I ask Nick Cannon what his most memorable job was, and without skipping a beat he replies “When I worked at a hot dog stand in San Diego.” This takes a second for me to register. Remember we’re talking to the host of America’s Got Talent, MTV’s Wild N’ Out, and a stand up comedian who has toured North America. Once I recover from the image of a young Nick Cannon selling hot dogs, I ask him why. “Because I knew I didn’t want to work there anymore,” he laughs. “So I had to do something different and focus on my passion and my art, and that led me to where I am today.”
This summer Cannon is partnering with Moores Clothing to launch their 7th annual Canadian Suit Drive, a program which encourages the donation of used suits to unemployed Canadians as they transition back into the workforce, and it only takes a few seconds speaking to Cannon to understand why he is such a good fit for the ambassador role. Growing up in San Diego he says poverty is something that has affected his whole family. “I come from a family that has been stricken with (unemployment), it makes it quite difficult for employment and to be upwardly mobile,” he says. “If we had opportunities like this where people could be provided the essential tools to make that upward battle a little easier, it would always be much appreciated.”
Having completed multiple philanthropic projects in his hometown of San Diego, Cannon is well versed in social inequality and notes, “nothing stops violence like a job. When people can feel good about themselves and provide for their families it decreases crime and increases community.”
There are countless factors that can contribute to unemployment and employment, but it’s been proven again and again that the way you dress can impact what you think you’re capable of. “There is power in a suit,” Cannon notes, “there’s a reason why they call them power suits. If that added confidence can get an individual back into the workforce and gain employment that is an outstanding thing.”
If anyone believes confidence can make or break a job interview or audition, its Cannon. He lists his favourite America’s Got Talent contestant as Spongetta Parrish who infamously preformed a her slightly cringe worthy song “Up in my studio” back in 2010. “So … It wasn’t the best song but she acted like it was.” Cannon also made headlines this week for stepping up to the judges’ panel, and pressing the golden button that would send 90-year-old dancer Dorothy Williams directly to the live shows. “Being 90 years old I actually had to help walk (Dorothy) on the stage” he said, “and then to watch her come to life in front of all those people… and say that her only dream was that she wanted to be a star and she always felt that she was a star but she never had the opportunity … You watch that fun moment turn into a touching moment, and you saw that she was living her dream and I was like I’m going to try and make that happen to you, so even though I’m not supposed to I’m going to hit that golden button for you and make that dream come alive.”
Cannon, who has helped thousands of performers prepare for the biggest auditions of their lives, describes himself as the “cheerleader” of Americas Got Talent. When contestants ask for advice he tells them to “Walk in with strength and authority. You’ve got to walk and speak for the job you want and bring it into existence.” He adds that outside the theatre in real life job interviews sometimes, “a suit can bring that pep in your step to perform at your personal best.”
If you have any gently-used professional clothing to donate, including men’s and women’s suits, ties, jackets, shirts, pants, belts and shoes, you can drop these off at any Moores store locations around the country and as a thank you, Moores will give you 50 percent off your next purchase. To help spread the word about this campaign, Moores is getting social and encouraging people to share the #SuitDrive post found on their Facebook and Twitter pages. For every share, the company will donate $1 (up to $25,000) to the local recipient organizations they have partnered with.
For more information, visit the Canadian Suit Drive website at: www.canadiansuitdrive.com.
