How my part-time AND performing jobs set me up for success
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be on stage. I grew up splitting my time between my house, the dance studio, and the theater. I went to college and graduated with a BA in Dance and Musical Theatre. I have performed on cruise ships, traveled all over the world, and shared the stage with Broadway legends.
Be Our Guest with Tony nominee Gavin Lee as Lumiere - Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at Paper Mill Playhouse
After learning that you might be asking “how (or why) did you end up becoming a virtual assistant?”. Most performers have “side hustles” to earn an income in order to sustain ourselves while we are between shows. For most, this means waiting tables, bartending, catering, event staff, reception, retail, dance teacher, personal trainer, temp work, the list goes on. I did many of those jobs for almost two years. I was living paycheck to paycheck and feeling exhausted after running from auditions to work to a callback and then to a second job. I was yearning for a side job that not only energized me (instead of wearing me down) but one that also allowed me to use my skills to do something more meaningful.
That’s when the virtual assistant door opened. I learned more about what virtual assistants can do and how they operate and knew I had found a game-changer. Thanks to the many aforementioned side jobs, I had experience in several fields. That, coupled with my personality and the job description, made working as a virtual assistant seem like the perfect fit! I could be as type-A as I wanted (and it would actually be a good thing!), create my own schedule, work from anywhere, and help make someone else’s life easier? Sign. Me. Up.
My side jobs exposed me to worlds and industries outside of performing: I learned the ins and outs of corporate offices, how to work as a team to execute a seamless event, and how to communicate effectively and professionally in many different settings. My work as a dancer and a singer trained me to follow directions and use my own instincts and artistry to create the best performance possible. Working as a Dance Captain taught me how to manage and communicate with a team to maintain the integrity of the show. Performing as a swing was also an incredible challenge that I was lucky enough to have. A swing is responsible for understudying the chorus members of a show. For my specific show, I had nine different versions of the same show in my head at all times. I had to be prepared to go on stage with little (and sometimes no) advanced notice or rehearsal time (and try to not make any mistakes). Talk about staying cool, calm, and collected!
My journey as a virtual assistant is far from over. I am still learning new skills and programs so that I can offer more services to my clients. I enjoy using my qualities (remember that type-A thing I mentioned?) and experiences in a very tangible way by supporting others as they tenaciously work towards their goals. I love lending a hand and motivating people to reach their fullest potential. Working as a virtual assistant allows me to help others achieve a life with less stress and more chasing their dreams.