Always Be Closing :: Essays Papers

Always Be ClosingPreceding the Play, David Mamet includes the phrase Always Be Closing, and he titles it a Practical Sales Maxim. In this essay, I will discuss how this philosophy not only applied to the sales attempts of the characters, just how it encompassed their entire approach to life.In the first dialogue of the play, Shelly Levene is speaking to caper Williamson. He tells John, All I am saying, that your wasting leadsAll that Im saying, things cast set, I know they do, you get a mindsetA guy gets a reputationAll Im saying, put a closer on the jobwait a second, put a proven man on the job. Shelly is talk of the town about the fact that the straightforward leads always go to the closers. Shelly does not think this is a fair practice. He believes that everyone could be a closer if only they could get the good leads. In the end of this dialogue he misstates himself and says, put a closer on the job. This statement, which he quickly corrects, shows that Shelly is tryin g to make his past achievements pertinent to the present. He utilise to be a closer but he is not anymore. For Shelly Levene, the phrase, Always be closing, is a reminder of what he used to be. He was on top eight months out of twelve, for three years in a row. He was immersed in his work, and he was the best. Then his streak stop and he fell from his throne. His driving force now is the idea that he can regain his place at the top. If only he could get the good leads, which ironically he cannot, because he isnt a closer. Although it was never stated as such, I got the idea that there was a problem with his lady friend. He kept referring to her, but nothing was ever established as to the role she played in his life. I believe Shelly Levene was willing to sacrifice whatever relationship he had with his daughter in order to continue his quest to be great again.Richard Roma is in the place that Shelly Levene used to occupy. He is on top because he closes the deal. He is, now, involved in a sales promotion to win a Cadillac. He not only will win the Cadillac, he will also win the coveted Glengarry leads.