From the live stage with Patrick-Jude Oteh
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John Mayer was here July 19 to play on the night of tribute to the end of Michael Kaiser’s ‘Art In Crisis’ tour across America. He was here the night that Smokey Robinson performed and the second night that Branford Marsalis played. It was an awesome night to prove the resilience of artistes in the face of an economic gloom they never prepared for. The interest today, is John Mayer, and the lessons he holds for us and our youths.
For those familiar with his music, he is a terrific star! I must admit that I had not heard his music until he came here to perform. He is good and his guitar dexterity is effortless. He has a huge dose of humility. He is also very unassuming and quite young! He is the first to tell you that he dropped out of school after only one year at the Berkeley School of Music, and he hit the road with his guitar and then fame called. The fact that he dropped out of school, is very much of interest to us this week.
John Mayer knew that he was in a society that would respect him and his talents even if he did not get a degree. Today, he gives scholarships to thousands of students; he is a strong proponent of youth education; he regularly gives money in millions of dollars to charities dedicated to youths, and he gives time every year to go back to Berkeley to teach and inspire the students!
I did mention that there are lots of jobs in the theatre – our youths have no business roaming around the streets, or fighting battles they do not understand. Think of the possibilities – a youth with a guitar getting into the streets making music and years later he hits fame and money! It cannot be different at home. Think of our youths – jobless, aimless and desperate – let them channel all of that energy into the theatre as arts managers, actors, actresses, technicians, lighting designers, costumiers, make-up, fundraisers etc, and watch them bloom in a couple of years. I am willing to bet that they would produce plays and shows that would rival any on Broadway. They have the will, they have the energy and they have the zest. I am willing to bet on this.
A lot of our financiers – big men and women – live only for themselves and the generations yet unborn hence they amass stupendous wealth. It does not take so much to invest in the lives of these young men and women and I know it will not be a wasted investment. Sometimes, it can be painful when one finds out that no one is willing to take me up on these bets. We are all very busy debating zoning! It is regrettable that the time we would have used in getting over 500 youths trained in theatre arts, we spend it debating and tongue-lashing about zoning. We are not talking academics here, but pure rudimentary hands on experience.
There are so many John Mayer’s out there at home waiting to be nudged in the right direction and I know they will soar. According to John Mayer after a soul inspiring performance with the 100 persons National Symphony Orchestra, “each child in America should be given an orchestra.” This was a joke, but the message was simply, give them the opportunity and watch them soar!
The unbelievable thing about the human spirit lies in the fact that most of us do not know what we are capable of achieving until we put our hands to the plough. It is so simple, really. How many of us believe that acting is innate? It is and it is real. You will understand what I am talking about if you see John Mayer play and talk; the passion with which he talks about youth empowerment is in us, and we have that passion and the people. Let us help to get these young men and women off the streets. Put them on stage in the theatre and their lives will never be the same. It is possible.
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