1 00:00:05,070 --> 00:00:05,910 Speaker 1: Welcome to the show. 2 00:00:06,230 --> 00:00:10,050 Speaker 2: I am Rashawn McDonald, the host of Money Making Conversations Masterclass, 3 00:00:10,410 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 2: where we encourage people to stop reading other people's success 4 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:17,159 Speaker 2: stories and start planning their own. Listen up as I 5 00:00:17,220 --> 00:00:20,940 Speaker 2: interview entrepreneurs from around the country, talk to celebrities and 6 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:23,820 Speaker 2: ask them how they are running their companies and speak 7 00:00:23,860 --> 00:00:26,259 Speaker 2: with nonprofits who are making a difference. 8 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:27,300 Speaker 1: In their local communities. 9 00:00:27,730 --> 00:00:30,290 Speaker 2: Now sit back and listen as we unlock the secrets 10 00:00:30,350 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 2: to their success on Money Making Conversations Masterclass. Hi, I'm 11 00:00:35,850 --> 00:00:39,460 Speaker 2: Rashawn McDowell. I host the weekly Money Making Conversations Masterclass show. 12 00:00:39,820 --> 00:00:42,780 Speaker 2: The interviews and information that this show provides are for everyone. 13 00:00:43,220 --> 00:00:46,099 Speaker 2: It's time to stop reading other people's success stories and. 14 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:46,979 Speaker 1: Start living your own. 15 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:52,150 Speaker 2: My guest is the founder of the Universal Circus, an 16 00:00:52,210 --> 00:00:54,870 Speaker 2: African-American man who had a vision of creating a circus 17 00:00:55,150 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 2: with a large percentage of people of color performing. It's 18 00:00:58,180 --> 00:01:03,020 Speaker 2: based in Atlanta, Georgia. Please welcome to Money Making Conversation Masterclass, Mr. 19 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: Cedric Walker. How you doing, Cedric? Hey, Sean. How are you? 20 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:09,759 Speaker 1: And thank you a lot for this opportunity. 21 00:01:10,740 --> 00:01:12,620 Speaker 2: You know, it's great, first of all, taking the time 22 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:14,759 Speaker 2: to come on the show. I know you're traveling around 23 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:17,040 Speaker 2: the world and around the country of the United States. 24 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:18,539 Speaker 2: What city are you in right now? 25 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,500 Speaker 1: That's in New Orleans, Louisiana. Wow. 26 00:01:23,020 --> 00:01:26,479 Speaker 2: That's good Cajun food. Good food down there that everybody 27 00:01:26,500 --> 00:01:29,770 Speaker 2: wants to eat. Now, You know, you're a traveling man, 28 00:01:30,490 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 2: and I traveled a lot. When I was 94, I 29 00:01:32,580 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 2: wanted to be a stand-up comedian. I want to tell 30 00:01:34,420 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 2: you something. I thought I was going to be the 31 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 2: next Richard Pryor. I thought I was going to be 32 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:43,820 Speaker 2: the next Eddie Murphy. Now, in 1994, you had an 33 00:01:43,900 --> 00:01:49,110 Speaker 2: idea about a circus. How can that happen? Please help 34 00:01:49,570 --> 00:01:52,110 Speaker 2: explain it to my audience, because it sounds incredible to me, 35 00:01:52,450 --> 00:01:54,250 Speaker 2: a vision will come to you like that. 36 00:01:54,990 --> 00:01:58,220 Speaker 1: Yes. So we were doing gospel plays. We actually had 37 00:01:58,250 --> 00:02:01,300 Speaker 1: a play. I was working on a play called Wicked 38 00:02:01,380 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 1: Ways with Michael Matthews out of Detroit. And Wicked Ways 39 00:02:06,700 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 1: was about a lot of the challenges that our community faces. 40 00:02:10,900 --> 00:02:16,470 Speaker 1: It dealt with kids growing up in the inner city 41 00:02:16,510 --> 00:02:21,410 Speaker 1: and getting into gangs. It dealt with fathers raising step-sons 42 00:02:21,530 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 1: as teenagers. It dealt with professional wives and mechanic husbands. 43 00:02:26,620 --> 00:02:30,220 Speaker 1: It just dealt with a lot of the challenges that 44 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:31,739 Speaker 1: our community faces. 45 00:02:31,980 --> 00:02:35,260 Speaker 2: And I saw kids in the theater. 46 00:02:35,300 --> 00:02:38,360 Speaker 1: I saw whole families. And it looked like I was 47 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:42,820 Speaker 1: in Pittsburgh at the Benidorm Theater. And it looked like 48 00:02:42,910 --> 00:02:46,829 Speaker 1: I saw a father, mother, granddaughter, grandchild. And I asked 49 00:02:46,870 --> 00:02:49,090 Speaker 1: the playwright, I said, man, this is a gospel play. 50 00:02:49,130 --> 00:02:51,470 Speaker 1: I know it's clean. I asked Mike and he said, 51 00:02:52,350 --> 00:02:57,820 Speaker 1: it's because theater is the oldest form of entertainment. And 52 00:02:58,310 --> 00:03:01,450 Speaker 1: went all the way back to be or not to be. 53 00:03:01,510 --> 00:03:04,790 Speaker 1: You could look on that stage on the Shakespearean plays 54 00:03:05,230 --> 00:03:09,190 Speaker 1: and see yourself. And our community is getting a chance 55 00:03:09,230 --> 00:03:12,660 Speaker 1: to look at itself through these plays. So that triggered 56 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:17,540 Speaker 1: the idea to create something that, because we were very, 57 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 1: our entertainment was, it was comedy, it was R & B, 58 00:03:22,100 --> 00:03:26,350 Speaker 1: it was jazz, it was you know, hip hop. Right. 59 00:03:27,250 --> 00:03:30,550 Speaker 1: It was dance. It was kind of a mixed bag 60 00:03:30,610 --> 00:03:34,030 Speaker 1: of everything. And I said, how do we, I got 61 00:03:34,290 --> 00:03:37,010 Speaker 1: my team and I said, how do we create something 62 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 1: that touches everybody? So I went to the library and 63 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:47,660 Speaker 1: every day, I worked, I worked, made part of my 64 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: job reading about black entertainment from the turn of the century. 65 00:03:52,590 --> 00:03:57,460 Speaker 1: And what I found was we train animals in the 66 00:03:57,500 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: five billion days. Black people train horses and dogs. And 67 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:06,660 Speaker 1: so I shared that with my team. And the idea 68 00:04:06,740 --> 00:04:10,460 Speaker 1: was from that, the circus germinated. But it was all 69 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:16,900 Speaker 1: about having something for every generation of our family, something 70 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:21,729 Speaker 1: where father, mother, daughter, granddaughter, and grandson could all sit 71 00:04:21,790 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: on the same bench and enjoy each other enjoying the show. 72 00:04:26,580 --> 00:04:28,660 Speaker 1: So that's what started. 73 00:04:28,820 --> 00:04:31,540 Speaker 2: You know, when I went there, because I know Michael, 74 00:04:31,860 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 2: Michael Matthews, a great guy, and one of my many 75 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:37,020 Speaker 2: days of being on the Steve Harvey Morning Show, we 76 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:39,349 Speaker 2: promoted a lot of his plays. We probably popped heads 77 00:04:39,410 --> 00:04:41,490 Speaker 2: a couple of times in a good way. And so 78 00:04:41,529 --> 00:04:45,050 Speaker 2: when I talk about the circus, you know, you did 79 00:04:45,150 --> 00:04:47,610 Speaker 2: all this research, but it was some naysayers. 80 00:04:47,130 --> 00:04:54,770 Speaker 1: Out there, right? Oh, man, my investors all ran. Prominent, 81 00:04:54,830 --> 00:04:57,380 Speaker 1: both black and white. I had fun with some of 82 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:00,420 Speaker 1: the guys, and they all just said, man, you are crazy. 83 00:05:01,220 --> 00:05:03,700 Speaker 1: Black people will not go to a circus. 84 00:05:03,820 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 2: Wow. 85 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 1: You know, that was just nobody believed it. So, you know, 86 00:05:10,420 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 1: I did. I felt it. I don't know where and what, 87 00:05:15,100 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: but I stayed the course. But it was challenging. 88 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:23,970 Speaker 2: Because we get stereotyped. You know, we get stereotyped on technology. 89 00:05:24,330 --> 00:05:26,870 Speaker 2: We get stereotyped on the type of entertainment or movies 90 00:05:26,910 --> 00:05:29,430 Speaker 2: that we want to see. And also that means the 91 00:05:29,490 --> 00:05:32,729 Speaker 2: world can stereotype us. So I commend you in pushing 92 00:05:32,790 --> 00:05:35,310 Speaker 2: back and say, look, I feel that within my gut 93 00:05:35,370 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 2: and my research, this could work. And then 30 years later, 94 00:05:38,460 --> 00:05:42,930 Speaker 2: because you're celebrating your 30th year. a Universal service. So 95 00:05:43,050 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 2: I don't know if I'm going to do Don Cornelius' 96 00:05:45,620 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 2: version or we'll go with the Richard version, but either way, 97 00:05:49,740 --> 00:05:51,620 Speaker 2: it got a lot of soul in it, brother. And 98 00:05:51,660 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 2: so the name, I'm sure you had research when you 99 00:05:54,220 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 2: did name as well, correct? 100 00:05:55,839 --> 00:06:00,780 Speaker 1: Universal. Yeah, yeah. The original name was Universal. I was 101 00:06:00,860 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 1: back and forth with my team on Universal. I wanted 102 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:08,860 Speaker 1: Universal from the beginning. So when we got to L.A., 103 00:06:09,950 --> 00:06:14,130 Speaker 1: Universal Studios sent us a cease and desist on Universal 104 00:06:14,190 --> 00:06:19,570 Speaker 1: Big Top Circus. So we asked them back, well, we 105 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: want to use Universal, which was my original idea to use. 106 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:31,060 Speaker 1: And they said, oh, absolutely. Here we are. 107 00:06:31,380 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 2: And so you look around at the staff going, told you, 108 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:36,590 Speaker 2: told you. Now you got to be out here. Looking 109 00:06:36,630 --> 00:06:38,690 Speaker 2: bad because you're going to follow my original idea. 110 00:06:38,850 --> 00:06:41,990 Speaker 1: We wouldn't even be here. Now, this is the good 111 00:06:42,029 --> 00:06:44,070 Speaker 1: part of it, you know, because we jumped a little bit. 112 00:06:44,330 --> 00:06:47,270 Speaker 1: We had the idea. We got the name. But you 113 00:06:47,310 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 1: were traveling. 114 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:53,620 Speaker 2: You had the naysayers about the whole concept, Cedric. And 115 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,340 Speaker 2: how did you get the axe originally? How did you 116 00:06:57,380 --> 00:06:58,900 Speaker 2: start putting the circus together? 117 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 1: Well, we, you know, when I wanted to do circus 118 00:07:03,380 --> 00:07:08,090 Speaker 1: and part of my research was, that, you know, circus 119 00:07:08,190 --> 00:07:11,410 Speaker 1: entrepreneurs traveled the world. And I couldn't wait to travel 120 00:07:11,430 --> 00:07:15,170 Speaker 1: the world. It was going to be a great experience, 121 00:07:15,230 --> 00:07:17,550 Speaker 1: but that's what it took to do circus. But I 122 00:07:17,610 --> 00:07:22,770 Speaker 1: do want to say that we started in 1994 in Atlanta. 123 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:27,020 Speaker 1: And initially it was an effort to, the initial concept 124 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:31,130 Speaker 1: and vision for it was to uplift and celebrate the 125 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 1: positive achievements and cultural contributions of African Americans through a 126 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:42,460 Speaker 1: family attraction. And so that was the, you know, the 127 00:07:42,660 --> 00:07:46,490 Speaker 1: impetus for what people are seeing. And that still remains 128 00:07:46,530 --> 00:07:49,610 Speaker 1: in the show, what you saw. It's that feeling that 129 00:07:49,670 --> 00:07:53,230 Speaker 1: they get once they come under that big time. It's 130 00:07:53,270 --> 00:07:57,860 Speaker 1: that soul that we put in it that differentiates us. But, yeah, 131 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:02,340 Speaker 1: I went around the world, and it was challenging to 132 00:08:02,380 --> 00:08:06,460 Speaker 1: look for talent, but I saw it. Now, I said, 133 00:08:06,500 --> 00:08:09,340 Speaker 1: you know, our audience, you know, we can't just give 134 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:11,810 Speaker 1: them bland food now. I got to have that spice, 135 00:08:11,870 --> 00:08:14,930 Speaker 1: that salt and pepper. I can't. I got to bring 136 00:08:14,950 --> 00:08:18,710 Speaker 1: it real. Right. You know black people. You know black people. 137 00:08:19,130 --> 00:08:22,940 Speaker 1: I can't have a clothesline for a high wire or 138 00:08:22,950 --> 00:08:28,330 Speaker 1: a match, you know. So, no, I went around the 139 00:08:28,390 --> 00:08:34,550 Speaker 1: world and just looked. And it was amazing how many 140 00:08:34,809 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 1: Black circus performers were doing phenomenal things that were out there. 141 00:08:40,860 --> 00:08:44,820 Speaker 1: A lot of them in Europe. And right here in America, 142 00:08:44,860 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 1: the King Charles Troupe playing basketball on unicycles. Just stuff 143 00:08:50,059 --> 00:08:53,910 Speaker 1: that came out of the hood. Came out and basketball 144 00:08:53,950 --> 00:08:57,260 Speaker 1: on unicycles. was the only thing, we were the only 145 00:08:57,380 --> 00:09:00,939 Speaker 1: ones that did that. So you had so many original, 146 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:07,860 Speaker 1: there was a girl named Pamela, Pamela Hernandez. Pamela was 147 00:09:07,900 --> 00:09:10,820 Speaker 1: an African-American from L.A., but she was one of the 148 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:16,420 Speaker 1: most respected airless. She was on Ringling Brothers, but she'd 149 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: be in those arenas, about 30, 40 feet in the 150 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 1: air doing tricks, no net under her. her and her partner. And, 151 00:09:25,340 --> 00:09:30,470 Speaker 1: and when, when, when I started listing the name, the 152 00:09:30,670 --> 00:09:33,590 Speaker 1: acts that I wanted to bring, the rest, then they 153 00:09:33,630 --> 00:09:36,570 Speaker 1: were black and the rest of the industry, the whites, 154 00:09:36,590 --> 00:09:41,970 Speaker 1: the Europeans, anybody in the industry knew and respected these 155 00:09:42,050 --> 00:09:45,670 Speaker 1: black artists to the heights. And the Mel is going 156 00:09:45,690 --> 00:09:48,010 Speaker 1: to be there. I'm going to be there. King Charles 157 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 1: is going to be there. I'm going to be there. 158 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:50,500 Speaker 2: Wow. 159 00:09:51,340 --> 00:09:58,110 Speaker 1: So it was amazing. the quality of black entertainment even 160 00:09:58,170 --> 00:09:59,970 Speaker 1: back then in circus art. 161 00:10:00,910 --> 00:10:02,790 Speaker 2: We know it's really important as we tell this story, 162 00:10:02,809 --> 00:10:04,670 Speaker 2: and thank you for allowing me to ask these questions 163 00:10:04,690 --> 00:10:08,670 Speaker 2: because I think the origin story of Universal is important 164 00:10:08,770 --> 00:10:12,030 Speaker 2: as what's happening now. Because in my life, I first 165 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:16,340 Speaker 2: was introduced to your circus in 2005. I was managing 166 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:20,079 Speaker 2: Steve Harvey. and we was on WBLS in New York City. 167 00:10:20,660 --> 00:10:23,319 Speaker 2: And that circus, when I went into it the first time, 168 00:10:23,860 --> 00:10:26,330 Speaker 2: I didn't know what to think. I went in there 169 00:10:26,710 --> 00:10:31,570 Speaker 2: with curiosity, but I walked away inspired because it was 170 00:10:31,630 --> 00:10:34,510 Speaker 2: a circus by us, for us. That was the first 171 00:10:34,530 --> 00:10:41,170 Speaker 2: thing that really pushed me to positivity. And so I'm 172 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 2: sure over the years, there have been different versions of 173 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:46,959 Speaker 2: the circus as you go. Because the circus I saw, 174 00:10:47,429 --> 00:10:51,230 Speaker 2: In 2005, I had an elephant. And the circus I 175 00:10:51,250 --> 00:10:53,930 Speaker 2: saw this past weekend recently didn't have an elephant or 176 00:10:54,010 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 2: any animals at the time. I think it was a lion, too, 177 00:10:57,340 --> 00:10:59,580 Speaker 2: that I saw at the time, too. So talk about 178 00:10:59,620 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 2: the transition and the vision of the circus over the years. 179 00:11:04,059 --> 00:11:07,359 Speaker 1: So, you know, just like Michael Jordan said, you have 180 00:11:07,380 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 1: to keep your eye on where the ball is going, 181 00:11:09,540 --> 00:11:15,060 Speaker 1: not where the ball is. We try to, and entertainment 182 00:11:15,820 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 1: is a form, is an art form that moves society forward. 183 00:11:21,340 --> 00:11:26,830 Speaker 1: So we try to inspire that new direction and wherever 184 00:11:26,910 --> 00:11:29,750 Speaker 1: it takes us. And it's kind of organic. It's just 185 00:11:29,809 --> 00:11:34,390 Speaker 1: a platform for young people to express new ideas, to 186 00:11:35,010 --> 00:11:39,900 Speaker 1: do their artistry. So, I mean, we've got a, it 187 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:43,979 Speaker 1: was challenging with, well, you know, to even think about 188 00:11:44,050 --> 00:11:48,579 Speaker 1: or dare to venture into the show without the animals, 189 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: but we realized how the laws were changing, you know, 190 00:11:53,580 --> 00:11:58,080 Speaker 1: people were changing, and we no longer could carry the 191 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 1: animals from state to state. Some states could, some states wouldn't. 192 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:10,630 Speaker 1: But what we found out is that our cultural artistry, 193 00:12:10,970 --> 00:12:14,050 Speaker 1: our who we are and how much fun we can have. 194 00:12:14,130 --> 00:12:22,430 Speaker 1: And the family unit where we're all grandmother, again, grandmother, father, daughter, 195 00:12:22,450 --> 00:12:26,829 Speaker 1: and son are all enjoying each other, enjoying the show. 196 00:12:27,230 --> 00:12:30,750 Speaker 1: We laid into that. How do we be authentically us 197 00:12:31,230 --> 00:12:34,890 Speaker 1: in a performance that is for everybody at the same 198 00:12:34,980 --> 00:12:39,470 Speaker 1: time and shares our culture? So a lot of the 199 00:12:39,650 --> 00:12:42,050 Speaker 1: Afro beach music, a lot of the music you've heard 200 00:12:42,130 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 1: on the show is kind of new ending music. A 201 00:12:44,700 --> 00:12:48,939 Speaker 1: lot of new dance styles that American hip hop has 202 00:12:48,980 --> 00:12:52,140 Speaker 1: inspired around the world, whether they inspired it in China 203 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 1: or Africa, it came from our streets, came from America 204 00:12:57,220 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 1: and it inspired the world. And so we've, we've incorporated 205 00:13:01,220 --> 00:13:05,860 Speaker 1: a lot of that inspiration. But just the, the, that, 206 00:13:06,500 --> 00:13:12,650 Speaker 1: Non-stop energy that is germane to our culture and our celebration. 207 00:13:13,050 --> 00:13:16,610 Speaker 1: It's sort of like a family reunion under the big top. 208 00:13:16,850 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 1: So we just leaned into our story and we continue 209 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:21,740 Speaker 1: to do that as it evolves. 210 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:26,700 Speaker 2: I was thinking of Cedric Walker, the founder of Universal Circus, 211 00:13:27,140 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 2: an inspirational voice in our community because he had a vision. 212 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:31,860 Speaker 1: A vision he wouldn't. 213 00:13:31,660 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 2: Allow other people to deny. He did his research. He 214 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:37,839 Speaker 2: walked past the naysayer, and 30 years later, he's celebrating 215 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:40,380 Speaker 2: the vision that we all can be entertained by because 216 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:44,980 Speaker 2: the audience I saw was very diverse. And not by 217 00:13:45,059 --> 00:13:48,510 Speaker 2: accident because I saw it in the area of Atlanta, Georgia, 218 00:13:48,570 --> 00:13:53,330 Speaker 2: which is the Atlantic Station, which is a mixed race, 219 00:13:53,429 --> 00:13:58,490 Speaker 2: very up-up-ly mobile area of Atlanta, Georgia. And the audience, 220 00:13:58,870 --> 00:14:00,650 Speaker 2: not only that, I knew it was mixed race. 221 00:14:00,490 --> 00:14:02,710 Speaker 1: Because friends of mine, they went to the show. 222 00:14:02,570 --> 00:14:05,960 Speaker 2: Before me and went, wow, I didn't expect it to 223 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 2: be that diverse. Is that the goal now or it 224 00:14:09,540 --> 00:14:10,250 Speaker 2: just happens? 225 00:14:11,770 --> 00:14:14,709 Speaker 3: Please don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with more 226 00:14:14,770 --> 00:14:22,470 Speaker 3: Money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to the Money Making 227 00:14:22,530 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 3: Conversations Masterclass hosted by Rashawn McDonald. Money Making Conversations Masterclass 228 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 3: continues online at moneymakingconversations.com and follow Money Making Conversations Masterclass 229 00:14:34,540 --> 00:14:36,460 Speaker 3: on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 230 00:14:36,940 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: Our goal is to stay authentically black, period. And how 231 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: do we do that? That is what transcends culture globally, 232 00:14:47,380 --> 00:14:52,860 Speaker 1: being authentically who you are. So, you know, we don't 233 00:14:52,900 --> 00:14:58,150 Speaker 1: have a direction, again, except for the origin of our 234 00:14:58,210 --> 00:15:04,270 Speaker 1: show to uplift and celebrate the positive achievements and cultural 235 00:15:04,330 --> 00:15:10,700 Speaker 1: contributions of African-Americans to family entertainment. So, you know, we're 236 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:14,900 Speaker 1: not going after any specific audience. Right. We're going after 237 00:15:14,940 --> 00:15:16,900 Speaker 1: the world. Awesome. 238 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 2: Thank you for saying that. Now, let's talk about these acts. 239 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:25,860 Speaker 2: The bottom line is the acts. Now, this Chinese trapeze 240 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:29,750 Speaker 2: act that you got dazzled my daughter. You know, she's a, 241 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:31,650 Speaker 2: I'm going to be honest with you, she's one of 242 00:15:31,670 --> 00:15:34,810 Speaker 2: those people who came in there with doubts, Cedric, because 243 00:15:34,830 --> 00:15:37,130 Speaker 2: she's a Cirque du Soleil. You know, she picked Cirque 244 00:15:37,150 --> 00:15:40,410 Speaker 2: du Soleil. She said, Dad, are you sure? 245 00:15:40,430 --> 00:15:44,090 Speaker 1: I said, hey, these are my people now. My boy Cedric, 246 00:15:44,750 --> 00:15:46,890 Speaker 1: they're going to take care of us. When she left, my. 247 00:15:46,810 --> 00:15:51,700 Speaker 2: Brother She is a 100% universal fan, okay? 248 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: So know that. 249 00:15:53,020 --> 00:15:55,940 Speaker 2: But that trapeze act, that put her on air. She 250 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 2: said that's better than anything she's ever saw anywhere. And 251 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 2: she's seen about 15 of those shows. So talk about 252 00:16:02,020 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 2: that Chinese trapeze act. 253 00:16:04,450 --> 00:16:10,350 Speaker 1: Right. So we had to, I guess, the grace and 254 00:16:10,390 --> 00:16:15,850 Speaker 1: blessings of having– scouts around the world, young scouts that 255 00:16:15,930 --> 00:16:20,270 Speaker 1: are always looking for what's new in different countries. And 256 00:16:20,870 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 1: our scout found this troop in their school performing and 257 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:30,220 Speaker 1: hadn't been out of the country yet, but had won 258 00:16:30,420 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 1: gold in every competition in China. And there's no 15, 259 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 1: 16 people flying through the air and no trapeze act 260 00:16:39,740 --> 00:16:42,230 Speaker 1: in the world. So I said, I have to have 261 00:16:42,270 --> 00:16:46,050 Speaker 1: that act. And so when the price tag, with the 262 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:51,060 Speaker 1: price tag, the guy said, if he buys it, he's crazy. 263 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:54,780 Speaker 1: And we bought it as we wanted to. Because that's 264 00:16:54,820 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: what circus is all about. It's just bringing unbelievable stuff 265 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:03,410 Speaker 1: to the audience. Well, you know, the difference that really 266 00:17:03,450 --> 00:17:04,290 Speaker 1: amazed me was the. 267 00:17:04,290 --> 00:17:08,070 Speaker 2: Distance between them swinging. 268 00:17:08,390 --> 00:17:09,389 Speaker 1: I was stunned. 269 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:13,649 Speaker 2: By that distance, I was like, wow, I've never seen 270 00:17:13,850 --> 00:17:19,730 Speaker 2: this athleticism, aerial athleticism like this. So, again, this is 271 00:17:19,850 --> 00:17:22,570 Speaker 2: one thing. Another thing that dazzled me, and a lot 272 00:17:22,630 --> 00:17:27,390 Speaker 2: of things dazzled me, by the way, Cedric, was the, 273 00:17:27,500 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 2: I think, the couple that was on the roller skates. 274 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:34,399 Speaker 1: Oh, yeah, from Cuba. That's the Alcabana Knights roller skating thing. 275 00:17:34,900 --> 00:17:39,869 Speaker 2: Cedric, that right there, the G-force of them spinning, I 276 00:17:39,900 --> 00:17:41,330 Speaker 2: was taken aback. 277 00:17:41,750 --> 00:17:42,370 Speaker 1: I was taken aback. 278 00:17:42,810 --> 00:17:45,189 Speaker 2: What is the training like when you get a couple 279 00:17:45,250 --> 00:17:50,390 Speaker 2: like that? Because there's danger involved. Right. 280 00:17:50,500 --> 00:17:55,399 Speaker 1: So everything you see on the big top, we curated it. 281 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 1: It's been four or five years before it even hits 282 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:03,909 Speaker 1: our stage. And it could have been in school, in 283 00:18:03,950 --> 00:18:06,650 Speaker 1: their schools. We work with schools all over the world. 284 00:18:06,670 --> 00:18:10,420 Speaker 1: We work with schools in Ethiopia and Cuba and South America. 285 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 1: We work with schools in China. And we identify what 286 00:18:15,660 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: we want and depends on what level of training they 287 00:18:21,060 --> 00:18:26,909 Speaker 1: have achieved and what countries they come from. We send 288 00:18:28,030 --> 00:18:33,110 Speaker 1: trainers to Ethiopia We send trainers to West Africa. We 289 00:18:33,190 --> 00:18:38,850 Speaker 1: send trainers to South America. Or we bring the performers here, 290 00:18:38,950 --> 00:18:44,710 Speaker 1: send them to training centers here. It's sort of, they 291 00:18:44,730 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 1: get out of what you would consider maybe high school 292 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 1: or entry level. And then we take them to that 293 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:57,100 Speaker 1: doctorate level in terms of really putting the icing on 294 00:18:57,119 --> 00:19:02,670 Speaker 1: the cake in terms of performance. So that skating act 295 00:19:02,730 --> 00:19:10,030 Speaker 1: came from two schools. It was a dance school in 296 00:19:10,710 --> 00:19:15,090 Speaker 1: Cuba where I saw the young lady and an acrobatic school, 297 00:19:15,170 --> 00:19:18,330 Speaker 1: and they were combined. And they spent a few years 298 00:19:18,430 --> 00:19:22,220 Speaker 1: training in Cuba. Then we brought them here in Los 299 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:27,340 Speaker 1: Vegas to elevate their training. Then we got them under 300 00:19:27,380 --> 00:19:30,639 Speaker 1: the big top and created a theme, the whole Cuban 301 00:19:30,700 --> 00:19:34,639 Speaker 1: theme around. So whatever you see, I mean, we spend 302 00:19:35,230 --> 00:19:40,950 Speaker 1: a good five years of investment at about 40 to 303 00:19:40,950 --> 00:19:44,990 Speaker 1: 50 grand a year just training these exes. You see, 304 00:19:45,130 --> 00:19:49,310 Speaker 1: our idea for our artists, and some of them we 305 00:19:49,330 --> 00:19:52,850 Speaker 1: don't have to train, like the Caribbean. Right. Their whole 306 00:19:53,050 --> 00:19:57,290 Speaker 1: culture is, you know, all about, to me, that's one 307 00:19:57,350 --> 00:20:01,530 Speaker 1: of the greatest acts on our show. Their culture is 308 00:20:01,650 --> 00:20:06,930 Speaker 1: designed to, you look at their faces and their smiling 309 00:20:06,990 --> 00:20:10,590 Speaker 1: and their, They're happy as they perform, and they're going 310 00:20:10,609 --> 00:20:14,230 Speaker 1: to fire four or five rows. And, you know, I mean, 311 00:20:14,930 --> 00:20:20,070 Speaker 1: you know, the culture in terms of the costuming, the characters, 312 00:20:20,830 --> 00:20:24,540 Speaker 1: the still, well, everything means something. Nothing is by chance. 313 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:30,900 Speaker 1: Nothing is just for flamboyancy or your eyes. It all 314 00:20:31,140 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 1: traces back to that culture in some meaningful way. So... 315 00:20:36,790 --> 00:20:39,290 Speaker 1: Everything is deep-rooted that you saw. 316 00:20:39,310 --> 00:20:42,090 Speaker 2: Well, you know, the amazing thing, like I said, I 317 00:20:42,090 --> 00:20:46,450 Speaker 2: just want to share everybody my thoughts, my adventure. Go 318 00:20:46,510 --> 00:20:48,730 Speaker 2: there and see it. The show is over two hours long. 319 00:20:49,010 --> 00:20:51,869 Speaker 2: This is not a 30-minute show, an hour show. It 320 00:20:52,310 --> 00:20:53,429 Speaker 2: starts on time. 321 00:20:53,470 --> 00:20:54,150 Speaker 1: Let me tell you all this. 322 00:20:54,869 --> 00:21:00,080 Speaker 2: Universal Circus starts on time, okay, because of the fact 323 00:21:00,100 --> 00:21:02,060 Speaker 2: that a lot of people don't believe that because they come. 324 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 1: In late, okay? 325 00:21:04,140 --> 00:21:08,230 Speaker 2: This circus is professionally run. Not saying it wasn't, but 326 00:21:08,550 --> 00:21:10,830 Speaker 2: people need to understand, you can miss out on some 327 00:21:10,869 --> 00:21:14,550 Speaker 2: great entertainment if you don't arrive on time, because Universal 328 00:21:14,590 --> 00:21:17,770 Speaker 2: Soul Circus starts on time. Now, let's talk about the 329 00:21:17,950 --> 00:21:20,510 Speaker 2: acts from Ethiopia, because I noticed, you know, I'm looking at, 330 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 2: you know, I'm an exam, I'm a little producer too, etc. 331 00:21:23,380 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 2: And there's a lot of acts from Ethiopia. Tell us 332 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:25,940 Speaker 2: about that. 333 00:21:26,580 --> 00:21:32,100 Speaker 1: So, Ethiopia is the leading country. world they're leading the 334 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:38,300 Speaker 1: world in producing and providing black circus performers all over 335 00:21:38,500 --> 00:21:43,500 Speaker 1: Europe all over we had the we have we're very 336 00:21:43,619 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 1: proud that we got into Ethiopia in the maybe 90s 337 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:54,740 Speaker 1: 96 97 98 and started working with those circus schools 338 00:21:54,820 --> 00:21:57,359 Speaker 1: and we were the first to bring an Ethiopian act 339 00:21:58,270 --> 00:22:03,090 Speaker 1: out of Ethiopia to a circus touring in America. I 340 00:22:03,470 --> 00:22:07,590 Speaker 1: think they had schools that were set up in Ethiopia 341 00:22:08,590 --> 00:22:12,340 Speaker 1: mainly to train kids. It was a program that was 342 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 1: developed by some European circus... Right. entrepreneurs and the idea 343 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:27,959 Speaker 1: was to help the government keep the kids off the 344 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:31,320 Speaker 1: street so they were training them circus arts and it 345 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:34,959 Speaker 1: was cool it was a good idea but the the 346 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 1: performers showed such great enthusiasm and capacity until when i 347 00:22:42,540 --> 00:22:46,200 Speaker 1: went there i was totally blown away at the quality 348 00:22:46,260 --> 00:22:50,280 Speaker 1: of of some and the shows were all about messages 349 00:22:50,460 --> 00:22:54,270 Speaker 1: and they had full circus shows that were you know, 350 00:22:54,330 --> 00:22:59,790 Speaker 1: teaching kids about age or teaching kids about, you know, working. 351 00:22:59,869 --> 00:23:02,790 Speaker 1: They taught, they had a lot of good mentors. But 352 00:23:02,930 --> 00:23:07,450 Speaker 1: we were one of the first, and we've since invested 353 00:23:07,830 --> 00:23:13,730 Speaker 1: a lot of money and training in Ethiopia because the 354 00:23:13,810 --> 00:23:18,230 Speaker 1: kids show so much promise. So we're very proud of 355 00:23:18,290 --> 00:23:21,810 Speaker 1: the work that they've done. We sponsor a big festival 356 00:23:21,850 --> 00:23:25,609 Speaker 1: there or one of the sponsors of a festival they have. 357 00:23:26,609 --> 00:23:29,810 Speaker 1: But there's some great, we have a duo aerial act 358 00:23:30,290 --> 00:23:35,530 Speaker 1: that I've never seen. And in 30 years, I've seen 359 00:23:35,570 --> 00:23:39,109 Speaker 1: just about everything. But that duo, those two girls up 360 00:23:39,170 --> 00:23:42,690 Speaker 1: in the air, you saw them. They move at a 361 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:46,399 Speaker 1: speed that no other duo aerial act will move at. 362 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:50,770 Speaker 1: I think even dare to move that fast. changing all 363 00:23:50,810 --> 00:23:55,890 Speaker 1: those positions 30 feet off the ground with no net. 364 00:23:56,030 --> 00:23:57,810 Speaker 1: No net. No net. 365 00:23:59,670 --> 00:24:02,949 Speaker 2: And I won't describe in detail, but please go. What 366 00:24:02,990 --> 00:24:06,770 Speaker 2: he's saying is underselling the significance of what they're doing 367 00:24:06,810 --> 00:24:09,850 Speaker 2: because it's impressive. And they were doing some things. I 368 00:24:09,869 --> 00:24:12,010 Speaker 2: would tell you, Cedric, I was going, is she about 369 00:24:12,030 --> 00:24:12,450 Speaker 2: to do that? 370 00:24:13,090 --> 00:24:16,460 Speaker 1: Really? Okay. Now, are they sisters or were they twins? 371 00:24:16,940 --> 00:24:17,400 Speaker 2: No, no. 372 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:19,660 Speaker 1: They work together. They come out of the school together. 373 00:24:20,740 --> 00:24:24,699 Speaker 1: We have in the performance, we have the Hoop Diving Act, 374 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:28,439 Speaker 1: we have the Girls in Aerial Act, and we have 375 00:24:29,850 --> 00:24:34,209 Speaker 1: the three acts, the Tita Board. And those are the 376 00:24:34,369 --> 00:24:39,670 Speaker 1: three best, strongest schools in Ethiopia. We have their top acts. 377 00:24:39,730 --> 00:24:42,170 Speaker 1: So those are the three of the top acts from 378 00:24:42,210 --> 00:24:47,050 Speaker 1: the strongest trainers and producers in Ethiopia. And And we 379 00:24:47,070 --> 00:24:49,709 Speaker 1: were graced with that and blessed because we were one 380 00:24:49,750 --> 00:24:56,169 Speaker 1: of the early pioneers in helping them with training and programming. Wow, beautiful. 381 00:24:56,690 --> 00:25:00,510 Speaker 2: As we go, like I said, 1984, you had the vision. 382 00:25:01,070 --> 00:25:05,230 Speaker 2: We're sitting here now, 30 years later. What's on the horizon? 383 00:25:06,890 --> 00:25:10,670 Speaker 1: I mean, our culture is so rich and it deserves 384 00:25:10,750 --> 00:25:14,380 Speaker 1: so much. And we've got to, there's a lot we 385 00:25:14,410 --> 00:25:18,160 Speaker 1: have to do. I think, you know, family, and just 386 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:23,570 Speaker 1: in the formerly attraction industry, ice shows that we have 387 00:25:23,630 --> 00:25:26,890 Speaker 1: yet to challenge. I mean, there's a Bourbon Street. Why 388 00:25:26,930 --> 00:25:29,370 Speaker 1: don't we have a street? I mean, there's just so 389 00:25:29,490 --> 00:25:33,970 Speaker 1: much that's, but it has to be authentic, and it 390 00:25:34,060 --> 00:25:38,679 Speaker 1: has to be created authentically. But I have a lot 391 00:25:38,700 --> 00:25:43,459 Speaker 1: of ideas. I have ideas that should live way past me, 392 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:46,100 Speaker 1: And I have a lot of challenges. This is the 393 00:25:46,140 --> 00:25:47,160 Speaker 1: tip of the iceberg. 394 00:25:47,900 --> 00:25:50,460 Speaker 2: Well, my friend, the fact you allowed me to take 395 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:53,360 Speaker 2: time in your business schedule, because you run a circus, okay? 396 00:25:53,420 --> 00:25:55,820 Speaker 2: I'm just running a little small business with animals and 397 00:25:55,900 --> 00:25:59,200 Speaker 2: trapezoids and all kinds of human beings running around here 398 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:02,939 Speaker 2: trying to understand what life is. You're the entertaining business. 399 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:03,770 Speaker 1: That's where you started. 400 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:06,970 Speaker 2: You had the whole run of animals, the whole big 401 00:26:07,010 --> 00:26:10,310 Speaker 2: top theme. You did the gospel plays, which I'm very 402 00:26:10,369 --> 00:26:13,580 Speaker 2: familiar with. But the bottom line, Cedric, you just wanted 403 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:17,740 Speaker 2: to do family entertainment, correct? Yeah, no, I thought it 404 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:21,090 Speaker 2: was a need for it, you know, and I saw it. 405 00:26:21,700 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 2: And we needed this. We need something that uplifts our 406 00:26:25,859 --> 00:26:28,700 Speaker 2: families and joins us together. 407 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:33,000 Speaker 1: It joins the generations. It ties the young. When a 408 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:38,020 Speaker 1: four-year-old is watching their parents sing soul karaoke to Al 409 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:44,370 Speaker 1: Green and the Grandparents are doing the latest dance with 410 00:26:44,410 --> 00:26:48,330 Speaker 1: the freshly clouds in the rain. It just has generations 411 00:26:48,410 --> 00:26:48,830 Speaker 1: to that. 412 00:26:50,150 --> 00:26:51,670 Speaker 2: It really did, because there was some little girls. There 413 00:26:51,690 --> 00:26:54,869 Speaker 2: was a song that those rappers, they started playing. It 414 00:26:54,890 --> 00:26:57,750 Speaker 2: was like 30 little girls, probably in the fifth grade, 415 00:26:57,770 --> 00:27:00,330 Speaker 2: were singing. I went, I don't know what they're doing, 416 00:27:00,350 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 2: but boy, it is really enjoyable to watch the connection, 417 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:07,240 Speaker 2: because they just took off and did the little dance 418 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:10,380 Speaker 2: and hit every word, and it was just fantastic. But 419 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:13,300 Speaker 2: thank you for inviting me down there to see history, 420 00:27:13,340 --> 00:27:17,000 Speaker 2: my brother, because you're making history, man. It was diversity, 421 00:27:18,020 --> 00:27:21,800 Speaker 2: the safety, the professionalism, Walking in that door, man, it 422 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:24,240 Speaker 2: was just a clean environment, safe environment. 423 00:27:24,780 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 1: And again, ladies and. 424 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:29,899 Speaker 2: Gentlemen, Universal Circus starts on time. 425 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:31,390 Speaker 1: Remember that. 426 00:27:31,750 --> 00:27:35,090 Speaker 2: Don't let nobody push no stereotype. Not saying it's out there, 427 00:27:35,490 --> 00:27:37,850 Speaker 2: but people generally think that when you do black things, 428 00:27:37,890 --> 00:27:40,950 Speaker 2: you know, CP time, you know, it's going to start 429 00:27:40,970 --> 00:27:41,810 Speaker 2: where it's going to start. 430 00:27:42,290 --> 00:27:45,149 Speaker 1: Not their circus. My brother, thank you for the time. 431 00:27:45,470 --> 00:27:48,830 Speaker 1: Thank you, Sean. Thank you so much. Appreciate you. 432 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:52,939 Speaker 2: This has been another edition of Money Making Conversations Masterclass 433 00:27:53,100 --> 00:27:56,180 Speaker 2: hosted by me, Rashawn McDonald. Thank you to our guests 434 00:27:56,260 --> 00:27:59,700 Speaker 2: on the show today and thank you, our listening audience. Now, 435 00:27:59,740 --> 00:28:01,629 Speaker 2: if you want to listen to any episode or want 436 00:28:01,650 --> 00:28:05,890 Speaker 2: to be a guest on the show, visit MoneyMakingConversations.com. Our 437 00:28:05,910 --> 00:28:09,470 Speaker 2: social media handle is Money Making Conversations. Join us next 438 00:28:09,510 --> 00:28:11,770 Speaker 2: week and remember to always lead with your gifts. 439 00:28:12,230 --> 00:28:12,780 Speaker 1: Keep winning.