David Leonardis
I’m not sure if this is the right way to start off a column that is going to be all about how my new goal is to get Oprah’s time slot in two years or not, but let me just say I was watching one of my favorite shows, “The View,” and I saw the Susan Boyle commercial for her new album, 
It shows the clip of her on “American Idol,” and Simon Cowell asks her what her goal is. She says, “To be a professional singer.” Then, if you have heard her sing (and I’m guessing most of us here have), this woman belts out with, “I Dreamed a Dream.” Her voice is truly incredible. For some reason, seeing this arguably frumpy person come out with all that talent who is not afraid to get up there and try her best knowing people will make fun of her makes me a little farklemt every time I see that clip.
Have you seen “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”? 
OK, is everyone up to speed? So they’re in the gym and the cheerleaders are at the pep rally in front of all the other students, and I think it was Eric Stoltz who throws a paper airplane past the cheerleaders. One of them says, “You know it takes a lot of guts to come up here and do something that you know people will make fun of.” She goes on to talk about how they’re not “spirit bunnies” anymore. But the point is that they had courage and determination when faced with adversity and challenge.
And that is a fabulous lesson to learn. It’s a good trick if you can pull that off. From that point on, I always had more respect for people who would try to do something — anything that was a challenge.
Sometimes people come into my art gallery and are like, “Oh. I could do that.” I always say, “So why don’t you?” which is usually the end of that conversation. Or they’ll ask me how I get my artists and what my commission is. I give them one more question, and then my response is, “Consultation fees are $500 an hour. Is that cash, check or charge?”
Now, there is one more line I deliver at the end of that but I’m not going to say it here. If you’re really curious, come to one of my openings and try me out. Or better yet, come to one of my openings and buy some art from me, and I’ll answer all the questions you like. That’s my goal.
Continue reading The David Leonardis Report: I Dreamed a Dream →
