Friend a Day – Jim Cunningham

Photo by John Gaspard

I’ve known Jim ever since I started working at the Renaissance Festival.  He is well known to many as the master of the Feast of Fantasy now but when I first met him, he was a member of an act call the Comedy Troupe.  Every member of that act was supremely talented.

What I enjoy about working with Jim is how generous he is to the performers who come to work on his stage.  He is always conscious of our time constraints and always thanks us for our performance.  I can’t even tell you how enjoyable it is to work with someone that professional.

A few years ago, there was a decision to start doing Vilification Tennis themed feasts and we went in having a clear expectation that we were to be doing extremely blue material.  Unfortunately, the audience didn’t have the same expectation.  The results were less than spectacular.  I think the word “disaster” would be more appropriate.

We sat with Jim after the show and there was no anger.  No finger pointing.  Instead there was talk about how we were going to fix the problem for the second feast.  There was no question that we were partners in finding a solution.

Whenever I hear Jim on the Radio or at a Twins game, I smile because I know him and he doesn’t just sound like a nice guy, he is a nice guy.

Jim is one of the hardest working people I know.  I don’t know how many projects he has going at a time but there is always one more.  He is in demand because he is one of the best.

He’s relentlessly positive.  He always sees the best in others.  He never focuses on the negative.  To focus on the best in yourself and those around you is a talent that may be better than all the others he possesses.

I’m truly fortunate to have crossed paths with Jim.  He’s one of the great ones.