'The Self-Isolated Artist' Series: Vancouver Profile of David C. Jones
Interview conducted by Fabulist Theatre’s Vancouver correspondent, Damon Bradley Jang
A multi-award-winning creative force, David C. Jones is an Audience Engagement Specialist. Whether he is producing, presenting or performing, David has traveled the world and worked in such exotic locations as Israel, Bosnia, Italy, Australia and Switzerland. He has worked as a coach on television series and as a teacher for speakers, public figures and students of all disciplines. As demand for his teaching grew, David created the Audience Engagement Academy.
How did this bullied, loner, and sensitive high-school kid become a Business in Vancouver Top 40 Under 40, Legacy Award Winner, Vancouver Sun People’s Choice Award Winner? As a young man, David discovered he can make people laugh. Then they are engaged, people are not enraged.
David’s creative career includes work as a corporate comedian, a keynote speaker, live theatre creator and filmmaker. He also likes to mention casually he was the Entertainment Manager of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Mostly, David works as coach and trainer with his courses being heralded as “an inspiring combination of compassion, challenge and humour.”
Recently David spoke to me about finding a passion and professional career path as a speaker at events which, unfortunately, were interrupted due to COVID 19.
David, tell me what inspired you to explore this new direction of your career.
I love acting and playing characters, and will always do that, but I’m also a passionate teacher. Although I work as an actor and sometimes get TV work, I make most of my money as an MC and host.
I was asked by the ALS Society of BC, to give a keynote speech on the Power of Laughter a year ago.
Now stay with me here...
I also used to run a charity that I quite adored called ‘The Laughter Mission Society’. We used to bring comedic artists to people dealing with terminal illness and life-threatening diseases, and I saw the transformation and the effect it often had. It was a friend who said I need it to combine all those experiences and skills into a speaking career.
The podcast that I’m starting, or was starting, is called ‘Alive and Engaged’ and will feature a little bit of advice from me as a MC and host dealing with audiences all around the world for over 25 years. I have a guest who is expert on self-care and personal development. The first two episodes I recorded are quite thrilling and illuminating in my opinion. When we’re no longer quarantined or in isolation, I want to record a couple more before releasing the series.
How are you feeling about this current situation with COVID 19?
I must say I vacillate between making the use of the time. Like many, my apartment has not been cleaned this nicely in a long time . I’m also really having to fight my anxiety demons.
I am happiest in classroom or on stage. I’m very used to having people with whom I’m in interaction on a large scale. Losing that so suddenly [on account of COVID 19] has put my whole energy vortex out of whack.
I mean I’m in a classroom about 20 hours a week and I host or MC or perform at a local cabaret show at least six times a month.
Poof! All gone. I’m discombobulated.
What are you doing to keep yourself busy?
i’m trying to create content for my new website and I am trying to do a lot more yoga since I can’t go to the gym.
Why do you think it is important, especially now, that artists be versatile with multiple marketable skills?
I’ve always been a creative person in many different mediums. I directed and produced thirteen short films, eleven of which I wrote. I created a TV series. I’ve been a large-scale event producer including being the entertainment manager for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
I teach ‘Intro to Acting’ in the Foundation Department at Vancouver Film School. I always say to those students ‘One of the truths about this business is that you’re always looking for your next job. The more skills you have, the more work you get, and the more money you can make so you can feed your babies.’
What do you love about the arts scene in Vancouver?
I love the arts scene and that’s why in my spare time I write previews on it.
Actually, I’ve got to say, I like what the performing arts can do for people in general. I love taking people to the theater who don’t normally go, and I love watching them get so captured by it.
Well, of course, there’s a lot of bad theatre too and that ends up doing more damage than good. But, when it’s good. it’s sublime.
Is there a light at the end of the tunnel regarding COVID-19?
I must assume that there is hope and light, and I just hope the government will not allow everyone to lose their rental properties and such.
It will be up to the performing artists to be the cheerleaders when all this isolation is over. The interesting thing is we won’t have to be asked. We are all missing our audiences.
What would you tell younger artists experiencing the same loss of gigs, income and, possibly, hope?
The biggest thing about working the arts is there is no retirement age, so it’s not like you’re missing an opportunity. The work will be there when we’re out of isolation.
In your opinion is there anything, positive about this whole situation?
Well, for performing arts teachers, a lot of them were already exploring teaching online and it appears there is a jump start to everyone going online right now.
What are you doing to continue to keep arts alive in our community?
I’ve been doing these little character musicals myself on my Facebook page. I know some drag queens and other performers who are now doing their shows online.
Sara Bynoe, who I think is amazing, is doing an online version where you have to buy tickets to see her regular monthly show ‘Teen Angst’. It’s a cabaret show where people read from the diaries, so it translates very well to Webcam.
What do you love about the various forms of your artistic practice?
Everything I do involves an audience which doesn’t mean I treat my students like they are in audience. They are there to learn and I love helping them with that, and I learn a lot from them.
But they are still in front of me, so they are like an audience.
Whether I am producing, performing or presenting, I’m all about creating experiences that bring people together in an exciting and entertaining event.
That is an awesome responsibility and I treat it to the best of my ability with empathy and excitement. I hope that doesn’t sound pretentious, but I treat every audience as unique and worthy.
OK, that sounded pretentious, but it’s true.
As a nod to ‘Inside The Actors Studio’, here are the late James Lipton's 10 final questions.
What is your favorite word? Four
What is your least favorite word? No
What turns you on? Physically, this may be TMI, thighs.
What turns you off? Liars
What sound or noise do you love? Applause (doesn’t have to be for me)
What sound or noise do you hate? Crashes
What is your favorite curse word? Fuckety Fuck Fuck
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Tour guide
What profession would you not like to do? Accountant.
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates - “You did good
Connect with David,
David C Jones (he/him)
Instagram: @thisisdavidcjones Twitter: @itsdavidcjones
"I acknowledge that I work on the traditional territory of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish Coast Salish Peoples."
If you are interested in profiling an individual in your arts community, please contact Damon at fabulistmedia@gmail.com.