03/07/2019
WARNING: Long post ahead.
This post has been a long time coming, and I wasn't sure at all that I would ever be writing it. After what seemed like a split decision 3 years ago to complete a Grad Dip in Education, I have embarked on a huge career change and I'm now starting to feel happy and content with that decision.
Artistic Mangement was my baby that began after I finished my dancing career. It very slowly built and evolved over nearly 10 years, and was so ingrained in my life that I worked on it even when I was in hospital having my human babies. I don't think there was ever one day over that whole time that I didn't take or make a phone call about a gig. It gave flexible work hours and kept me in the industry. I thrived on the casting element and still miss that buzz just a lil bit. But I am also loving a job that now gives me holidays with my kids! Real holidays. As in "we'll smash you for 10 weeks at a time but then you can rest and recouperate and NOT receive emails" holidays.
MASSIVE THANK YOU to all the amazing Artists who worked for me. Way too many to name, but ok I will name just a few off the top of my head (I have definately missed many!). From the beginning with Sheriddan Leigh and Ian Starr Kalatzis who I think did my first job for E Store, where we rehearsed in my garage in Surfers Paradise, got to the gig and there was no sound guy, and I had no idea what I was doing all along!! To the friends who jumped in to help, like Leigh-Anne Vizer, Ashlee Holdsworth, Megan Jervis, Carla Broadway..... brilliant suit artists such as Brooke McMullen, Ryan Wilson, Jake Holmes, A.J Butterworth, Kyal Scott, Stevie Bishop, Anthony Stepansich, Tamara Briffa, Jodie Muller, Becci Ode.... incredibly reliable artists such as James Mead, Hannah Rigby, Natalie Carter, Sheree Lauren Fitgerald, Nadja-Kate Breed.... super helpful ladies Ashleigh Gurnett, Sam Green, Kerry O'Donnell, Nicolasa Martin...amazing humans such as Ella Boxsell, Jessica Brown Sankey, Kayla Templeman, Kimmy Smith, Lauren Boyd, Rachel Cunningham... and even those who moved to faraway places and still worked for me Melita Mangels! To all, I learnt so much from you. You covered many technical mishaps and production mistakes, too many times. My business relied on your professionalism, and many of you were absolutely too talented to be inside character suits!
Speaking of suits, a massive shout out to The Entertainment Store in Melbourne who provided me with as much Casting as I could handle (and not handle!) over nearly 10 years! What an amazing relationship. You were my "bread and butter". Katie Ditchburn, I know I assurred you that I would continue casting. I did mean it at the time sorry :( Thank you Katie for being such a huge part of my journey. You are so talented, and I love following your success.
For the last couple of years, I have not been able to comprehend letting go of something that has been such a huge part of my life for so long, and something that I was still building! I mean it was finally working as a valid business! But after nearly 10 years of absolutely no break from emails and gigs, and the stress of last minute jobs and pull-outs, I am choosing to teach Maths (YES MATHS!) and Dance to High School students. I can't say the stress is less, but as my friend Misty would say, I finally got a "real job" lol! I will not miss the Santa Casting Todd Byrnnes, but I know I will continue to be involved in the industry because it's under my skin. It's simply part of who I am, and although my intentions were to keep AM going on just a smaller and more "picky" scale, there is only so much one can fit into life when one has children.
AM you served a purpose for me. Still not sure I want to say goodbye, but for now I cannot give you any love :)
Signing off for now,
Lisa x
