With the following post, we want to stimulate your mind and make you reflect on the reason that led us to see the song “L’istrione” by Charles Aznavour as the international anthem of a salesperson! Of course, we are joking, but there are many similarities that we have found between the song and the life of a salesperson: read the post to believe!
Who is the histrion?
The word “histrion”, used to define the actors of ancient Rome, is today associated with the concept of an emphatic actor with exceptional stage skills; to those who behave in a theatrical way and love exhibitionism and place themselves at the center of attention. “Histrion” is also synonymous with improvisation.
In the song’s lyrics, Charles Aznavour emphasizes the importance of the genius component, essential for the art of improvisation and for “never to be lacking in words”.
The similarity between a histrion and a salesperson
There are strong parallels between an actor on the theatrical scene and who has to make a presentation, perhaps a sales presentation: the fact of being the center of attention, having the audience all to himself, making monologues, and talking to people. But above all, capture their attention and leave them “an emotion”.
Therefore, we can see certain parallelism between a salesperson and an actor from this perspective. It is a common experience for a salesperson to have to make a presentation in front of an audience, such as an interested audience of potential customers and buyers: someone who needs to be convinced.
To convince people, you have to be a little histrionic! You need to have communication skills, persuasion, a little different than usual. In fact, to be a salesman, you need to know how to deal with and talk to people, you need to know how to stay in the right place, know the times, strategically use empathy, the ability to change the tone of your voice and your attitude.
When a salesperson meets a potential customer, he becomes an actor who enters the scene. For these reasons, a little ironically, we have taken what could be considered the anthem song of the actors, of the actors, of someone who has a real audience in front of him, and with some small changes, we have transformed it into an anthem for salespersons.
To demonstrate the thesis of the histrionic-commercial parallelism, we had fun changing just a few words to show you how the original text basically stands even for a salesperson.
I am a histrion
I am a salesperson
But the genius was born with me
But the genius was born with me
In the theatre you want
From the prospect you want
Where another falls, I will outclass myself
Where another will fall, I will outclass myself
I am a histrion
I am a salesperson
But the theatricality flows inside me
But the theatricality flows inside me
Four cross tables and some spectators
A meeting room and some spectators
Who I am you will see, you will see
Who I am you will see, you will see
In a three-walled room, I keep the audience with me
In a three-walled room, I keep the audience with me
On the edge of a dark abyss, with my track and my ticks
On the verge of a lost deal, with my smartphone and my emails
And the play will shine with the sacred fire lit in me
And the play will shine with the sacred fire lit in me
And I talk and cry and laugh at the character that I will live
And I talk, and I cry, and I will laugh at the agreement that I will close
Forgive me if with any of you
Forgive me if with any of you
I have nothing in common
I have nothing in common
I am a histrion to whom the scene gives
I am a salesman to whom the meeting gives
The right size
The right size
Life comes back to me
Life comes back to me
At every echo of the scene that I will hear
At every phone ring that I will hear
And again, I will die of joy and fear
And again, I will die of joy and fear
When the curtain rises
When the meeting starts
Fear that I will be able
Fear that I will be able
I don’t remember the part I already know anymore
I don’t remember the presentation I already know anymore
Then, when it’s my turn, I’m there on time
Then, when it’s my turn, I’m there on time
In the dream, it is always the same, the same
In the meeting always the same, the same
I am a histrion
I am a salesperson
And now I have chosen the life that I will lead
And now I have chosen the life that I will lead
Get me six replicas in town
Get me you are meeting in town
And a success I will make
And a success I will make
I am a histrion
I am a salesperson
And art, art alone is life for me
And the signature, signature alone is life for me
If you give me a theatre and a role that suits me
If you give me a prospect and a deal that suits me
The genius will be seen, it will be seen
The genius will be seen, it will be seen
With my face well made up, with the mask I have
With my well-pressed suit, with the mask I have
I am emphatic and discreet, verses and prose I will tell you
I am emphatic and discreet, I will tell you the times and costs
With tenderness or with fury and while I will lie to others
With kindness or clenched fist and while I will lie to others
As long as it seems truth, as long as I believe it
As long as it seems truth, as long as I believe it
It is not out of vanity
It is not out of vanity
What I’m worth I know and to be honest
What I’m worth I know and to be honest
Only a true histrion is as big as me
Only a true salesperson is as big as me
And I’m proud of it
And I’m proud of it
