A Conversation with Demo and Ric Viers: The Last Day of HoF
During the Hall of Fame week, I have talked to you about events and sessions like creative games that created new friendships and gave us a break from the panels and learning experiences. I described to you all of Phil Pallens' panels, the takeaway, and how we all should use the valuable tips that he had to share. Likewise, I told you about the tricks that Michael LaPlante uses to keep a right image and how he taught the audience how the dress for success.
Thursday was the last day of the Hall of Fame week; I decided to listen to Ric Viers and Demo so let me take you through their presentation. This panel started with a question from Becca, a recording arts student, that opened up a gate to a world full of advice.
"How difficult is to find a job, that is not freelancing, after Full Sail?"
To answer that, Ric told us a story about a kid he had worked with, and how the drive this person had was what got him to work in the last three Star Wars movies. Demo followed up by explaining that after you graduate, your willingness to work and your mindset is what is going to get you your dream job.
On that same topic, Viers said that we are all a result of the five people we hang around the most, and that is why we should keep people that we admire closer to learn and grow.
"Your mind is a cassette tape, keep it away from stuff that is going to affect it negatively."
A moment that I recall from this panel, and I think everyone present in that room will remember, is when Demo asked us to look at our fingerprint. It might sound strange, but he had a strong reasoning behind it. Demo wanted to tell the students how unique they are, just by looking at their fingerprints. "That fingerprint is here to leave a mark."
“If money was out of the equation, what would your dream job be?” Demo asked, and I saw how everybody’s facial expressions immediately changed and everyone got into some deep thoughts. Everyone in the room got a fresh perspective to look at their career choices. The session went on for about 40 minutes, and afterward, more than half the audience decided to stay and talk to Ric and Demo, that is how you know a panel was successful.
The most significant takeaway from this session was that we had to look for what we love, once we find that and set our goals, we are ready to conquer the world… of course, we have to be consistent and believe in ourselves.
I left that classroom with my head full of wisdom and a handful of notes to prove it. The campus was getting ready to host the induction ceremony and I was ready to see the induction ceremony for the six new HOF members. I got to sit in the front row to enjoy the best view while taking photographs, and all I had to do was ask.
What I want to tell in this final blog for this HoF, is that in this industry we do not get to be shy, we do not get to stay quiet, and we do not get to wait for our dreams to knock at our doors. We should, correction: We MUST keep working, keep doing what you love and aspire to do something big.
"You will never do anything, nothing, unless it's a though first"
Ric Viers.
