We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Johnathan Lee Iverson . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Johnathan Lee below.
Hi Johnathan Lee, thanks for joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
If this pandemic taught me anything, it taught me to be happy and responsible for who and what I am. I have known since I was a tyke, that I am not designed for “regular.” I was always rather irregular to begin with. Always the tallest, lankiest kid in class and heaven forbid, I had no inclination nor real ability in sports. When I realized I was a singer it changed everything for me and opened doors I had no clue existed. The last time I considered a regular job is when I made the mistake of getting my insurance license and working for a financial services company. I panicked during the early days of the pandemic. I was literally on stage at The Venardos Circus in Louisiana when we were told we had to go home. As a man, a husband and a father, my instinct was to “provide” by any means. Even as I studied and acquired the license, my entire being was signaling against it. Yet, who could blame me? Where was I going to perform? Nevertheless, I wasted two years. Two years which I could have buckled down and just invested in my craft, dared myself to become more adventurous and creative with my art and the many ideas that constantly flood my imagination. Lesson learned! I am proud to say, though finances are still not the most ideal, I am on the road to recovery. Back to me! I am all or nothing from here on out.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I am The Last Ringmaster™ of the iconic Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Greatest Show On Earth®. My story is quite fascinating. I began this journey as member of the famed Boys Choir of Harlem in New York City. I literally spent my adolescence in the world’s most coveted concert halls, on movie soundtracks such as Glory and Spike Lee’s Malcolm X, on stage with the likes of the late great Luciano Pavarotti, Tony Bennett, Roberta Flack, Stevie Wonder, LL Cool J, Ray Charles, Lena Horne, etc., etc., etc., I dined at the White House twice and performed for numerous heads of state and dignitaries, including then General Colin Powell, then the recently exonerated Nelson Mandela, and four US Presidents – Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and William Jefferson Clinton.
I originally intended to become an opera singer like the great Placido Domingo. I graduated the Hartt School of Music with plans to venture off to Europe to continue my studies, but history interceded and just like that, I was the youngest and first Black American to don the coveted top hat at The Greatest Show On Earth®. What I initially though would be a fun adventure for a year or two became a near two decade long odyssey. The best years of my professional life.
My experience equipped me in a myriad of ways. In addition to my career as a singer, actor, and voiceover professional, I regularly give keynotes on leadership, team building, and various motivational topics for audiences of all ages, from the school room to the corporate conference stage. As you can imagine I gleaned a great deal during my tenure as Ringmaster with regards to what it is to lead in front of and behind the curtain, as well as, lessons on how to effectively build and maintain a team from my time as a choirboy. I am also a much in demand host of such events. After all, why merely have an emcee when you can have a ringmaster. My experience with the press and having been thoroughly trained in media science has led me to begin developing a course of sorts and a coaching platform for public speaking and presentation.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
For me the great reward is simply living by design. Everything else falls into place. P.T. Barnum is alleged to have said many things, some true and some not. However, my favorite quote of his is: “Unless a man enters upon the vocation intended for him by nature and best suited to his peculiar genius, he cannot succeed.”
I truly believe that. Much of society’s unwellness is the result of so many of us living a lie. We venture toward pursuits that do not have our name on them, but they may come with the promise of security or nice shiny things and money. We are all designed on purpose for a purpose and when betrayed we all suffer. Your unrealized “peculiar genius” robs the rest of us, particularly future generations.
I refuse to betray myself ever again. My peculiar genius is my voice and I intend to use it to the utmost.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Omnium Circus (omniumcircus.org), which I am proudly serving as Board Chair and Ringmaster, is rewriting the way we operate in the performing arts space by broadening the big top to welcome multi abled artists, alongside the mosaic of cultures and nationalities that is common to the circus. For example, in performance I partner with celebrated dancer Anna Gichen who so happens to be deaf. Together, we’ve created a fascinating and inclusive language for all patrons to enjoy the festivities without either of us having to compromise our own artistic sense of expression.
Omnium was founded by author, artist, and scholar Lisa B. Lewis in 2020, with the mission of creating a company that reflects the world we live in, with an emphasis on humanizing our multi abled neighbors. They too, are capable of the extraordinary. They are aerialist, daredevils, acrobats, dancers, and so much more. They are also integral to the building of Omnium, as members of our board of directors, staff, and crew. This isn’t underhanded tokenism, this is about reminding one and all that each and everyone of us has intrinsic value and dignity worthy of respect and opportunity.
1 in 4 Americans has a disability. Thus, we must begin to take this into consideration, particularly those institutions that boast about being family friendly. Omnium Circus is leading the way in creating accommodations for a diverse spectrum of the multi abled community that join their family’s at our productions in a way most have never experienced before.
I love this mission I was invited to be apart of. It has stretched me in so many ways. It forced me to face my own blind spots and for that I am most grateful. I am elated to be apart of a fuller and richer circus and performing arts experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: bigtopvoice.com
- Instagram: @lastringmaster
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LastRingmaster
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnathaniverson/
- Twitter: @lastringmaster
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxTNjSnYog0oHZzFgtTUzPQ/featured
- Other: @lastringmaster at Tik Tok
Image Credits
Cover: Kirk Marsh (Ringmaster in white) 1. Mike Dunn (Black hat and vest) 2. Kirk Marsh (Brown hat and shirt)