The Intersection of Arts, Business and Community | Andrew McMasters | TEDxEverett

my name is Andrew masters and I am an

my name is Andrew masters and I am an actor I have a BA in theatre and I also

actor I have a BA in theatre and I also

actor I have a BA in theatre and I also have an MFA in drama and I know what

have an MFA in drama and I know what

have an MFA in drama and I know what you’re thinking that makes me completely

you’re thinking that makes me completely

you’re thinking that makes me completely unhireable

unhireable

unhireable and I get that that’s all right however

and I get that that’s all right however

and I get that that’s all right however what I do want to tell you my headshot

what I do want to tell you my headshot

what I do want to tell you my headshot what I do want to tell you is what I

what I do want to tell you is what I

what I do want to tell you is what I have learned through my training as an

have learned through my training as an

have learned through my training as an actor and my work as an actor and to

actor and my work as an actor and to

actor and my work as an actor and to begin with that I kind of have to tell

begin with that I kind of have to tell

begin with that I kind of have to tell the story about how I got into this when

the story about how I got into this when

the story about how I got into this when I was looking for colleges at that time

I was looking for colleges at that time

I was looking for colleges at that time my mother was working at a law firm in

my mother was working at a law firm in

my mother was working at a law firm in downtown Philadelphia and she came home

downtown Philadelphia and she came home

downtown Philadelphia and she came home and she said one of the lawyers there

and she said one of the lawyers there

and she said one of the lawyers there who was a partner in the firm had just

who was a partner in the firm had just

who was a partner in the firm had just up and quit just gave up the entire law

up and quit just gave up the entire law

up and quit just gave up the entire law firm and he went to go to work playing

firm and he went to go to work playing

firm and he went to go to work playing the tuba at the Philadelphia

the tuba at the Philadelphia

the tuba at the Philadelphia Philharmonic which was his life’s dream

Philharmonic which was his life’s dream

Philharmonic which was his life’s dream and she came to me and said you know if

and she came to me and said you know if

and she came to me and said you know if you don’t do what you want now it’s

you don’t do what you want now it’s

you don’t do what you want now it’s going to come back and find you so I put

going to come back and find you so I put

going to come back and find you so I put aside all the applications for colleges

aside all the applications for colleges

aside all the applications for colleges that I had for biomedical engineering

that I had for biomedical engineering

that I had for biomedical engineering and instead I looked at theater yay uh

and instead I looked at theater yay uh

and instead I looked at theater yay uh so but what have I learned from this and

so but what have I learned from this and

so but what have I learned from this and here’s the thing is by going to school

here’s the thing is by going to school

here’s the thing is by going to school for theater and learning and being an

for theater and learning and being an

for theater and learning and being an actor I’ve learned a couple of great

actor I’ve learned a couple of great

actor I’ve learned a couple of great lessons and one of the big lessons that

lessons and one of the big lessons that

lessons and one of the big lessons that I learned more than anything else is

I learned more than anything else is

I learned more than anything else is that action commit to action do it the

that action commit to action do it the

that action commit to action do it the joke that I will tell all the time

joke that I will tell all the time

joke that I will tell all the time around my office is how many actors is

around my office is how many actors is

around my office is how many actors is it take to screw in a light bulb

it take to screw in a light bulb

it take to screw in a light bulb six one to do it five to stand around

six one to do it five to stand around

six one to do it five to stand around and say I could have done it better if I

and say I could have done it better if I

and say I could have done it better if I be given a chance right if you want to

be given a chance right if you want to

be given a chance right if you want to screw in the light bulb screw in the

screw in the light bulb screw in the

screw in the light bulb screw in the light bulb commit to action

light bulb commit to action

light bulb commit to action the other one is expectations right no

the other one is expectations right no

the other one is expectations right no one is really going to give you anything

one is really going to give you anything

one is really going to give you anything you should be grateful for whatever you

you should be grateful for whatever you

you should be grateful for whatever you receive no one is going to hand you the

receive no one is going to hand you the

receive no one is going to hand you the light bulb to screw in if you want to

light bulb to screw in if you want to

light bulb to screw in if you want to screw in the light bulb do it yourself

screw in the light bulb do it yourself

screw in the light bulb do it yourself and the last one is a little bit

and the last one is a little bit

and the last one is a little bit difficult because you have chosen a

difficult because you have chosen a

difficult because you have chosen a profession that is very difficult to

profession that is very difficult to

profession that is very difficult to make a living so you’re going to have to

make a living so you’re going to have to

make a living so you’re going to have to work harder you’re going to have to work

work harder you’re going to have to work

work harder you’re going to have to work harder than your friends you’re going to

harder than your friends you’re going to

harder than your friends you’re going to have to constantly work to make this

have to constantly work to make this

have to constantly work to make this happen

happen

happen so with these ideas in mind I kind of

so with these ideas in mind I kind of

so with these ideas in mind I kind of thought to myself 1 what do you do

thought to myself 1 what do you do

thought to myself 1 what do you do I can sit around and I can wait for the

I can sit around and I can wait for the

I can sit around and I can wait for the phone to ring which is what a lot of

phone to ring which is what a lot of

phone to ring which is what a lot of actors will do or I could go out and I

actors will do or I could go out and I

actors will do or I could go out and I could actually make my own work and I

could actually make my own work and I

could actually make my own work and I figured if I make my own work then I get

figured if I make my own work then I get

figured if I make my own work then I get to control my own artistic future and my

to control my own artistic future and my

to control my own artistic future and my own financial future so at that time I

own financial future so at that time I

own financial future so at that time I actually created Jet City improv with my

actually created Jet City improv with my

actually created Jet City improv with my co-founder Mike Christensen this was

co-founder Mike Christensen this was

co-founder Mike Christensen this was 1992 we started the company with the

1992 we started the company with the

1992 we started the company with the whole idea of now we get to get on stage

whole idea of now we get to get on stage

whole idea of now we get to get on stage yay

yay

yay I’m an actor whoo all right and then we

I’m an actor whoo all right and then we

I’m an actor whoo all right and then we started doing shows every once in a

started doing shows every once in a

started doing shows every once in a while and then we did a couple shows a

while and then we did a couple shows a

while and then we did a couple shows a week and the next thing you know we’re

week and the next thing you know we’re

week and the next thing you know we’re doing more shows and more shows and more

doing more shows and more shows and more

doing more shows and more shows and more shows and currently we do 5 to 6 shows a

shows and currently we do 5 to 6 shows a

shows and currently we do 5 to 6 shows a week 52 weeks a year a lot of shows so

week 52 weeks a year a lot of shows so

week 52 weeks a year a lot of shows so after a while we’re doing so many shows

after a while we’re doing so many shows

after a while we’re doing so many shows and I started to learn something

and I started to learn something

and I started to learn something different

different

different which was about the improv work we were

which was about the improv work we were

which was about the improv work we were doing and that changed a little bit

doing and that changed a little bit

doing and that changed a little bit about how I thought about the world the

about how I thought about the world the

about how I thought about the world the main lessons that we talk about an

main lessons that we talk about an

main lessons that we talk about an improv all the time is that it is not

improv all the time is that it is not

improv all the time is that it is not about the individual my job is to make

about the individual my job is to make

about the individual my job is to make my scene partner look good if I’m making

my scene partner look good if I’m making

my scene partner look good if I’m making them look good than I’m doing my job and

them look good than I’m doing my job and

them look good than I’m doing my job and in fact it even goes so far as though if

in fact it even goes so far as though if

in fact it even goes so far as though if the audience laughed it’s something I

the audience laughed it’s something I

the audience laughed it’s something I said it wasn’t me it’s actually the fact

said it wasn’t me it’s actually the fact

said it wasn’t me it’s actually the fact that the rest of the team set me up so I

that the rest of the team set me up so I

that the rest of the team set me up so I could say that so it is about the group

could say that so it is about the group

could say that so it is about the group it’s not about the individual the other

it’s not about the individual the other

it’s not about the individual the other thing is is that I learned how to fully

thing is is that I learned how to fully

thing is is that I learned how to fully listen and listen completely not just

listen and listen completely not just

listen and listen completely not just with my ears but to listen with your

with my ears but to listen with your

with my ears but to listen with your entire body and then to be able to react

entire body and then to be able to react

entire body and then to be able to react to whatever I heard the next lesson is

to whatever I heard the next lesson is

to whatever I heard the next lesson is the big lesson in improv that we talked

the big lesson in improv that we talked

the big lesson in improv that we talked about and it’s the ability to once I

about and it’s the ability to once I

about and it’s the ability to once I hear something how do I accept that

hear something how do I accept that

hear something how do I accept that offer and then how do I build on it and

offer and then how do I build on it and

offer and then how do I build on it and the shorthand for that is yes and how do

the shorthand for that is yes and how do

the shorthand for that is yes and how do I hear the offer how do I accept it how

I hear the offer how do I accept it how

I hear the offer how do I accept it how do I build on it and the last one I

do I build on it and the last one I

do I build on it and the last one I think is the one that is the most

think is the one that is the most

think is the one that is the most difficult at times and it’s that

difficult at times and it’s that

difficult at times and it’s that everything is an offer how

everything is an offer how

everything is an offer how I feel about what happened that’s my own

I feel about what happened that’s my own

I feel about what happened that’s my own judgment if it happened it’s real

judgment if it happened it’s real

judgment if it happened it’s real I can either accept it or I can block it

I can either accept it or I can block it

I can either accept it or I can block it and that’s my choice so with these ideas

and that’s my choice so with these ideas

and that’s my choice so with these ideas in mind we’re doing comedy whoo

in mind we’re doing comedy whoo

in mind we’re doing comedy whoo um things started to change a little bit

um things started to change a little bit

um things started to change a little bit and about this time the company pivoted

and about this time the company pivoted

and about this time the company pivoted uh we got addressed by one of our

uh we got addressed by one of our

uh we got addressed by one of our performers who said I heard about this

performers who said I heard about this

performers who said I heard about this camp at that time it was run by the

camp at that time it was run by the

camp at that time it was run by the Northwest burn foundation it was called

Northwest burn foundation it was called

Northwest burn foundation it was called camp I absurd and it’s for kids who have

camp I absurd and it’s for kids who have

camp I absurd and it’s for kids who have been severely burned and so he said we

been severely burned and so he said we

been severely burned and so he said we should go out and we should do a show

should go out and we should do a show

should go out and we should do a show for these kids we thought okay that’s a

for these kids we thought okay that’s a

for these kids we thought okay that’s a great idea so we contacted the camp and

great idea so we contacted the camp and

great idea so we contacted the camp and they sat us down and said moon you’re

they sat us down and said moon you’re

they sat us down and said moon you’re doing improv let me tell you the things

doing improv let me tell you the things

doing improv let me tell you the things you shouldn’t say and they listed all

you shouldn’t say and they listed all

you shouldn’t say and they listed all this stuff we shouldn’t say we said okay

this stuff we shouldn’t say we said okay

this stuff we shouldn’t say we said okay great

great

great and we walked out in front of a large

and we walked out in front of a large

and we walked out in front of a large group of kids and of course it’s improv

group of kids and of course it’s improv

group of kids and of course it’s improv so we asked for suggestions from the

so we asked for suggestions from the

so we asked for suggestions from the audience so we said okay give me

audience so we said okay give me

audience so we said okay give me something that you see lying around the

something that you see lying around the

something that you see lying around the house and the kids at the burn camp said

house and the kids at the burn camp said

house and the kids at the burn camp said matches yeah

so we’re like okay um give me something

so we’re like okay um give me something you see every single day and they said

you see every single day and they said

you see every single day and they said fire men so yeah we got a little freaked

fire men so yeah we got a little freaked

fire men so yeah we got a little freaked out and at that point though we realized

out and at that point though we realized

out and at that point though we realized that again the show isn’t about us right

that again the show isn’t about us right

that again the show isn’t about us right the show is about them and the show is

the show is about them and the show is

the show is about them and the show is for them we had to let go of our plan

for them we had to let go of our plan

for them we had to let go of our plan and we had to do what we needed to do

and we had to do what we needed to do

and we had to do what we needed to do for this audience and once we did that

for this audience and once we did that

for this audience and once we did that the show worked out beautifully we have

the show worked out beautifully we have

the show worked out beautifully we have done that camp every year since that

done that camp every year since that

done that camp every year since that time this led to us doing other camps

time this led to us doing other camps

time this led to us doing other camps and then finally going to a homeless

and then finally going to a homeless

and then finally going to a homeless shelter one of our board members was

shelter one of our board members was

shelter one of our board members was involved in a homeless shelter and said

involved in a homeless shelter and said

involved in a homeless shelter and said you should come into a show and I said

you should come into a show and I said

you should come into a show and I said well what if we come in into a workshop

well what if we come in into a workshop

well what if we come in into a workshop so we walked in and here’s an entire

so we walked in and here’s an entire

so we walked in and here’s an entire group of kids their hoodie pulled down

group of kids their hoodie pulled down

group of kids their hoodie pulled down over their eyes looking down and we

over their eyes looking down and we

over their eyes looking down and we started to play some games and by the

started to play some games and by the

started to play some games and by the end of about an hour their eyes were up

end of about an hour their eyes were up

end of about an hour their eyes were up and they’re smiling and they’re laughing

and they’re smiling and they’re laughing

and they’re smiling and they’re laughing and they’re making eye contact with

and they’re making eye contact with

and they’re making eye contact with people and and so I thought to myself

people and and so I thought to myself

people and and so I thought to myself wow in the space of an hour we were able

wow in the space of an hour we were able

wow in the space of an hour we were able to do that for some kids I mean if

to do that for some kids I mean if

to do that for some kids I mean if that’s possible what else is possible so

that’s possible what else is possible so

that’s possible what else is possible so that led us to then start working at the

that led us to then start working at the

that led us to then start working at the juvenile detention facility we started

juvenile detention facility we started

juvenile detention facility we started working with incarcerated youth at the

working with incarcerated youth at the

working with incarcerated youth at the King County juvenile detention facility

King County juvenile detention facility

King County juvenile detention facility and we went in and did weekly classes

and we went in and did weekly classes

and we went in and did weekly classes and again a hard sell because I go to my

and again a hard sell because I go to my

and again a hard sell because I go to my teaching artists and say hey we’re gonna

teaching artists and say hey we’re gonna

teaching artists and say hey we’re gonna go to prison right one of my instructors

go to prison right one of my instructors

go to prison right one of my instructors loved to tell the story about a game

loved to tell the story about a game

loved to tell the story about a game they would play which was a naive

they would play which was a naive

they would play which was a naive interrogation one of the prisoners would

interrogation one of the prisoners would

interrogation one of the prisoners would be endowed with what they did you know

be endowed with what they did you know

be endowed with what they did you know for their their crime like ripping the

for their their crime like ripping the

for their their crime like ripping the tag off the mattress or chewing gum

tag off the mattress or chewing gum

tag off the mattress or chewing gum under the moonlight whatever it is just

under the moonlight whatever it is just

under the moonlight whatever it is just something ridiculous and they wouldn’t

something ridiculous and they wouldn’t

something ridiculous and they wouldn’t know what their crime is but they would

know what their crime is but they would

know what their crime is but they would have to walk in and two of the other

have to walk in and two of the other

have to walk in and two of the other inmates would then be interrogating them

inmates would then be interrogating them

inmates would then be interrogating them as if they were police officers and

as if they were police officers and

as if they were police officers and giving them clues so then they could

giving them clues so then they could

giving them clues so then they could eventually commit to the crime we played

eventually commit to the crime we played

eventually commit to the crime we played this game in prison

this game in prison

this game in prison right right and again it’s not about us

right right and again it’s not about us

right right and again it’s not about us right it is about them what are we doing

right it is about them what are we doing

right it is about them what are we doing how are we reflecting what they need

how are we reflecting what they need

how are we reflecting what they need what are we providing them uh it reminds

what are we providing them uh it reminds

what are we providing them uh it reminds me of when I was in graduate school my

me of when I was in graduate school my

me of when I was in graduate school my teacher Steve Pearson was directing a

teacher Steve Pearson was directing a

teacher Steve Pearson was directing a show and I was involved in it and oh and

show and I was involved in it and oh and

show and I was involved in it and oh and very physical activity that we had to do

very physical activity that we had to do

very physical activity that we had to do lots of running and jumping and climbing

lots of running and jumping and climbing

lots of running and jumping and climbing up just very difficult physical activity

up just very difficult physical activity

up just very difficult physical activity and at one point we finished the scene

and at one point we finished the scene

and at one point we finished the scene and he looked at me and he said do it

and he looked at me and he said do it

and he looked at me and he said do it again okay so I did it again

again okay so I did it again

again okay so I did it again again very physical and at the end he

again very physical and at the end he

again very physical and at the end he looks at me and he says yeah great do it

looks at me and he says yeah great do it

looks at me and he says yeah great do it again so we kept running through the

again so we kept running through the

again so we kept running through the scene and it got to a number of times

scene and it got to a number of times

scene and it got to a number of times going through and I’m starting to get

going through and I’m starting to get

going through and I’m starting to get tired and I’m exhausted and I’m

tired and I’m exhausted and I’m

tired and I’m exhausted and I’m exasperated and I’m like what do you

exasperated and I’m like what do you

exasperated and I’m like what do you want me to do and he looks at me he says

want me to do and he looks at me he says

want me to do and he looks at me he says uh I want you to do it again the point

uh I want you to do it again the point

uh I want you to do it again the point was I wasn’t gonna learn by reading

was I wasn’t gonna learn by reading

was I wasn’t gonna learn by reading about it or by having him tell me how to

about it or by having him tell me how to

about it or by having him tell me how to do it I was gonna learn by doing it so

do it I was gonna learn by doing it so

do it I was gonna learn by doing it so do it again when we started doing the

do it again when we started doing the

do it again when we started doing the work working with incarcerated youth and

work working with incarcerated youth and

work working with incarcerated youth and with homeless work homeless youth and we

with homeless work homeless youth and we

with homeless work homeless youth and we started doing this work of kids camps

started doing this work of kids camps

started doing this work of kids camps there was no manual and if anyone did

there was no manual and if anyone did

there was no manual and if anyone did tell us what to do they were usually

tell us what to do they were usually

tell us what to do they were usually wrong so we learned from whatever we did

wrong so we learned from whatever we did

wrong so we learned from whatever we did wrong and then we did it again and we

wrong and then we did it again and we

wrong and then we did it again and we continued to do it last year we visited

continued to do it last year we visited

continued to do it last year we visited a bunch of different camps and we did 22

a bunch of different camps and we did 22

a bunch of different camps and we did 22 performances all over Western

performances all over Western

performances all over Western Washington’s Jet City improv these are

Washington’s Jet City improv these are

Washington’s Jet City improv these are children’s camps for bereavement camps

children’s camps for bereavement camps

children’s camps for bereavement camps kids were going through cancer

kids were going through cancer

kids were going through cancer treatments again the burn camp camp I

treatments again the burn camp camp I

treatments again the burn camp camp I upset lots of other camps we also

upset lots of other camps we also

upset lots of other camps we also provided free weekly classes at the King

provided free weekly classes at the King

provided free weekly classes at the King County Juvenile Detention Facility

County Juvenile Detention Facility

County Juvenile Detention Facility we provided free weekly classes for for

we provided free weekly classes for for

we provided free weekly classes for for homeless youth in the University

homeless youth in the University

homeless youth in the University District and we actually started a brand

District and we actually started a brand

District and we actually started a brand new program that’s working with kids

new program that’s working with kids

new program that’s working with kids we’re going through a drug treatment

we’re going through a drug treatment

we’re going through a drug treatment program as well this year Jet City

program as well this year Jet City

program as well this year Jet City improv celebrates 25 years of being here

improv celebrates 25 years of being here

improv celebrates 25 years of being here in Seattle as a founder I am extremely

in Seattle as a founder I am extremely

in Seattle as a founder I am extremely proud of what we’ve been able to do

proud of what we’ve been able to do

proud of what we’ve been able to do and I am astounded at the work of this

and I am astounded at the work of this

and I am astounded at the work of this company things have gone on for me a

company things have gone on for me a

company things have gone on for me a little bit and now I work actually a lot

little bit and now I work actually a lot

little bit and now I work actually a lot of organizations working with some

of organizations working with some

of organizations working with some business leaders and I come in and I

business leaders and I come in and I

business leaders and I come in and I help people with their communication

help people with their communication

help people with their communication their presentation skills and innovation

their presentation skills and innovation

their presentation skills and innovation and inevitably when I walk into a

and inevitably when I walk into a

and inevitably when I walk into a company there is a business leader or

company there is a business leader or

company there is a business leader or CEO who comes to me and says you have to

CEO who comes to me and says you have to

CEO who comes to me and says you have to help me my kid wants to go into theater

help me my kid wants to go into theater

help me my kid wants to go into theater what do I do

what do I do

what do I do and I tell them you let them write

and I tell them you let them write

and I tell them you let them write because they are going to learn more

because they are going to learn more

because they are going to learn more about leadership presence and

about leadership presence and

about leadership presence and communication then probably most

communication then probably most

communication then probably most traditional MBA programs are going to

traditional MBA programs are going to

traditional MBA programs are going to teach them and they’re going to learn

teach them and they’re going to learn

teach them and they’re going to learn more about critical skills

more about critical skills

more about critical skills problem-solving skills that most college

problem-solving skills that most college

problem-solving skills that most college degrees are not going to tell them

degrees are not going to tell them

degrees are not going to tell them either and most importantly they’re

either and most importantly they’re

either and most importantly they’re going to learn these rules if you want

going to learn these rules if you want

going to learn these rules if you want to do something do it don’t have any

to do something do it don’t have any

to do something do it don’t have any expectations no one’s going to give it

expectations no one’s going to give it

expectations no one’s going to give it to you be grateful for what you get and

to you be grateful for what you get and

to you be grateful for what you get and you’re gonna have to work harder and the

you’re gonna have to work harder and the

you’re gonna have to work harder and the idea is is that if they do that

idea is is that if they do that

idea is is that if they do that hopefully they can take these rules and

hopefully they can take these rules and

hopefully they can take these rules and they can make the world a better place

they can make the world a better place

they can make the world a better place thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]