Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Peters.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am an actor, director and writer. Growing up I was very involved in all aspects of film, television and theater, but I wasn’t very interested in pirates. I was aware of them but they did not excite my imagination. Years later I was cast as a pirate captain in a fantasy film. And like many actors, I dove into my research. I shot the film but was sad to say goodbye to my pirate counterpart.
I was acting in a play and one of my fellow cast members told me about a new pirate entertainment business. As it turns out one of the actors from the film I had just wrapped was heading up the roster of pirate actors. I called and within a few days I was out on the water as a pirate.
The business owner had taken an old tuna boat and built an 83 foot pirate ship on top of it. It was beautiful and caught the eye of everyone on the bay. Unfortunately, there was no show except for an occasional song, sword fight or treasure sharing. All of which spotlighted the main actor from the film. Adults stood around with their arms folded and watched their kids explore the ship.
I called the owner and we spoke for an hour. He was disappointed with the lack of show. I proposed the show should be as if you are stepping back in time and joining the crew of a real pirate ship. He got so excited and told me to call his artistic director. I did and we wrote a brand new show.
In a few weeks we debuted the new show and it was a smash hit! We were on every news and local television magazine show. Our clips and interviews were even picked up and carried nationally. We got very busy very quickly.
We continued to work the show. We added and subtracted bits and routines as we performed in front of live audiences. I became the artistic director and continued to hire new actors and wrote. The summer was the best as it was typical for us to have four voyages a day. This pirate experience lasted for over two years.
Then, as so often is the case, attentions and priorities shift. I made the difficult decision to depart. I climbed the rigging on my last show and reflected on the thought I had made a healthy living as a pirate for over two years.
A few months after I left the owner sold the business and the ship. It was obvious it was a plan which had been in place for a long time.
I was satisfied to say goodbye to my pirate days. I moved on but many of my fellow pirate actors were not ready to let go. I still retained rights to the original show I had written. Soon my fellow actors were asking how we could still perform the show.
I formed San Diego Pirate Adventures and began marketing our talents. A highlight of our work is our relationship with the Maritime Museum of San Diego. The original captain from the previous ship is still part of the show was instrumental in nurturing our relationship with the maritime museum.
Over the years we have expanded our show, our roster and the services we offer.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
After I said goodbye to the first ship it was a little like starting over. We had no venue but we had this great time tested show. A show which is completely original and hilarious. I hung onto this idea.
It was hard finding the right actors. I tried to hire pirate enthusiasts but they didn’t understand lines and comedy. So, I tried actors but most were too timid in their performances. Also our particular style demands an immersive commitment from the actor.
Also I couldn’t keep actors engaged. Our shows are frequent but not steady enough to demand exclusivity.
Our road with the maritime museum had its bumps. Early on there was resistance. The idea of a history based museum glorying pirates. And the museum is not exactly in the entertainment business. So there has been some education over the years. Fortunately, our first point of contact loved our show which helped a lot in the beginning.
I started out as a single performer on the deck of one of the ships. No one cared. It took a while but now we perform our full show on one of their premier ships. The San Salvador is a faithful recreation of Cabrillo’s Spanish Galleon. He discovered San Diego in 1542. It is a perfect immersive venue.
I still struggle as I am essentially a one man operation. I coordinate and handle all aspect of the business. I even physically load in the show. Marketing the show is always an issue. And educating prospective clients about what we do and how we are unique.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Personally I have been an actor my entire life. I was in a TV pilot when I was ten. I have appeared in 60 films and 250 plays. I appeared on General Hospital and starred in two national tours. I created a variety show in the mid- 1990s and traveled internationally. I have about 4000 live variety performances under my belt.
So, all of these experiences, education and interactions were poured into my pirate world. I am big admirer of Walt Disney, especially his Imagineers. The immersive experiences they created at the Disney Parks is influential. And I am not only referring to the pirates ride. The attention to detail and the notion of storytelling without language is very motivating..
So, all of that is wrapped up together and presented as an original immersive experience. We offer atmosphere and walk around interactions, murder mysteries, private parties, actors for promotions, film and TV appearances.
We are best known for our original comedy show BOARDED! The show features all original characters. It is an interactive show full of comedy. It is not a spectacle but grounded in a sense of reality.
And mainly, our focus is not on children. We enjoy entertaining children with our pirate antics but it is a by product of our experience. Children will have a blast in our show but so will the adults. And often, the adults are laughing even more than the children.
This is what sets us apart from other “pirate” shows.
Our show has a plot and our actors are not nice. After all, we are pirates. Our audiences love this aspect of our show. It is something which we have leaned into and fine tuned over the years.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Do not listen to negative people. Be realistic but have faith in your ideas and your work. Don’t expect to be perfect when you start. Experiment with your work and find places to be bad. Learn from these experiences.
Find like minded people who will support you and believe in your dream. Keep upgrading your work by adding value to your product.
Trust people but protect yourself.
Keep doing it over and over. In the beginning it is okay to do things for free but learn your value. Then start charging for your services once you feel comfortable.
I came into this business with experience from previous ventures so that helped. But I was too trusting in the beginning. I should have handled everything like a business. I didn’t because I was dealing with friends. Real friends would have understood. I was trying to keep it all friendly but I should have set up boundaries right away.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sdpirateadventures.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandiegopirateadventures/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoPirateAdventures
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sandiegopirateadventures
