Why should the song “L’istrione” by Charles Aznavour be the international anthem of a salesperson?

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

 

 

Have we convinced you? Leave us a comment using the form below!

 

 

Or click here to return to our Blog index in case you want to read another Vehnta post: Other posts