“Innovation Starts by Crossing Disciplines and Taking Action” -Mitch Jackson
It doesn’t seem that long ago when Lisa and I caught the Saturday matinee of the Pulitzer and Tony award winning musical “Hamilton,” at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. The show, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, was amazing! It’s now out on Disney Plus and you should try to stream it if you can.
This is not the first time a musical or play was written and performed about Alexander Hamilton and this period of time in American history. It was however, the first time that that hip-hop, pop music, rhythm and blues, and show tunes, were all used to tell this story.
It was also the first time (as far as I know) where color-conscious casting of non-white actors played Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and their contemporaries, in a musical of this magnitude. The result is an incredible innovative new experience resulting in sold-out shows and a production that people are talking about around the world.
My “Hamilton” experience made me think about a lot of things that I want to do to try and make our world a better place. When it came to business, I also arrived home later that night asking myself the question:
“How am I innovating and using approaches from disciplines outside of my industry to do a better job, provide a more memorable client experience, and tell a better story, even if that story has been told a thousand times before?”
Marinda told this story using song and dance which up until now, was only found in other disciplines. His excellent and unique approach to writing, directing and casting, made the musical meaningful, memorable, and special. By tapping into different cultures and influences from various industries, segments of society, and generations of change, “Hamilton” became an experience I’ll never forget.
The courtroom happens to be my stage. I can’t wait to bring different disciplines, experiences and stories before my juries, to help make my point and obtain memorable and lasting verdicts for my clients. Hamilton also reminded me to do the same thing on social media and there’s no better time to start than the present.
So here are my two questions to you. Will you join me? How will you embrace the lessons learned in “Hamilton” to change your next presentation or production to make it emotional, unique and memorable?
