger grew drastically.

My passion became unstoppable and my dedication faced my fears. I saw a few street performers on Hollywood Boulevard and immediately placed myself in their shoes. I thought back to an earlier time in Los Angeles when I attended Wayne Brady's show, "Lets Make a Deal," dressed as Michael Jackson. During the commercial breaks they would have mini dance parties and the name "MICHAEL MICHAEL MICHAEL" was chanted during any of his songs. As I took the stage every time people were cheering and encouraging me. Along with every eye focused on me I was not aware that Wayne Brady was also watching through the monitors in the back, as he returned to the stage he looked at me and said, "That Michael Jackson was hot" Recalling this memory made me think if someone like Wayne Brady was impressed by my dancing, then I can use it to make money like these other performers.

The desire to street perform was not an epiphany I had, but it was birthed out of despair and desperation. The very next day I spent my last 20 bucks to buy small speakers, at this point I knew I had nothing left but I had everything to gain. With that mentality I appeared on Hollywood Boulevard and danced..and danced...and danced....until my legs hurt and my feet could no longer stand. As I counted my money at the end of the day, I made 37 dollars.....and my heart sunk. I laid out on my bed discouraged due to the fact that I barely made any money in 5 hours of heavy labor. But with nothing else to lean on and no other source of income I had no choice but to return. For about two weeks I performed in Hollywood, and everyday became a greater challenge. People seem to give less and critique more. If I had the choice to not street perform I would do it. The negative criticism shouted towards me were not worth the 20 to 30 dollars I was making, but the daily meal provided with that money made me come back the following day.

Still, with no luck in the job field I took it upon myself to study and understand the true art of entertaining people. I drove to any location I could find a street performer. I watched them show after show, I studied the things they would say. I broke down how they would grab the crowds attention. I took note of their style, I counted the hundreds of dollars some would make. I saw everything that they were doing right and that I was doing wrong and took it back to the drawing board. I erased everything I had done and started building again. After another week or two, I had put together my first official street performing show and took it to 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica Beach. With great excitement I set up my equipment and turned on my music. A few people began to stop as I attempted to draw a large crowd. As I anxiously started my show, I noticed the crowd losing size. I became desperate and tried to switch up something in my small skit. But the more I tried to get participation from the crowd the more people would walk away. I could not understand it.....I had done the homework, I had set up a great show. When ever I showed my friends the show they would laugh and have a great time, but the moment I took it to the street it withered and died.

I thought I had seen worst, but that day....that day was depressing, I made zero dollars. I remember that ride home being extremely long. I wanted to give up on street performing. I wanted to just pack my bags and go back to my comfort zone, but I did not even have the money to do that. I was again left with no choice, but to rework my show and try it all over again, because it was all I had.

The video above has been my final product. It does not show my entire show, but it shows most of it. After so much trial and error I have put together a show where people stick around till the end and give me money willingly. While I am not where I want to be in street performing I am a lot further than what I was. My crowd increases with every show, and I can actually make over 100 dollars in three hours. Nothing to make me rich and nothing to boast about, but something to say "I can do this."

Nothing in this world comes easy, nothing is just handed over to you. Hard work is demanded as the soul source of pursuing your dreams. This is only part of my story, this is only one example of persevering through life's curve balls in light of living out my purpose. My goal and vision is to tell my whole story through my show, "Who I am" through the elements of art: Dance, acting, and live painting.

Thank you so much for reading this blog, may God bless you and I hope to hear from you.