Three Lessons About Work Survival From “Memphis” the Musical

03 Sep Three Lessons About Work Survival From “Memphis” the Musical

I fell in love with musicals when I was a kid and watched AMC (America’s Movie Classics) all summer. This was AMC, pre-The Walking Dead and every character learned a joyful lesson. A few years later I discovered Broadway and my education continued. If you itching to see a timely show, check out the Tony-award winning musical, ‘Memphis.’  Besides the stellar performances and great music; you’ll be treated to a few lessons about holding on to a job (which might come in handy these days).

Loosely based on the 1950s disc jokey Dewey Phillips, “Memphis” follows the character Huey Calhoun through his career as a white man who loves rock and roll.

Results Make You Indispensable

Radio stations at that time didn’t play music by African-American artists, so when Huey hijacked a station to play an African-American rock song, his prospective employer was ready to throw him out.  Huey’s results saved him.  Teenagers started calling in to request more music from him, and Huey got the job.

Lesson: If you consistently deliver, your boss will want to keep you in the office.

Weaknesses Can Be Overcome

It turns out that Huey can’t read, which makes it hard for him to present scripted commercials on the radio.  He asks a friend to help him read the script for a beer commercial, but he forgets the words.  Forced to improvise, Huey relies on his quick wit to get through the ad, and the beer maker sells every bit of his inventory.

Lesson:  Build your skills until they’re strong enough to overcome your weak points.

Persistence is Key

When Huey’s mom destroys the record featuring the voice of Huey’s beloved Felicia, it seems like she’ll never have the chance to hear her music on the radio.  Huey quickly finds a way to make it happen:  he brings in a band and background singers so that Felicia can sing live, and she’s a huge hit!

Lesson:  Don’t give up, even when everyone else has lost faith.

What have you learned about work from watching musicals?