The Hard Laws of the Spotlights
It is a scenario we know all too well in the dance world: you are on stage, you give everything you have, but the director or the jury feels you don't fit the picture. In the television world, it works exactly the same, and media analyst Victor Vlam has now experienced this firsthand. The doors of the Vandaag Inside studio will remain closed to him from now on. Johan Derksen didn't mince words and simply called him an 'annoying boy'.
In my thirty years in the dance world, I have seen countless auditions where technically perfect dancers were rejected. Not because they couldn't dance, but because the 'click' with the rest of the ensemble was missing. At Vandaag Inside, it's all about that specific chemistry at the table. If that is disrupted, you're out. According to a report on Mediacourant, it is mainly Wilfred Genee and René van der Gijp who have decided that Vlam no longer needs to come.
Why the Chemistry Between Victor Vlam and VI Snapped
Victor Vlam is known for his sharp analyses of media personalities and their behavior. That is his profession, and he is good at it. But at a program like Vandaag Inside, different laws apply than in a lecture hall or a business meeting. There, you have to be able to take hits, move with the flow, and above all, not want to stand above the group. The gentlemen at the table apparently perceived Vlam as someone who took on the role of a schoolmaster too much.
Johan Derksen was crystal clear about the situation during the broadcast. The fact that Vlam was critical of the program itself, while also wanting to sit at the table, was not appreciated. In an article from TVgids.nl, it is confirmed that irritation has run high. It is the classic mistake of the soloist who forgets he is dancing in a group: if you criticize the lead dancer's choreography while you are in the background chorus yourself, you don't need to show up for rehearsal the next day.
The Parallel with the Dance World
As an experienced dancer and coach, I see an important lesson in this. We often focus enormously on our technique, our pirouettes, and our flexibility. But what we often forget is the 'likability factor' and the social dynamics within a group. A dance company is an ecosystem. One person who negatively influences the atmosphere or places themselves outside the group can jeopardize the entire production.
Victor Vlam is technically an excellent analyst, but he misjudged the 'vibe' of the studio. He thought his expertise gave him an untouchable position. That is a misconception I also often see in young, talented dancers. They think their talent is enough to be able to afford anything. But the reality is that no one is indispensable, especially if you ruin the atmosphere at the table (or in the dressing room).
The Role of Criticism and Ego
In the dance world, feedback is your best friend, but the way you give and receive it is crucial. Victor Vlam tends to dissect everything, including the people who provide him with a platform. That shows a certain courage, but it is also risky. If I used to tell a choreographer that his step combination wasn't logical, I could pack my things. You have to know when to keep your mouth shut and when to show your expertise.
At Vandaag Inside, the egos of the main players are large, we all know that. But that's the case everywhere at the top of the entertainment industry. Whether you're in the Ziggo Dome or sitting at a talk table: you have to understand the hierarchy. Vlam wanted to change the rules of the game while he was still learning the game.
What We Can Learn from This Showbiz Banishment
What does this mean specifically for us as entertainers and dancers? It's about the balance between authenticity and adaptability. You want to remain yourself, but you must also be able to function within the frameworks of the client. For Victor Vlam, the price for his blunt opinion was a permanent ban from the most popular talk show in the Netherlands.
These are three insights I take from this situation for everyone who stands on a stage:
- Know your place in the ensemble: Even if you have a guest role, you are part of a larger whole. Respect the dynamics that are already there before you try to change them.
- Expertise is no license for arrogance: No matter how much you know about your profession, stay approachable and 'workable'. No one wants to work with someone who constantly brings the atmosphere down.
- Resilience is a skill: If you give criticism, you must also be able to receive it. The gentlemen of VI dish it out, but Vlam apparently couldn't punch back in the right way without it becoming personal or annoying.
The Future for Victor Vlam
Does this mean the end for Victor Vlam? Of course not. He is a professional and will find his place elsewhere. But the door at SBS6 seems firmly locked for the time being. It is a hard lesson in media psychology, ironically exactly the subject he likes to talk about so much.
In the dance world we always say: 'The show must go on'. And it certainly will at Vandaag Inside, but without the analyses of the man who, according to Johan Derksen, became just a bit too annoying for the conviviality at the bar. It remains fascinating to see how the laws of theater — because that's what VI ultimately is — apply always and everywhere.