Amazon.com: CIRQUE DU SOLEIL, THE SPARK

Just finished reading this new book (it takes about 90 minutes!) and I loved it! Easy to read but very inspiring! Below are some of the quick things that I highlighted as I read through the book. I’ll be posting more, but wanted to get this up to get things started!

There are no individual stars listed in the program

The trick is, not trying to solve the problem before you figured out what it is

The better we get along, the more free we are to let loose and express our ideas and emotions. It’s hard to be creative in isolation. True creativity requires collaboration…and yes, even conflict and confrontation

The constant sharing of ideas. Their first idea was never their last. The importance of deadlines. The danger of red tape.

If you don’t understand the role you’re playing, how can you be excited about what you’re doing?

We are in a life-and-death business. We can not simply say it was some other department’s responsibility.

The more we nourish our artists and support staff -- in every way -- the more they’ll give back to us in return. Our goal is to make the artists comfortable in just about every way possible so we can make them uncomfortable in their thinking -- challenge them, destabilize them. The more we do that, the more they’ll throw themselves into their roles.

If you’re attitude is “I’m doing my job,” then you’re not really doing my job. The audience is paying for more then that. The want to feel the inspiration.

Here's the description from Publisher's Weekly:

For anyone who has ever marveled at the creativity, athleticism and magic of Cirque du Soleil, this book is a jewel that explores the showmanship, challenges and philosophies that have made Cirque an international sensation. Using a fictional narrative, Heward (former president and COO of Cirque's creative content division) and journalist Bacon follow a sports agent named Frank as he seeks the drive and enthusiasm that have faded from his career. Through a chance encounter while in Las Vegas, Frank sees a Cirque du Soleil performance and is enchanted. Before long Frank takes a leave of absence from his job and starts training with Cirque athletes in Montreal while giving the reader a behind-the-scenes look at how the Cirque sensation is created and the underlying philosophy. He gleans lessons on the value of working for a common goal, creating a meaningful experience for customers, using failure as a learning tool and how to reinvent oneself to find life's true path. While the scenarios that Frank encounters often seem too convenient, the book is captivating and offers important lessons that can be applied to many aspects of modern life. (Apr.)

Link: Amazon.com: CIRQUE DU SOLEIL, THE SPARK : Igniting the Creative Fire That Lives Within Us All: Books: John U. Bacon,Lyn Heward.

Comments

[Chris Car]

If you are interested, we have been invited to blog for the Cirque du Soleil DELIRIUM show in Montreal (even backstage and under-stage). Here are the links of our blog posts:

mcturgeon.com/blog/archives/cirque_du_soleil/
chriscar.com/?cat=15

We would be happy if you drop us a line, if you liked it.