We were lucky to catch up with Alison Harmon recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alison, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I came up with the idea by thinking about what I love and what I enjoy. I thought to myeslf, what is something that I do naturally and consistently? I found my purpose in high school. I defined my purpose in college. I always had a passion for entertainment: To make people smile, laugh and gain excitement to face everyday challenges. In high school a lot of my activities were centered around leadership roles. I found myself still in leadership positions by my 3rd year in college. I wanted to combine my skill (Acting) and excitement for the entertainment business and thought of the idea to start my own production company. At this moment I brainstormed ideas to create a business that would be entertaining, educational and uplifting. One thing that i offer that is unique to UTAP is the Public Speaking part of my business. Acting and Public Speaking are similar but different. When acting your focus is stepping into another role(character) to tell a story, while public speaking is speaking on behalf of yourself. No costume, no props, no set design. Just you and the audience. In both cases, its a chance to share your thoughts and ideas with an audience or group. It was in 2015 when I stepped into my purpose as a leader, CEO, entertainer and an educator. I came up with the business name and the mission statement: Uplifted Talent and Productions- UTAP: To uplift and educate through the arts!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

One thing you might know about me by now is that I love the arts and I love people! I completed my BA at William Paterson University with a major in communications and a concentration in theater! I am focused on training and helping people to find their passion and their gift through acting and public speaking classes. Some people are looking to move into the entertainment field professionally as actors, while others just want the confidence to speak to a crowd about their business or express their thoughts verbally. This is my specialty. It’s what I love and it’s what I do. The best feeling is to assist someone else in reaching their goal/passion using the arts: Acting/Public Speaking. I have worked with so many people that have shared their success stories after completing the UTAP classes and or workshops! I have helped people with an increase in sales for their business after completing the public speaking sessions. I am currently in the pre-production stage of a new original musical expected to release in 2025. This will give previous UTAP clients as well as others looking to perform on stage a chance to audition and be cast in an original musical production. I am happy to provide opportunities to collaborate with other people and organizations to fulfill the mission of UTAP: To uplift and educate through the arts!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

When building your reputation there are three qualities that are important to develop. An important quality to have is persistence. It will get difficult and tough at times and some things you have very little control over. With changes in your day-to-day job, changes in your body, changes within your family dynamic you must stay persistent if you really want to reach your goal. Having the knowledge of “self” is important. You must take time to pay attention to yourself and your needs. There will be times to speed up and slow down and you must know yourself to know how to pivot. As life continues you grow stronger, wiser and more skilled. Sharpening your skills is important. There is always room to grow and to learn from others. With every step you take and every level achieve, just know that if you are still breathing there is another level to reach. Stay persistent, know yourself and keep sharpening your skills to take you to the next level! Let’s Go!

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients for me has been referrals. I started my busniness by notifying friends and family to gain capital for start up cost. After having family and friends donate and later register for the courses, they immediately realized the value and shared it with other people. Most of my clients come from referrals and the word continues to spread. The success stories that clients have shared on google and other social media platforms has also helped with gaining new clients. Results are important and it does not take a long period of time beofre seeing results. Hard work and persistence is key! Coaching my clients in Acting and Public Speaking has helped to boost confidence, boost sales and bring in new clients. My next goal is to focus more on collaborating with other businesses and organizations to expand my reach to new clients!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.utaptoday.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utaptoday
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/utaptoday
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/utaptoday/
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@utaptoday
• Other: Tiktok: @utaptoday