Fame vs Success

Sindiso Nkosi who has been in the Arts industry for more than three decades, gives us an insight on this.

PM. For those who don’t know who Sindiso is, briefly tell us about yourself.

SN : My name is Sindiso Nkosi, a former member of Sarafina Theatre Musical which toured the world for more than eight years. I am now the Artistic Director of my own company, Izigi Performing Arts which specialises in orthodox theatre,industrial and corporate theatre,sound and stage hire.

PM. Where did the love for the Arts come from and how did you get into the industry?

SN: I fell in love with Arts when I was still a Primary School learner in Ermelo, Mpumalanga. My love for theatre blossomed more at Sukuma Secondary School, a boarding school that I went to which is in Imbali Township at Pietermaritzburg in KZN. After matric I became a primary school teacher but that didn’t last long because I was always yearning to become a singer and an actor. I packed my bags and went to Johannesburg to try my luck.I auditioned for Sarafina together with Somizi Mhlongo at the Market Theatre.Mbongeni Ngema chose me to be one of the cast members of Sarafina and we toured the whole world with that musical.

PM. Many people when they think about Arts , they think of Acting, Singing and Dancing. Very few want to work behind the scenes. As a person who has done both successfully, what do you think causes this?

SN: I think the reason most people do not want to work behind the scenes is “FAME.” Most people want to be at the forefront, to be seen and to be recognized. They forget that fame is temporaly, one cannot be famous forever. The behind the scenes jobs that they ignore are more sustainable. For instance, It is easy to “kill “or replace a TV character but it’s not easy to replace a cameraman, a scriptwriter or an editor. These jobs require technical skills.

PM. People love fame. Some people would kill to be on TV, on Stage or to be heard on Radio . Does fame mean a person is successful?

SN: Iqiniso ukuthi abantu abaningi bagijimela udumo but okubuhlungu kakhulu ukuthi being famous doesn’t guarantee success and it doesn’t mean a person is rich. The sad thing about showbusiness in South Africa is that actors are underpaid. They don’t mention this because most of them are living a lie. They want people to believe that they are doing well fanancially but sadly,that is not the truth.Only a few,carefully chosen actors,are really making money in this country. Our actors do not earn performance royalities but they are just paid once and that is it. In other countries like USA and England,actors are paid everytime a TV series or a film they are part of is replayed or sold to the other TV stations. Executive producers and owners of TV seriesies are the ones who make money and they hardly appear in media. Only the disposable,low paid actors like tobe seen but they have little material benefits to show for their fame.

PM. How important is it for Artists to learn different skills in the industry?

SN: It is very important for artists to learn other skills in the industry because it gives them a competitive edge. If they have other skills, they are able to make a living during the dry seasons. That is exactly what I did. Personally I don’t want to be famous as I learnt a long time ago that real money is behind the scenes.

PM: What would be your advice to someone who is still trying to get into the industry about fame and success?

SN: They must join the industry only because they are dedicated to it and they must be willing to learn different skills that will sustain them when the dry seasons of the industry come. Education is key, fame is temporally.