What Was It That I Forgot?
I pride myself on my professionalism with my clients; such things as prompt communication, keeping agreements and showing up for gigs with plenty of time to handle production are something to which I pay attention.
When I was in my mid-twenties I started getting work performing for associations and companies after having spent many years honing my show as a street performer.
One evening I was sitting at home, had just eaten, and was about 20 minutes into a good movie when the phone rang. It was the catering director of a local hotel that had hired me for one of their customers, kindly informing that the event had started 30 minutes ago. I had signed a contract months prior, it was on my calendar, I had just 100% plain forgot that I had the job. "I'll be right there," I stammered while hanging up the phone, already scrambling for props, equipment, show clothes, etc. I still had to get it all into the car, drive downtown in evening traffic, find parking downtown, get all my equipment to the ballroom and set up.
The whole way to the hotel my mind raced for good excuses that would somehow make me look less unprofessional. Arriving at the hotel I decided there was only one option, to be honest about my mistake and hope for understanding.
I had been in such a dash to get there and get performing I never had time to look at the contract in my bag. Just before stepping into the ballroom to slide into the flow of the event, the catering director approached me in the service corridor with the client. Before I could apologize the client welcomed me with a big, warm smile and a gentle handshake, and then thanked me for coming. She was extremely spacious and gracious and not a word ensued about my late arrival.
It wasn't until I was actually in the ballroom over-filling water glasses for effect that I saw the banner hanging over the front podium. It read, "Alzheimer's Society Annual Fundraiser."
All the jokes I'd ever made or heard about this disease echoed back to me and all I was left with was the tenderness and acceptance of this person who worked for those with a serious disability. Clearly I didn't have Alzhiemer's, but this was someone who had practiced patient, tolerance and acceptance in her life and it showed. I've always looked for ways to get attention in my life, (thus the career choice), but as I have aged the things that truly stand out are such simple acts of kindness, generosity and compassion.
If only I could just remember that when it counts.
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Rick Lewis has been entertaining and inspiring audiences for the last 30 years. The success of The World's Funniest Waiter over the years is based on clean, interactive comedy and high-level circus skills.
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Quotable
“Humor is an affirmation of dignity, a declaration of man's superiority to all that befalls him.”
Romain Gary
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