 |
| Photo by Hiromi Yoshida |
Perspectives Essay
Ashley Gomez
Creative Arts 176
March 3, 2013
Drawing from my own experiences in
working with groups, I would agree with Piers Ibbotson’s statement:
If the right
culture were in place, innovation would not be an issue; the function of managers
would be like the function of the director of a good ensemble: merely to select
from the stream of inventions and suggestions pouring from the group as it
engages with the tasks they have at hand (p. 2).
Ibbotson suggests that in order to
be a successful manager, it is important to listen to the group and gather
different thoughts and ideas to fulfill its purpose. I’ve worked in many different types of groups, for school
projects, work, or organizing events, and in every situation there has always
been a goal to be achieved and a leader to help organize the process. Since I
have been reading Ibbotson’s, The Illusion of Leadership, I have become more aware of the leadership
processes around and what makes them successful or not successful.
Many performing
artists strive to make a decent living doing what they love, but they struggle
to get a steady income. Alone,
they are unable to create a demand.
Gregangelo Herrera, the artistic director of the arts and entertainment
company Velocity Circus has taken an approach, similar to the approach that
Ibbotson writes about and that has better enabled a solution to be found for a
problem. I’ve been working with
Velocity Circus for close to a year and I have recognized the qualities in the
leadership that have driven this company to success.
Prior
to founding Velocity Circus, Gregangelo performed around the world in Cirque Du
Soleil as a Whirling Dervish. Traditionally, Whirling Dervishes are men who are a part of a
mystic brotherhood that spin around in long flowing skirts to represent the
spinning of the cosmos. Gregangelo
took from this philosophy and started to think about how the motion of spinning
is a part of everything that makes up the universe from the atoms to the way we
live. He then began to think about this in terms of the art world. From his perspective, artists today are
consumed with achieving fame and fortune, obsessing with beauty and stardom,
while battling one another for a spot at the top. This is the exact never-ending unobtainable journey that is
stripping away from their very soul, which is why artists should take a step back,
look past these tropes, see that the universe is still spiraling around them, and
realize that the true wealth is inside them. They should come together and collaborate as a group and
become stronger rather than competing against each other in an endless battle. Gregangelo
and a team of other artists used this philosophy to create Velocity Circus.
Instead
of battling one another for a spot on the top, these artists come together to
create something innovative and unique. Building from the ground up, they started to design
characters, sets, and gathered performers of all types. They collaborated to
achieve the fantasies of their customers. When a challenging project came up,
the artists found a way to bring it to life. This is exactly the type of
leadership that Ibbotson writes about that drives a group to success. Ever since I have been working with this
company, I have been able to see a difference in myself as an artist. I’m encouraged to come up with ideas
and get my creative juices flowing. Being in this type of environment motivates me to perform
well and think outside the box. If
we succeed as a group, we succeed as a whole, which fulfills my artistic
individuality as well. I believe I am an important asset in contributing, and
since I feel that my input and ideas are valued, I give more of myself.
 |
| Photo by Hiromi Yoshida |
Gregangelo takes
what the group has to offer and morphs it into a masterpiece. Because of this
successful leadership, Velocity Circus has not only created a steady working
environment to artists, but it has become a hot commodity that is in demand. Museums and corporations seek Velocity
Circus to bring even their own wildest ideas and fantasies to life. This
encourages involvement from the client as well. Gregangelo calls his team “Mission Impossible” because there
is no project too difficult for the hundreds of artists who make up Velocity
Circus. Together, anything can happen.
Gregangelo’s
philosophy has created the “right culture,” therefore allowing innovation to
take place. His function as a leader has allowed several artists to come
together and work as a team to build their ideas into elaborate works of art
for others to enjoy. A good leader takes part in the group and listens to
ideas. They admit mistakes and recognize efforts. Ibbotson’s statement hits it
right on the nose. If you understand what it takes to be a leader, you’ll
fulfill the team, which fulfills the client, which fulfills the goal, which
fulfills the company. This concept
is the backbone of success.
Works Cited
Hererra,
Gregangelo. “TEDxYouth at Castilleja - Gregangelo.” YouTube. 12 Dec. 2011.
YouTube. 20 Sept. 2013 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=737HdHJYzOQ>.
Ibbotson,
Piers. The Illusion of Leadership: Directing Creativity in Business and the
Arts. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire
England: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008. 2. Print.
