Cris Cohen: In another interview, you said in this business, you really need to have a sense of hope, and a sense of belief, and a sense of joy in what you're doing. I've heard a lot of people say sense of hope, sense of belief. You're the first I've come across that adds that third part of you really need a sense of joy. What makes that such a key factor in that whole equation?
Chris Berardo: Joy is the payoff, right? It's a lot easier to believe when you chronicle the joyful moments. With all the setbacks, like we've talked about, there's been a lot of tears and family arguments. But every day I get up, I'm excited, even when things are going bad. What might go right today? What might get fixed?
It's full of potential, because anything could happen at any time. It's so exciting. You could write the song that changes your life or (meet) the musician that changes your life.
It gets me choked up. That's the payback. And then it's easy to believe when every day starts with potential.
You're cheating yourself if you don't recognize the joy when it's happening. I've been able to pretty easily identify the payback, which is not the money or getting a good table in a restaurant.
It's the doing of it, the process. If you don't like the process in this (business), then you're a fool and you're wasting your life. Because nothing may ever happen. But you enjoy the doing and working with other artists, singing songs for people that might touch them in some way.
There's the payoff. The joy’s out there. Don't cheat yourself. Don't let it slip by.
Chris Berardo website: https://www.chrisberardo.com/