How to Find an Audience | Mat Ricardo | TEDxKingsCollegeLondon

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] thank you very much so in the mid-1980s

thank you very much so in the mid-1980s

thank you very much so in the mid-1980s when the teenager Mia was sat in his

when the teenager Mia was sat in his

when the teenager Mia was sat in his desk at school I was given a form and

desk at school I was given a form and

desk at school I was given a form and printed at the top of the phone block

printed at the top of the phone block

printed at the top of the phone block letters were the words jig cow not

letters were the words jig cow not

letters were the words jig cow not actually even words jig count job idea

actually even words jig count job idea

actually even words jig count job idea information generator computer-aided

information generator computer-aided

information generator computer-aided learning the idea was simple I would

learning the idea was simple I would

learning the idea was simple I would fill out the form I will tell the form

fill out the form I will tell the form

fill out the form I will tell the form my likes my dislikes my hobbies my

my likes my dislikes my hobbies my

my likes my dislikes my hobbies my interests my academic strengths and

interests my academic strengths and

interests my academic strengths and weaknesses the form would then be sent

weaknesses the form would then be sent

weaknesses the form would then be sent away to a computer in Oxford which would

away to a computer in Oxford which would

away to a computer in Oxford which would then tell me my ideal job so we all sat

then tell me my ideal job so we all sat

then tell me my ideal job so we all sat there we filled out the forms we gave

there we filled out the forms we gave

there we filled out the forms we gave them to our teacher we forgot about them

them to our teacher we forgot about them

them to our teacher we forgot about them until a couple of weeks later a small

until a couple of weeks later a small

until a couple of weeks later a small brown envelope was dropped onto my desk

brown envelope was dropped onto my desk

brown envelope was dropped onto my desk in front of me

in front of me

in front of me inside of which was my mathematically

inside of which was my mathematically

inside of which was my mathematically perfect job funeral director true story

perfect job funeral director true story

perfect job funeral director true story now strangely I had never dreamt of

now strangely I had never dreamt of

now strangely I had never dreamt of being a funeral director I mean sure

being a funeral director I mean sure

being a funeral director I mean sure some people do and I had not but it was

some people do and I had not but it was

some people do and I had not but it was okay that there was something I had

okay that there was something I had

okay that there was something I had dreamt of being I knew what I wanted to

dreamt of being I knew what I wanted to

dreamt of being I knew what I wanted to do with my life I wanted to be a

do with my life I wanted to be a

do with my life I wanted to be a gentleman juggler okay let’s backtrack

gentleman juggler okay let’s backtrack

gentleman juggler okay let’s backtrack um two years earlier I’m on holiday with

um two years earlier I’m on holiday with

um two years earlier I’m on holiday with my parents and I see a man doing a show

my parents and I see a man doing a show

my parents and I see a man doing a show and he’s a juggler and he’s funny and I

and he’s a juggler and he’s funny and I

and he’s a juggler and he’s funny and I become his biggest fan I go to every

become his biggest fan I go to every

become his biggest fan I go to every single show I sit in the front row I

single show I sit in the front row I

single show I sit in the front row I love him and then after a few days a

love him and then after a few days a

love him and then after a few days a week and a half I start to realize maybe

week and a half I start to realize maybe

week and a half I start to realize maybe I don’t want to be his biggest fan maybe

I don’t want to be his biggest fan maybe

I don’t want to be his biggest fan maybe I want to be him so the moment I get

I want to be him so the moment I get

I want to be him so the moment I get back home

back home

back home from our holiday I go to the pet shop at

from our holiday I go to the pet shop at

from our holiday I go to the pet shop at the end of our street and I buy three

the end of our street and I buy three

the end of our street and I buy three rubber dog balls and I start teaching

rubber dog balls and I start teaching

rubber dog balls and I start teaching myself to juggle and at the same time I

myself to juggle and at the same time I

myself to juggle and at the same time I start teaching myself about the history

start teaching myself about the history

start teaching myself about the history of my newfound art form I start learning

of my newfound art form I start learning

of my newfound art form I start learning about all the different kinds of juggler

about all the different kinds of juggler

about all the different kinds of juggler that existed back in the heyday of Music

that existed back in the heyday of Music

that existed back in the heyday of Music Hall and variety and it’s true to say

Hall and variety and it’s true to say

Hall and variety and it’s true to say that back then there were as many

that back then there were as many

that back then there were as many different kinds of juggler as these days

different kinds of juggler as these days

different kinds of juggler as these days there were different kinds of singer or

there were different kinds of singer or

there were different kinds of singer or comedian

comedian

comedian there were clown jugglers comedy

there were clown jugglers comedy

there were clown jugglers comedy jugglers sports jugglers military

jugglers sports jugglers military

jugglers sports jugglers military jugglers salon jugglers vegetable

jugglers salon jugglers vegetable

jugglers salon jugglers vegetable jugglers foot jugglers but the ones that

jugglers foot jugglers but the ones that

jugglers foot jugglers but the ones that caught my eye were the gentlemen

caught my eye were the gentlemen

caught my eye were the gentlemen jugglers cool dapper Playboy’s who

jugglers cool dapper Playboy’s who

jugglers cool dapper Playboy’s who performed feats of dexterity with the

performed feats of dexterity with the

performed feats of dexterity with the kinds of objects that a gentleman of the

kinds of objects that a gentleman of the

kinds of objects that a gentleman of the time might encounter on a night out so

time might encounter on a night out so

time might encounter on a night out so hats and canes bottles and glasses Oh

hats and canes bottles and glasses Oh

hats and canes bottles and glasses Oh fully laden dining tables I knew that I

fully laden dining tables I knew that I

fully laden dining tables I knew that I wanted to be a professional juggler and

wanted to be a professional juggler and

wanted to be a professional juggler and I did not tell my parents they assumed

I did not tell my parents they assumed

I did not tell my parents they assumed it was a silly phase just a hobby I

it was a silly phase just a hobby I

it was a silly phase just a hobby I carried on working hard at school but I

carried on working hard at school but I

carried on working hard at school but I knew that I wanted to be a juggler I

knew that I wanted to be a juggler I

knew that I wanted to be a juggler I went to college I studied child

went to college I studied child

went to college I studied child psychology but still I wanted to be a

psychology but still I wanted to be a

psychology but still I wanted to be a juggler when I finally left college I

juggler when I finally left college I

juggler when I finally left college I told my parents what I wanted to do with

told my parents what I wanted to do with

told my parents what I wanted to do with my life and they were and continue to be

my life and they were and continue to be

my life and they were and continue to be less than thrilled I signed on the doll

less than thrilled I signed on the doll

less than thrilled I signed on the doll I claimed unemployment benefit and for

I claimed unemployment benefit and for

I claimed unemployment benefit and for six months I lied about looking for work

six months I lied about looking for work

six months I lied about looking for work I was not looking for work but I was

I was not looking for work but I was

I was not looking for work but I was learning a trade every morning I would

learning a trade every morning I would

learning a trade every morning I would get up I would jump on my unicycle and

get up I would jump on my unicycle and

get up I would jump on my unicycle and cycled down to the local park find a

cycled down to the local park find a

cycled down to the local park find a secluded corner and practice my tricks

secluded corner and practice my tricks

secluded corner and practice my tricks until it got dark then I would hop back

until it got dark then I would hop back

until it got dark then I would hop back on the unicycle and ride home and as I

on the unicycle and ride home and as I

on the unicycle and ride home and as I wrote home I would ponder the question

wrote home I would ponder the question

wrote home I would ponder the question that had begun to haunt me where in the

that had begun to haunt me where in the

that had begun to haunt me where in the late-1980s does a juggler work

late-1980s does a juggler work

late-1980s does a juggler work I mean all the musicals and variety

I mean all the musicals and variety

I mean all the musicals and variety theaters had long since closed light

theaters had long since closed light

theaters had long since closed light entertainment was being kicked out the

entertainment was being kicked out the

entertainment was being kicked out the back door by the hot young upstarts of

back door by the hot young upstarts of

back door by the hot young upstarts of alternative comedy circuses were as

alternative comedy circuses were as

alternative comedy circuses were as unfashionable as they would ever be it

unfashionable as they would ever be it

unfashionable as they would ever be it wouldn’t matter how good I might get if

wouldn’t matter how good I might get if

wouldn’t matter how good I might get if there was nowhere for me to work I was

there was nowhere for me to work I was

there was nowhere for me to work I was doomed it was a Sunday afternoon in a

doomed it was a Sunday afternoon in a

doomed it was a Sunday afternoon in a South London Sports Centre a place where

South London Sports Centre a place where

South London Sports Centre a place where once a week jugglers would gather to

once a week jugglers would gather to

once a week jugglers would gather to share tricks and hang out my friend Dave

share tricks and hang out my friend Dave

share tricks and hang out my friend Dave another juggler he mentioned to me that

another juggler he mentioned to me that

another juggler he mentioned to me that Covent Garden Market in the West End

Covent Garden Market in the West End

Covent Garden Market in the West End just across the street in fact were

just across the street in fact were

just across the street in fact were holding auditions and if you passed the

holding auditions and if you passed the

holding auditions and if you passed the audition you would get a busking license

audition you would get a busking license

audition you would get a busking license which meant you could do shows on the

which meant you could do shows on the

which meant you could do shows on the street I was there first thing Monday

street I was there first thing Monday

street I was there first thing Monday morning standing under the portico of

morning standing under the portico of

morning standing under the portico of st. Paul’s Church West Piazza Covent

st. Paul’s Church West Piazza Covent

st. Paul’s Church West Piazza Covent Garden prop bag in hand I strode out

Garden prop bag in hand I strode out

Garden prop bag in hand I strode out onto the cobblestones in front of a

onto the cobblestones in front of a

onto the cobblestones in front of a handful of disinterested tourists and

handful of disinterested tourists and

handful of disinterested tourists and the suspicious gazes of the other

the suspicious gazes of the other

the suspicious gazes of the other performers and I did something vaguely

performers and I did something vaguely

performers and I did something vaguely approximating a show I made 16 pounds

approximating a show I made 16 pounds

approximating a show I made 16 pounds but more importantly I passed my

but more importantly I passed my

but more importantly I passed my audition I got my busking licence and

audition I got my busking licence and

audition I got my busking licence and that was it there was no going back I’d

that was it there was no going back I’d

that was it there was no going back I’d been accepted into a secret Club that I

been accepted into a secret Club that I

been accepted into a secret Club that I have never left I had found my family an

have never left I had found my family an

have never left I had found my family an international community of professional

international community of professional

international community of professional street performers hustlers and pirates

street performers hustlers and pirates

street performers hustlers and pirates ladies and gentlemen people who had

ladies and gentlemen people who had

ladies and gentlemen people who had travelled the same road as me without an

travelled the same road as me without an

travelled the same road as me without an idea burning in their hearts that had

idea burning in their hearts that had

idea burning in their hearts that had led them to the streets the cobblestones

led them to the streets the cobblestones

led them to the streets the cobblestones the p-axis the new variety theatres

the p-axis the new variety theatres

the p-axis the new variety theatres escapologists break dancers magicians

escapologists break dancers magicians

escapologists break dancers magicians acrobats and jugglers all sharing a

acrobats and jugglers all sharing a

acrobats and jugglers all sharing a pitch working hard to make a modest

pitch working hard to make a modest

pitch working hard to make a modest living and hone their craft battling the

living and hone their craft battling the

living and hone their craft battling the drizzle the French school parties the

drizzle the French school parties the

drizzle the French school parties the drunks in pursuit of a round of applause

drunks in pursuit of a round of applause

drunks in pursuit of a round of applause a big laugh and some money in the Hat I

a big laugh and some money in the Hat I

a big laugh and some money in the Hat I worked hard and while I worked I

worked hard and while I worked I

worked hard and while I worked I continued to learn more about the

continued to learn more about the

continued to learn more about the history of my art

history of my art

history of my art I started to really enjoy the idea of

I started to really enjoy the idea of

I started to really enjoy the idea of being part of a lineage of performers I

being part of a lineage of performers I

being part of a lineage of performers I started to see part of my job as debater

started to see part of my job as debater

started to see part of my job as debater to find something old and forgotten

to find something old and forgotten

to find something old and forgotten about to blow the dust of it give it a

about to blow the dust of it give it a

about to blow the dust of it give it a shine give it a twist show people and

shine give it a twist show people and

shine give it a twist show people and then pass it along to the next performer

then pass it along to the next performer

then pass it along to the next performer to come along because the language of

to come along because the language of

to come along because the language of circus is passed down through members of

circus is passed down through members of

circus is passed down through members of often unrelated families let me explain

often unrelated families let me explain

often unrelated families let me explain this is a cigar box these are called

this is a cigar box these are called

this is a cigar box these are called cigar boxes because they are boxes in

cigar boxes because they are boxes in

cigar boxes because they are boxes in which you put cigars am i losing anybody

which you put cigars am i losing anybody

which you put cigars am i losing anybody they’re just empty wooden boxes and

they’re just empty wooden boxes and

they’re just empty wooden boxes and jugglers do tricks with them and the

jugglers do tricks with them and the

jugglers do tricks with them and the reason that jugglers do tricks with them

reason that jugglers do tricks with them

reason that jugglers do tricks with them is that a hundred or so years ago if you

is that a hundred or so years ago if you

is that a hundred or so years ago if you were to involve DeVille performer

were to involve DeVille performer

were to involve DeVille performer whatever town you would roll into you

whatever town you would roll into you

whatever town you would roll into you could go to the cigar store they would

could go to the cigar store they would

could go to the cigar store they would be happy to give you their old thrown

be happy to give you their old thrown

be happy to give you their old thrown out boxes and if you could do something

out boxes and if you could do something

out boxes and if you could do something cool with those boxes you had free props

cool with those boxes you had free props

cool with those boxes you had free props for life and jugglers did learn to do

for life and jugglers did learn to do

for life and jugglers did learn to do something cool with the bosses let’s

something cool with the bosses let’s

something cool with the bosses let’s take a look so this is WC Fields the

take a look so this is WC Fields the

take a look so this is WC Fields the great American comedian but of course

great American comedian but of course

great American comedian but of course before he was a film star who was

before he was a film star who was

before he was a film star who was internationally known as a juggler this

internationally known as a juggler this

internationally known as a juggler this is one of my own personal favorites this

is one of my own personal favorites this

is one of my own personal favorites this guy’s called Revlon 1958

this is Bella cumin patriarch of the

this is Bella cumin patriarch of the cremeux circus dynasty an alias

cremeux circus dynasty an alias

cremeux circus dynasty an alias performing side-by-side with his son

performing side-by-side with his son

performing side-by-side with his son Chris primo and then Chris went solo and

Chris primo and then Chris went solo and

Chris primo and then Chris went solo and became one of the biggest stars in

became one of the biggest stars in

became one of the biggest stars in circus and is still working today and

circus and is still working today and

circus and is still working today and then this is the American traveling

then this is the American traveling

then this is the American traveling troupe air jazz and this is when I first

troupe air jazz and this is when I first

troupe air jazz and this is when I first saw cigar boxes watching this exact

saw cigar boxes watching this exact

saw cigar boxes watching this exact footage on the Paul Daniels magic show

footage on the Paul Daniels magic show

footage on the Paul Daniels magic show on a Saturday night on the BBC of I am

on a Saturday night on the BBC of I am

on a Saturday night on the BBC of I am dressed slightly better and then that

dressed slightly better and then that

dressed slightly better and then that brings us to me doing the same tricks

brings us to me doing the same tricks

brings us to me doing the same tricks handed down by those performers it’s

handed down by those performers it’s

handed down by those performers it’s interesting it’s interesting I just

interesting it’s interesting I just

interesting it’s interesting I just showed you the exact same tricks you’d

showed you the exact same tricks you’d

showed you the exact same tricks you’d already seen several times on the screen

already seen several times on the screen

already seen several times on the screen but when you see something live you feel

but when you see something live you feel

but when you see something live you feel the urge to clap there might be a lesson

the urge to clap there might be a lesson

the urge to clap there might be a lesson in that somewhere I’d like to show you

in that somewhere I’d like to show you

in that somewhere I’d like to show you one more quick trick if I may with the

one more quick trick if I may with the

one more quick trick if I may with the boxes it’s one of my favorite tricks and

boxes it’s one of my favorite tricks and

boxes it’s one of my favorite tricks and it involves eight boxes it also involves

it involves eight boxes it also involves

it involves eight boxes it also involves a cigar and a glass of wine because I am

a cigar and a glass of wine because I am

a cigar and a glass of wine because I am a gentleman juggler let’s give this a go

you might turn or clap that wasn’t a

you might turn or clap that wasn’t a trick that was the easy part

trick that was the easy part

trick that was the easy part this is the hard

[Applause]

[Applause] so Covent Garden Market had became my

so Covent Garden Market had became my

so Covent Garden Market had became my office five days a week for more than 15

office five days a week for more than 15

office five days a week for more than 15 years I had to successfully answer the

years I had to successfully answer the

years I had to successfully answer the question where does the juggler work but

question where does the juggler work but

question where does the juggler work but now I had a new question where else can

now I had a new question where else can

now I had a new question where else can a juggler work I paid my dues it was

a juggler work I paid my dues it was

a juggler work I paid my dues it was time to spread my wings and find all the

time to spread my wings and find all the

time to spread my wings and find all the other places that I could do my act and

other places that I could do my act and

other places that I could do my act and this time if those places didn’t exist I

this time if those places didn’t exist I

this time if those places didn’t exist I would make them happen just in the same

would make them happen just in the same

would make them happen just in the same way that a street performers pitch is

way that a street performers pitch is

way that a street performers pitch is only a street corner until a busker

only a street corner until a busker

only a street corner until a busker decides to turn it into a theater so I

decides to turn it into a theater so I

decides to turn it into a theater so I found the countries that still had

found the countries that still had

found the countries that still had variety circuits I went and I worked in

variety circuits I went and I worked in

variety circuits I went and I worked in their theaters when I came home there

their theaters when I came home there

their theaters when I came home there was a resurgence in burlesque so I

was a resurgence in burlesque so I

was a resurgence in burlesque so I helped to make it a revival in cabaret

helped to make it a revival in cabaret

helped to make it a revival in cabaret and variety as well I noticed there were

and variety as well I noticed there were

and variety as well I noticed there were no great big West End theatre variety

no great big West End theatre variety

no great big West End theatre variety shows the way they used to be so I took

shows the way they used to be so I took

shows the way they used to be so I took a gamble I called in some favors and I

a gamble I called in some favors and I

a gamble I called in some favors and I did some filling a West End theatre with

did some filling a West End theatre with

did some filling a West End theatre with the stars of cabaret and street

the stars of cabaret and street

the stars of cabaret and street performance alongside some of the the

performance alongside some of the the

performance alongside some of the the legends that inspired me to get into

legends that inspired me to get into

legends that inspired me to get into this in the first place people like Paul

this in the first place people like Paul

this in the first place people like Paul Daniels there are no good variety shows

Daniels there are no good variety shows

Daniels there are no good variety shows on TV and no no no no we do not count

on TV and no no no no we do not count

on TV and no no no no we do not count those TV shiny flawed talent shows

those TV shiny flawed talent shows

those TV shiny flawed talent shows slaughterhouses

slaughterhouses

slaughterhouses but it’s okay because I could make my

but it’s okay because I could make my

but it’s okay because I could make my own put it on YouTube get a global

own put it on YouTube get a global

own put it on YouTube get a global audience for free I started to think

audience for free I started to think

audience for free I started to think like a busker in everything I did

like a busker in everything I did

like a busker in everything I did ignore the gatekeepers just hustle find

ignore the gatekeepers just hustle find

ignore the gatekeepers just hustle find the pitches work the crowds make a

the pitches work the crowds make a

the pitches work the crowds make a living and be the artist I always wanted

living and be the artist I always wanted

living and be the artist I always wanted to be and yes embrace the madness of

to be and yes embrace the madness of

to be and yes embrace the madness of being a variety star in a country that

being a variety star in a country that

being a variety star in a country that doesn’t think it has any variety because

doesn’t think it has any variety because

doesn’t think it has any variety because the bottom line is this ladies and

the bottom line is this ladies and

the bottom line is this ladies and gentlemen what I do might seem quite

gentlemen what I do might seem quite

gentlemen what I do might seem quite complicated and sometimes it is but at

complicated and sometimes it is but at

complicated and sometimes it is but at its heart it is as simple as it is

its heart it is as simple as it is

its heart it is as simple as it is timeless my job my life’s work is to

timeless my job my life’s work is to

timeless my job my life’s work is to show you something live before your very

show you something live before your very

show you something live before your very eyes that you have never seen before