Be nice to people on the way up - you may need them on the way down

The Words of Wisdom this week are an old theatre saying: Be nice to people on the way up – you may need them on the way down. That speaks for itself really. People in this business have some success – often a very small amount of success – and they can quickly become arrogant, conceited and all too full of themselves. Don’t let it happen to you, when you become successful. Be nice to people on the way up – you may need them on the way down.

Be nice!

This week the Words of Wisdom will be short and, as last week, they will be a piece of professional advice which is applicable everywhere else as well. They are simply Be nice! They do say ‘Be nice to people on the way up because you’ll need them on the way down’ but it’s more than just that piece of cynical calculation. To be polite to your fellow professionals is simply the right way to behave, whether it’s with the big name star or the studio cleaner. They all have their jobs to do and are entitled to be treated with respect. People who let success go to their heads tend to get their comeuppance in the end and that serves them right. Another thing for actors to remember is that there should be no dividing line between cast and crew. The crew members are there to help you and they often have a wealth of knowledge and experience which they will be willing to share with you. A little knowledge of technical aspects of the business will do you nothing but good. And keep a notebook or database of the names and other details of people you work with. We work in a small village and it’s surprising how often you will meet the same people. Be nice!