Have you ever been to a therapist? You know, one of those people who asks you annoying questions that are supposed to somehow make you feel better. Or, maybe they give you wise words of encouragement that leave you ready to take on your next challenge. (And then you get the bill.)
How about a coach? A life coach, or a business coach, or any other kind of personal coach? Basically the same thing, minus the degree. (Go ahead, bash me for that.) Oh, and the pricing structure is a bit different. Note I didn’t say it was less expensive, just different. A therapist typically charges by the session (30 minutes, 60 minutes…) Coaches typically sign you up for some length of time (1 month, 3 months, a year…) You’re on the hook, whether you make use of their service or not.
Both coaches and therapists provide the same basic service. They help you through your tough times and push you to move ahead in your life. Yea, I know, that’s a grand simplification. Too bad. Both can provide a great service if you hook up with the right one. But, don’t stop there.
When you are launching and running your own business, it is important to have people you can bounce ideas off of. Some people can get this from their families. Most of us can’t – especially those of us in the entertainment industry. You can try your regular set of friends, but more likely than not, they’re just not going to understand. Most of them probably have “real” jobs. They won’t be able to understand how hard this can really be. After all, when you’re on stage and people are falling out of their seats laughing, it all looks so easy.
I rely heavily on a small set of people who are also in this industry. BTW, I include comedians, magicians, jugglers, and public speakers here, not just ventriloquists. Some of my group are local, some are not. The one common thing between us all is that we support each other without question and without any exchange of money. Some days I’m drawing heavily on my support group, sucking all of the strength I can get. Some days it’s my turn to give. Some days it’s time to turn on the firehose and spray someone extra heavily.
One of my local groups actually calls our times together “therapy”. We get together on a semi-regular basis over coffee or lunch or whatever. We share our status, our fears, our successes, and our dreams. We pat each other on the back, kick each other in the rear end, or whatever is needed.
Another of my friends lives several states away. We mostly communicate via email. He’s been in the business much longer than I have and he’s provided me with incredible support and encouragement. Lately he’s been struggling with a particular long-running gig. It’s my turn to send hope and encouragement his way. Were he to share his complaints with someone outside the industry, he’d most likely hear comments like, “Hey, you’re working aren’t you?”, “What’s your problem?”, or “Suck it up!” Only a fellow traveler in this space can relate to the inner demons that come out to play.
The point I’m trying to make here is whatever you’re doing, don’t go it alone. Reach out to others in your field. Find people who are at a similar point on the journey. Find those who are farther along. And as you progress, offer your time to those who are following behind.
Go out and create your own therapy group.
