I Hope I Get It, by Michael Davis – Straight No Chaser #184

September 10, 2010 Michael Davis 0 Comments

I’ve had some terrible things happen to me in my life. I’m not kidding when I say that on more than one occasion I was nearly killed. Hell, once a guy put a gun to my head pulled the trigger the gun jammed or misfired and my life was spared.

THAT was a bad day but I guess it could have been a lot worst.

I grew up poor in the hood. Many and I mean MANY of the people I grew up with are dead or in jail. Once in Junior High I was walking back from a party and these guys jumped me, threw me on the ground and pushed a sawed – off shotgun into my gut. They were about to rob me (or worst) when one of the guys said, “ That’s Sharon Davis’ brother.” They picked me up said they were sorry walked me to my building (I lived in a housing project) and went about their merry way looking for someone else to jack.

That kind of stuff happened to me fairly often. I was at a party when a guy hid behind ME while another guy was trying to stab him.

Trust me I have some horrible stories but this is not that kind of article, believe it or not this is a happy article! To that end, I’ve also had some great things happen to me in my life. Heck, I ran film and television for Motown and then hired my best friend to run it with me. MAN that was a cool gig. I’m sure most people would think that was a cool gig in and of itself but try imagining that job going to a guy whose favorite music in the world is Motown music. How freakin’ cool would that be? Well, I was that guy.  Bare with me a sec, when I was at Motown I worked with my best friend Denys Cowan and every day we would come to work and make up shit for movies, TV shows, and comics.

You know why we did a comic book line?  Because we could. Yeah, that’s a hell of a gig, a DREAM gig. With a FAT expense account.

Yeah, me and Denys I mean Denys and I…  I have to remember white people are reading this. Anywho, Denys and I had a freakin’ ball. We worked hard and LOVED it. The Motown gig was a great gig and I remember just how much I wanted it. I REALLY wanted it. I got it and it was everything I imagined it could be.

Growing up the way I grew up it’s always been hard for me to really WANT something. It’s hard because I KNOW that bad things happen to good people and you seldom if ever get what you want so why wish for it? It most likely will not happen.

YES, I know I said this would be a happy piece and it will be! Come on hang in there with me for just a few more way to long examples!  Just a wee bit longer!

The Motown gig was something I wanted but I’ve had better (on paper) deals that I’ve done. Whether or not I got those other deals was important but I’ve rarely stayed up nights wishing I’d get something or be able to do something.

Very rarely.

In fact I can just about list the things I’ve really wanted. So I will:

Things I’ve REALLY wanted in my life that have kept me up at night wishing and hoping for them to happen.

1. Getting into The High School Of Art & Design.
2. The Motown Gig.
3. To lose my virginity (stayed up quite a few nights on that one. Get it?)
4. My first Z car. I’ve had 20 over the years. (I’ve been driving since I was 5 Jean)
5. Milestone
6. Getting into Pratt Institute
7. To work in comics
8. Meet Don Levine (creator of GI Joe)
9. Meet Jack Kirby (creator of everything else)
10. To write and illustrate The Underground (coming 2011 from Dark Horse)

Except for some highly personal items which I’m keeping to myself (like that threesome with the 2 Asian gir…never mind) as I was saying except for some highly personal things the above list is really all I’ve REALLY wanted. So much so that I could not sleep because of the excitement just thinking about how cool those things would be.

Now, I’ve had a pretty fucking spectacular career. I’ve done some stuff that most people just dream they could do. I’ve created or have written TV shows, I’m a sought after public speaker; I’ve created comic book universes for the school system and the church market, which are IN the school system and the church market. I’m the guy behind the coolest panel at Comic Con, The Black Panel. I’ve done major work as an illustrator, not comics but corporate accounts. I’ve run three other divisions at three other entertainment companies.

Currently I’m writing four books for three major publishers. There’s a freakin’ auditorium named after me at an East Orange New Jersey grade school. One of the books I’m writing is about one of my favorite R&B groups so I have to TOUR with them sometimes. HOW cool is that?

I could go on, really I could but I’m starting to believe my own hype.

Bad idea.

I’m not trying to impress you I’m trying to impress upon you that I’ve lead a charmed life with regards to my career. EVERY single thing I’m working on I LOVE. I wake up every morning and I’m just so JAZZED about my life and what I do. All that said, I RARELY want something so bad I stay up thinking about it.

There are 10 things on my list above. I may be looking at number 11. This deal is so damn COOL that I’m been wishing and hoping since the deal process began. Man, I LOVE this feeling. It’s like CHRISTMAS and nobody loves CHRISTMAS more than me.

I can’t say what the deal is because of an NDA (non disclosure agreement) I signed but it is without a doubt, the coolest thing I could imagine doing. Now-when I can talk about the deal it may not seem that cool to you but to me it’s the greatest deal ever.

Now-I may not get the deal. There are so many ways these things go south, but you know what? That’s OK. Just to have this feeling of anticipation and sheer joy is well worth the disappointment if I don’t get the deal and that’s… ALL BULLSHIT!

Yeah, it’s cool to feel this way but I want this to happen so much that’s I’m already working on ideas and the deal is not closed. Damn, I wish I were gay and a dancer so I can sing that song from A Chorus Line…

ZACH
Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch…Again!
Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch…Again!
Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch…Again!
Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch…Right!
That connects with…
Turn, turn, out, in, jump, step,
Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch.
Got it?… Going on. And…
Turn, turn, touch, down, back, step,
Pivot, step, walk, walk, walk.

Right! Let’s do the whole combination,
Facing away from the mirror.
From the top. A-Five, six, seven, eight!

ALL
God, I hope I get it.
I hope I get it.
How many people does he need?

BOYS
How many people does he need?

GIRLS
God, I hope I get it.

ME
I hope I get it.
Please don’t let my lawyers or agents screw this up.
I’ll be in jail from what I’d do to them.
Boy they would get it.
Then I’d re-load and
They would get it again.

The plus part is that I believe there is NO one better suited for this gig than me. Really. If you have been reading my stuff for a bit you are well aware that I’m aware of my own limitations. I know what I’m good at, I would be GREAT at this. AWARD winning great.

I’ve even written my acceptance speech:

I got it.
Thanks!