the audience is always wrong

when you're starting out

My teacher Philippe worked with some pretty big names -

Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter and Sasha Barron Cohen to name just three.

Before Da Ali G show, Borat and Talladega nights Sasha struggled.

No one got him.

No one got his jokes.

Philippe told us:

Sasha was about to give up, to quit, but I told him no. You keep going. The audience are not yet with you. You are too far ahead of your time.

Sasha kept going.

Through all of the criticism and set backs, he kept with his groundbreaking style of cringe inducing comedy.

Now?

He’s wealthy and successful.

But to get there?

He had to go beyond what the public believed acceptable.

He had to insist on what he was offering.

He had to insist and wait for the audience to catch up.

Are people rejecting you and calling you an ass?

Good.

You’re ahead of your time.

Keep going.

They’ll catch up eventually.