I found this post about leadership and producing musicals on one of my favourite blogs - Ken Davenport commenting on how important it is for a producer to have a clear and unshakeable vision.
Having been employed in two of Cameron Macintosh's productions I witnessed first hand, the charisma of Cameron's leadership. He is indeed a powerful leader who cares about his shows, his organisation and most of all his people.
Before fulfilling my life long dream to become an actor I had my own brush with leadership in my younger days as the proprietor of hair and beauty salons. I came to understand (to my cost) how a vision also requires the leader's energy and attitude to be clear and present at all times. If not always in person then in communications that support a shared commitment.
While I had built a very successful business based on my values, ideas and beliefs about 'Hair in the 80s' ( my apologies to anyone I may have offended at the time ) and attracted some very talented people who liked the vibe I was creating, I eventually made a foolish mistake. I thought that after five years of successful trading I could go off and follow the various impulses that distracted me in my twenties and leave my businesses to function under various talented and loyal managers.
However hair and beauty is a very personal business and I quickly discovered that as my name was above the door, (literally) it became the brand and therefore clients wanted to know that I was around. Needless to say that my decision to go off touring with a rock band for a year resulted in the steady decline of my business as the vision, confidence and energy faded in my absence. However if I knew then what I know.....blah...blah.
Anyway here is Ken Davenports short article on producing for theatre.
No comments:
Post a Comment