Go Getter

“If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place.”
― Nora Roberts/blockquote>



Almost two years ago, I decided I wanted to start throwing open mic's. I've always enjoyed them. People coming out, and expressing themselves in various different outlets, from singing, to rap, to poetry etc. I live for that type of ish. The artist in their rarest form, no professional quality put to it, but their raw talent shining through. Open Mics, represent the hungry artist. The person that wants it so bad, they do it for FREE. They may even pay to enter, just to showcase themselves. I wanted to start having them, because no matter if they never played any shows, they'd still practice their craft, because of their immense love for it. That to me is drive. As I was in the planning stages, I remember speaking to a friend of mine, T ,saying I wanted this open mic to be different. I wanted to feature more than the norm. I wanted a comedian. I needed a comedian. He said,

"my man is a comedian, I'll tell him. I'm sure he'd want to do it."

This is how I met Marcus. After our initial conversation, to my luck, he agreed to do the show. I was ecstatic, beaming for joy, telling everyone I had a comedian coming! I didn't say it then, but I was most excited about this act. I had been to a million open mics, and never had they ever featured a comedian. He came, & even though I had my doubts,  "I hope he's actually funny" "and please let him be funny" he proved himself. We started having the open mics, at my salon Cocoa Mane, and as any comedian would, he made fun of this fact.

I don't remember much else, but how hungry he was. He always was willing to travel as far as his two legs, a car, bus, train etc would take him to perform. Before Marcus, I had no clue what the comedy world was like, but it is through him, that I realized how hard of a career path it actually was. Still, no matter the venue, no matter the feedback, whether good or bad, packed house, or not, Marcus still did it, and he did it well. It said wonders about the type of person he was, and how important his craft was to him. And I remember being so intrigued to who he was as a person, and his story. He didn't have a story much different then any other truly successful person. Hard knock life, had even been homeless at a point, and I remember wondering, could I have had the same life, and still be as hungry as him, for something you're not sure may ever work out? I didn't care, I wanted to help him, because I believed in his ability to make people laugh, and his drive. 

 In life, its not about what you want, its about going after what you want. Most people, including myself don't have enough balls to fight for whatever it is they want. Marcus, decided a short time ago, in January 2010, that he wanted a career in comedy. He breathed it, ate it, hell he probably even shit it. Here we are, three years later, and I couldn't be more proud, as I read the text, from the comedian I haven't seen in forever.

"i've been signed as the first comedian of MMG (Maybach Music Group)" he said, As an article followed after.

He is and has always been the definition of a go getter, and to think back to all the open mics, and little venues he did just to make it to this point, is inspiring. He is now on a 24 city college tour, 'The Deans List', signed to MMG, and in the progress of dropping a DVD, entitled 'Refund Check'. The world isn't ready for all that he's about to do. Thank you to Marcus, for being an example of how hard work actually pays off. If you want something bad enough, you can get it, no matter what it is, if you are willing to put the hard work and time in. You have to be willing to sacrifice everything, and risk it all, but if you're willing to do so, you too can see your hard work paid off.  I'm so inspired, my creative juices are flowing. Going to start a new fictional story just because! I hope yours are flowing as well!!


Please check our Marcus for yourself!
Youtube: 914mbanks
Twitter: 914mbanks

With Lots & Lots of Love,

--A