CHARISMA
Charisma - you either
have it or not! It is something which cannot
be bought, yet it is something people are aware
of and it turns a normal person into star quality
material.
Liberace had it. Des O'Conner
has got it. Harold Taylor had it! In a letter
to M. Al Fayed, owner of Harrods of London wrote:
"Princess Diana was a world figure, kind and
considerate to everyone she met. She had a certain
charisma, and if this planet lasts for
another thousand years, people will still be
talking about the terrible event we are living
through. But what they will remember most is
the love that existed between two wonderful
people." He was of course, referring to his
son Dodi, who he describes as a special person,
a private man who was shy with people he didn't
know. And he summed up Diana by telling me 'she
had a unique star-bright quality - truly exceptional!'
Channing Pollock |
Channing
Pollock, dove performer of excellence,
had charisma. I remember my cousin Molly
telling me she thought he was wonderful.
I thought she was obviously referring
to his work, to his magic, I was wrong.
She was alluding to the man himself!
She thought he was handsome, having
a quality no other magician had, she
thought he had 'Charisma.' |
The late Harold Taylor,
right up to the end was always bubbling over.
Larger than life, you could immediately tell
yourself that he was a 'star.' How on earth
he didn't go farther than he really did, I just
don't know. Although most of us haven't appeared
at Buckingham Palace have we? Harold once told
me now and again he would, along with Presh,
go right into the heart of London dressed in
a pink suit, white lace shirt, pink tie and
a pink handkerchief showing in his top pocket.
He would go towards Trafalgar Square, leave
Presh at the bottom of the steps, then slowly
make his way to the top. Immaculate in appearance
and gushing too, with his blond wavy hair, people
would stop and stare. He would come down again
and ask Presh, "How many people stopped and
looked at me?" Now you may think this strange,
but this was a genuine test.
In a different way, Fogel
had charisma. Someone once said "On stage Fogel
is a star, off stage he is nothing!" Unfair
perhaps, but not my words. Fogel controlled
his audiences, at times seemingly to the point
of insulting them. An audience volunteer, leaving
his seat to make way towards the platform would
sometimes be refused with a shake of the head,
if he is too young or didn't meet Maurice's
standards of acceptance.
We performers can start
by making sure the moment we arrive at a venue,
whether it is a simple birthday party at someone's
home or a big event at a plush theatre, that
we are 'on show.' It is no good wearing a beautiful
suit, shiny shoes, with groomed hair, yet sporting
a dirty worn coat. Your coat should be immaculate.
Cedric Richardson, a great friend of mine, no
longer with us, once said "Ian, our show starts
the moment we arrive at the door. Ask how the
birthday child is and accept a cup of tea if
asked, rather than refusing it." It all builds
up to good manners, acceptability and charm.
Indeed charm and charisma go well together.
How many times have you heard a woman say, "He
was charming!"
| Let's go back
into the past. Still living, Shirley Temple
- the film star extraordinary - had charm
and charisma. Everyone loved her. She
was larger than life. No one could afford
not to love her! She was a bundle of fun
and charisma. Whether you like him or
not, Dale Winton of National Lottery and
Supermarket Sweep fame has charm and charisma.
The late Fred Kapps had charisma right
to the very end. Have you got charisma?
|
Fred
Kapps |
