What starting a children's entertainment company 14 years ago taught me about my acting career:

Acting, film, music, writing or anything relating to business

Aug 06, 2024

People ask me a lot “Makayla, how are you so chill on set, and how do you handle 2837373 things at once/when everything goes wrong?”

My two answers are: being a swing in musical theater, and running a children’s entertainment company.

In case you do not know what a “swing” is, it is the actor that learns every role or a few roles in a show, and performs them anytime a cast member is sick, injured, or on vacation. When I was a swing on Disney Cruise Lines, I covered 27 tracks (PTSD) and on A Chorus Line, I covered 4 main roles, and a supporting. Sometimes we know a few weeks in advance, and sometimes a dancer snaps their knee cap in the opening number and before you can count to 10, there is a new mic pack shoved in your back and you immediately become that role. Hopefully, you reviewed your cue cards recently.

When I was 16, I accidentally started a children’s entertainment company. I showed up to a girl’s birthday party in a ballgown and wig that my aunt and cousin had made, fully expecting it to be a one and done, except that at the end, everyone asked for business cards and asked me to do their child’s birthday party.

A few days later, I left for university in Nashville. I flew home so frequently my junior year, the BNA airport saw more of me than my professors.

Long story short, the company took off when I was introduced to an influential family in my little area of NE OHIO. They recommended us to a dance studio, the mall, and slowly, more and more people discovered us. By year two, we were averaging 30 events/parties a month.

You never know who’s going to see your work, and it better be amazing and out of this world when that opportunity strikes.

People who have credibility can truly change your life, but you have to be ready for it. When it comes to acting, singing, dancing, etc, I have always been immensely dedicated to my craft. Fear has scared me at times, but I would lose myself practicing for hours because I enjoyed the process of learning. Meticulous hours went into selecting costumes, wigs, and each and every detail of the company. I spent hours researching and talking with companies in other areas of the world, though we were the first in our area. When I finally had the opportunity to take on bigger things, I was ready through all the quiet time building.

Every business is built or lost on relationships created over time.

The pandemic ravaged the performing industry, and entertainment companies were no exception. 2020 was dead. 2021 was a struggle. By 2022, some of our events started calling us back. People left companies and joined new ones or created their own, and called us for new opportunities.

Audrey Helps Actors should coin the phrase “Success = relationships built over time” because she says it so often and it is 1000000% true. While I do not enjoy social media anymore, I do share updates and keep somewhat of a presence, because people are watching. People do notice.

Someone I did a show with 20 YEARS ago had been watching my journey and made a big introduction that allowed dreams to come true.

For acting or filmmaking, I’ve learned I just have to be patient. It has truly showed me the value of relationships built over time. It is ok to take a break when you need to a come back when you are ready. You will not lose the relationships that matter. My company has also opened doors for my film that never would have been possible if I had not already built those relationships. There is so much crossover that I am incredibly grateful for.

I thrive when I’m creating. I’ve spent some time trying to do other things like bartending, waiting tables, teaching fitness, but I have realized I am happier when pursuing something that is creative, passionate, and changes lives.

Showing up to a birthday party for a daughter, whose mom was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and had days to live, and they were suppose to celebrate in Disney that week with a trip they booked earlier that year when they thought she was cancer free: it puts your life in perspective and reminds you that life is so much bigger than the think you did or didn’t book. Singing for children battling cancer in an oncology hospital Christmas party or kids at a special needs Trunk or Treat reminds you to focus on what is truly important: love. Love the hell out of the people in your life. Kindness is free. Life is short.

You must prove that you are reliable and can deliver for big opportunities.

This post is published while I am on tour with our Taylor Swift Tribute band (WHAT?) That only happened because of a meeting I had last year with a theatre, where I could show a track record of 12 years of delivering when it counted. That person who I met 20 years ago when I was in my first musical ever as a kid made the introduction that lead us to debut our show in a huge theatre. That NEVER should have happened for a first time group. I recognize that no other band has had that opportunity in the area, and it has opened doors for us to play in well-respected festivals in the area. While it doesn’t make sense, what does make sense, is that we had spent 12 years of building and slowly getting bigger opportunities, building bridges instead of burning them, which instilled trust that we could deliver.

If you want something to happen, create it; don’t wait for it.

You can wait forever to be cast in the right thing. You can wait forever for people to get back to you. Or, you can say, “You know what, I am just going to make the thing.” When you put the train in motion, people see it happening and want to jump on a train that is moving.

Success is a team effort.

This company is a TEAM effort and made up of multiple performers and 5 team on management

My acting career consists of my reps, acting teachers, business coaches etc. Filmmaking consists of creative partners I trust and the crews and people we bring together.

You have to have a team around you as excited as you are.

Thank you for reading Siren’s Substack. This post is public so feel free to share it.

PS - I will be releasing my novel to paid subscribers (but all free subscribers will receive the prologue and a few chapters for free) towards the end of the summer. If you are willing to share my writing with someone who you think would resonate, that would mean so much to me!

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