graveyard's full

When we started we HAD no style, no understanding of ourselves or what we were doing. We had feelings, vague ones, a sense of what we liked, maybe, but no unified point of view, not even a real way to express our partnership. We fought constantly and expected to break up every other week. But we did have a few things, things I think you might profit from knowing:

We loved what we did. More than anything. More than sex. Absolutely.

We always felt as if every show was the most important thing in the world, but knew if we bombed, we’d live.

We did not start as friends, but as people who respected and admired each other. Crucial, absolutely crucial for a partnership. As soon as we could afford it, we ceased sharing lodgings. Equally crucial.

We made a solemn vow not to take any job outside of show business. We
borrowed money from parents and friends, rather than take that lethal job waiting tables. This forced us to take any job offered to us. Anything. We once did a show in the middle of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia as part of a fashion show on a hot July night while all around our stage, a race-riot was fully underway. That’s how serious we were about our vow.

Get on stage. A lot. Try stuff. Make your best stab and keep stabbing. If it’s there in your heart, it will eventually find its way out. Or you will give up and have a prudent, contented life doing something else.

Teller, of Penn and Teller, in a letter at http://shwood.squarespace.com/news/2009/9/21/14-years-ago-the-day-teller-gave-me-the-secret-to-my-career.html

Strangely, advice as good for writers or musicians as it is for magicians. 

(via neil-gaiman)

1. simplesignifier liked this
2. mirthalia reblogged this from neil-gaiman
3. dog-master liked this
4. ladydreamgirl liked this
5. thankyouforyourcooperation reblogged this from neil-gaiman
6. herm-anna37 reblogged this from mfluttershy
7. robbiehowell liked this
8. quotepad reblogged this from caseydonahue
9. skandaleiparkeringshuset liked this
10. a-treasure-trove reblogged this from neil-gaiman
11. kaitysays reblogged this from themonicabird
12. poisonedwords liked this
13. anothersundayevening liked this
14. thetruestoryofaliar reblogged this from themonicabird
15. byleapsandbounds reblogged this from themonicabird
16. bulletinaweave reblogged this from themonicabird
17. the-paper-kitten-nightmare liked this
18. themonicabird reblogged this from neil-gaiman
19. noiseandmelodies liked this
20. run3ll liked this
21. mor-rioghain reblogged this from neil-gaiman
22. wordshunting reblogged this from docbrucebanner
23. flufflogic liked this
24. whatifthewolvescome liked this
25. cherith reblogged this from maybethings
26. reirvamos reblogged this from neil-gaiman
27. herm-anna37 liked this
28. misslemonbar reblogged this from onthursdays
29. onthursdays reblogged this from neil-gaiman
30. theadventurousmain reblogged this from neil-gaiman
31. downwiththedan liked this
32. xintho reblogged this from wilwheaton
33. izoona liked this
34. izoona reblogged this from wilwheaton
35. aseriousbibliophile reblogged this from neil-gaiman
36. awordin reblogged this from neil-gaiman
37. unabrogable reblogged this from 2bpencil
38. themundaneworld reblogged this from sapphirerabbit
39. nordmach liked this
40. sapphirerabbit reblogged this from wilwheaton
41. vagabondoperatic liked this
42. papyrusbombs reblogged this from caseydonahue
43. librascurio reblogged this from neil-gaiman
44. missiriejpn liked this
45. galleryyuhself reblogged this from caseydonahue
46. spazzd reblogged this from deborahyoon
47. theguyinthebackrow reblogged this from neil-gaiman
48. harriet12-3 reblogged this from wilwheaton
49. mygoodrabbit reblogged this from maybethings
50. Show more notesLoading...