For Michael Coylar, the hustle started when he was just seven years old living in the Projects of South Side Chicago. Whether it was selling stolen beer to winos or selling candy at a marked-up price to the neighborhood kids who weren’t allowed to leave the building, he knew from an early age that there was lots of money to be made and you could make it for yourself.
It was that same hustle that in the late 80’s allowed him to quit all four of his other jobs and just focus on his newly discovered talent street performing. “That summer of ’85 I discovered street performance,” Michael explains. “I had already been an actor, I had already started learning how to do a little comedy, but I discovered street performance and was great. I was making so much money in the street in four days that I quit all my other jobs just so I could stand in the street and tell comedy. Then winter came and wasn’t nobody trying to hear no jokes on State Street in November and December. So I packed everything that would fit in my 1967 Buick Lasabre and everything else that wouldn’t fit i sold and headed drove to California where I heard you could stand in the street and do comedy all day long and nobody would bother you.”
The road to Venice Beach was met with a few pit stops, but well worth it once he finally arrived. For nine years every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5pm with the exception of two weekends you could’ve caught Michael doing one of his hour long shows. He began winning over the hecklers as well as the onlookers, and or having a rival neighborhood gangs put aside their differences for a few short minutes to enjoy some laughter, have a good time, and see who could give him the most money. Michael began to make six-figures a year for 9 years by telling his jokes on the weekends only. “It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen, it changed my life, it defined who I am today. So many blessings came from Venice.” says Michael of the Beach. His impact to Venice beach was undeniable; he has a memorial on the beach that has his foot prints, his name and a concrete image of the money grabber that he used to collect his money. He’s been named “The King of Venice Beach.”
“Venice Beach changed my life, I really came here to be a millionaire and then realized that the planet is not about me, the planet is really about me discovering my brethren and until I find him I don’t find myself. So instead of trying to be a millionaire, I am attempting to be a billionaire of being. I want to be the greatest human I can possibly be. So instead of trying to make a living, I live my making and my making shall make my living. That’s why if you look at any of my projects, you will see that they all have a humanitarian value.” With a humanitarian outlook like that, it was not a shock to discover that he had given half of his winnings from Star Search to the less fortunate.
Before his performances on the beach every weekend for 9 years, Michael would buy 10 breakfast meals for homeless people sleeping on the benches on his way down to where he was working. This wasn’t being done for the notoriety because there was no one looking. This was the man that Michael had become. “I understand the law of circulation” Michael begins to explain. “If you ever want to have it, learn to give it away. I try to work my life liek that everyday. I try to not only do it but to encourage everybody else to at least try to serve one person other than yourself every day. whether you give somebody $2 or half of your sandwich, just helping someone get across the street. Do something to serve someone besides you.”
Humbled and thankful for all opportunities, when asked about the role as Buford the Cook in Disney’s “Princess and the Frog,” there was nothing but utter excitement and joy as he explained the entire process and how his legacy with live on with the legacy of Disney. “It was fabulous to see me as I cartoon!” Not only am I in the movie, I am also in the Wii game! I have 89 lines in the Wii game and my grandkids play the Wii game and hear my voice, it’s a joy!”
The term “to get a blessing, be a blessing,” has proven to be true through former owner and founder of cable network Black Entertainment Television (B.E.T.) Bob Johnson. Bob Met with Michael and handed him $125,000.00 out of his own pocket as a donation to Michaels passion which ended up becoming arguably on the best pieces yet from the comedic legend “The Michael Colyar Project”. The comedy series is video of stand up with Michael going to different projects all over the world telling his jokes, visiting with the people, etc. “It is some of the best work I’ve ever done!” In the piece which was at one time sold as a bootleg by the man himself because he felt he needed to get in on the profits, you will see him at what used to be the projects where he grew up, but are now torn down. “It made me feel good that someone would believe in me like that and trust me enough.”
Later on this year poet, author, director, documentarian, and motivational speaker will also be added to the resume of Mr. Colyar. His adult poetry book entitled, “Ms. Innocent Goes to Cool School and Other Silly Things,” will be coming out and being that it’s is 20 plus years in the making it is bound to be a best-seller. He wife, who serves as the catalyst for the poetry book, allows Michael to go into dept and on her sticking with him through all of the trials and tribulations and they couple being able to stay together through his career, drug abuse, success, and more. It also goes into how those life experiences made her cool, worldly and in the know.
“Michael Goes Motivational,” will be the second literary piece and the book tells the transformational power of God and how his life changed from being a simple crackhead on Venice Beach living hand to mouth to being probably one of the greatest comedians alive (according to what the public tells him). He is now being hired by churches and religious organization to share his story through comedy, stories, and motivation. After the passing of one of his mother over a year ago, Michael decided to implement her in to his shows as a way to honor her memory for all she has done for him.“As long as you hold people in your heart, they are never dead, and mother is alive and doing a dance with me, helping me to accomplish all of these great things,” Michael says passionately. “I talk to my mama all of the time, now if i hear her talk back, I’m going to have to go find some professional help. (laughing) If you still have your mom today, you need to call her everyday just to tell her you love her. That’s one thing I miss about my mom, the fact that I cant call her everyday. I wish i could pick up the phone and tell her what I am doing.”
As you can see the older, the wiser, and the more the stronger the hustle! From selling winos stolen beer, to creating your own opportunities, and to touching the lives of millions through laughter and life’s experiences, it doesn’t get much better. Micheal Colyar is truly a legend in his own right, not taken all of the credit himself he first and foremost thanks God, the very being of his existence, humbly thanks his lovely supportive wife Brooke Jackson-Colyar who stuck with him through everything and is “The reason he can stand tall, last but certainly not least, his mother. “Without them I do not exist, I am hollow anyway, God, My Queen, and My Mom.”
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truth3 Jun 16 2011 - 4:43 AM
The article is so inspirational…