Advice – Pro Skating Historical Foundation

Getting a Great Perspective

ProSkaDesigner — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 18:27:21 +0000

Robert Unger, who toured with Holiday On Ice and other ice shows for a total of nearly 15 years, considered the opportunity to travel around the world “a great education.”

It gave him a great perspective on the world, learning about other cultures and about history. He felt that this experience made him more “a part of the world.”

His advice to young show skaters is to concentrate on seeing the sights, learning something about each city. Read about the history of each place you visit. Save your money by avoiding too much late night partying. You can still enjoy yourself, but don’t restrict your sight-seeing to the bars in each town!

– From an interview with Robert Unger in the 1990s

School or Skating? Make the Best of Your Career Choice

ProSkaDesigner — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 21:40:17 +0000

I hope this letter finds all the right people. If you are performing right now, you are living it to the fullest. Remember this is a great business to be in, but keep your realities in check. We have all heard the term “Lifer.” That is the show skater who has taken this as a career. It is a big decision, and yet a risky one. You have decide to take the other fork in the road. You’ve decided to continue your skating education and make some money.

The facts are you have to look beyond your show skating career, as the possibilities to advance in management or production are limited after you decide to hang ‘em up.

The goals to keep in mind are: set yourself up financially so you have something to fall back on, and keep connections open if you are going to someday teach. This is the natural progression for most skaters once they have decided not to get their PhD.

If you are under contract, this is a job that can work for you. Your show income — with which, if you have good credit, you can purchase that house or apartment you have always wanted. That contract shows you are employed, which is important when investing in real estate. If you are on tour, you can rent that place out ’till you are ready to settle a bit and it’s paying itself off.

Think where you would eventually want to be, and keep those connections so you can work at that rink when you are on break or stay in your own house!

Keep it real, and look ahead a bit, and you won’t find yourself in a hard situation when that producer says, “hey, we think you’re a bit too old for this” or the limited opportunities to further your career are not presenting themselves.

I like to call it post-traumatic performers’ syndrome. It takes years adjust to a more normal life, and these things give you a bit of security.

Good luck and keep skating!

Posted by: Richard Swenning Last modified on: 6/26/2006

All the People Here Tooonight!!!

ProSkaDesigner — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 14:55:06 +0000

I have had the pleasure of working with so many wonderful people in all the shows I’ve done. What makes a wonderful tour is that you have to constantly re-invest your enthusiasm for living large and on tour. If you don’t? You stop. I guess I’m still in the frame of mind I was in my first show 11 years ago. Re-invest your enthusiasm in everything you do. It works. Cheers to the shows and all the people here tooonight!!

Posted by: FORREST RYAN MCKINNON Last modified on: 1/25/2006

Having Goals: Aim high, Stay positive

ProSkaDesigner — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 05:30:23 +0000

Starting your professional career is starting to live the dream of skating and what skating is meant to be. The joy of skating is being able to perform and grow as an artist. You have worked so hard for many years, and now you find yourself performing. This is your reward.

No matter what your position in any production, keep your goals in sight. Strive to be a better skater or performer every night and every week, and you will be rewarded further. The biggest reward is the personal satisfaction you receive through your hard work. Maybe acquiring a principal spot, another role, a better salary, eventually choreographing, or a management position… anything is possible — all great reasons to keep improving and seeing those goals become a reality.

Learn from watching your idols — first for their qualities as good human beings, and second as great artists or performers. You are only as good as your last show.. so be better than the last one… and get that comedy role you’ve always wanted, or that choreography gig! Posted by: Richard Swenning Last modified on: 1/29/2006