Years ago, I learned something really interesting about Robin Williams that changed how I watched his movies. I never actually booked him for an event, but his office once sent over his rider.
For those who don’t know, a rider is a list of things an artist needs or wants for an event—everything from bottled water and special room arrangements to sound and lighting requirements. You can learn a lot about a person from their rider. It’s where rock bands ask for green M&Ms (which is a clever way to test attention to detail). It’s also where an environmentalist might ask for a private jet to get to an event, but demand a hybrid car once they arrive so people can see they care about the environment.
But when I saw Robin Williams’ rider, I was shocked by one of his requirements. For every movie or event he did, the company hiring him had to hire a certain number of homeless people and put them to work.
After learning that, I never looked at a Robin Williams movie the same way. I'm sure he also worked with people in need in his free time, but he used his fame to encourage companies to help too. He made sure that production teams also learned the value of giving people a chance to work and get back on their feet.
I wonder how many companies kept doing this after he was gone, and how many people got the chance to work and earn money, even if it was just temporary, because of his actions.
Robin Williams used his influence in such a positive way. Let’s hope that his impact lives on even without him. Thanks, Robin Williams—not just for the laughs, but for showing us such a cool example.
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