We recently connected with Amanda Finch and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Along with taking care of clients, taking care of our team is one of the most important things we can do as leaders. Looking back on your journey, did you have a boss that was really great? Maybe you can tell us about that boss and what made them a wonderful person to work for?

The last two years I have been really fortunate to be hired to manage , direct and provide all of the entertainment for the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington DC.
For me it was such a validating feeling, because they could have chosen any production company and they decided to go with mine and they also trusted me to provide everything as planned including the costuming details that matched the aesthetic and the clients vision.

In 2022 it was also the first time ever entertainment was provided for the Scripps National Spelling bee wrap party. I had lots of experience working high profile events, but this one was different because the budget allowed for a PR team and I learned so Much from really talented folks that planned very well and also did their due diligence.
For me , and Often for events the biggest variable to focus on first is to mitigate any risks involved, especially when you have Cirque acrobats swinging around 20 feet plus high above the audience.

I had the pleasure of working along side a very talented and organized PR team called Beedance. My boss Fallon Cryer was the event manager , and I learned so much from her at this event and in the course of meetings leading up to the event.
Fallon was a great boss , because she remained so cool under pressure. For learning sake, I always try be diligent about observing the corporate clients I work with and especially at high profile events.
I noticed Fallon was really good at problem solving in the moment, and I really respected the way she carried herself at the event. You knew she was in charge, but she was mindful of her energy and tone, she made eye contact and addressed everyone by their first name after meeting them only once.
I know for me personally, when I am managing an event this scale with over 17 different live performers, there have been times when it’s felt impossible to think clearly and compartmentalize the task sheet when it feels like your getting pulled into so many rapid fire distractions.
Fallon was the best boss ever , she lead her team in a very elegant and gentle approach. I remember Fallon also had a very stealth like quality, one minute she would suddenly appear in a room and you wouldn’t even know it. I always admire the leaders in the world that don’t have to be the loudest or overly assertive , micro managers , but they keep a close ear to the ground and guide the chaos ship smoothly without transferring any of their own event anxiety on to the team. My biggest Take away from working with Fallon the best boss ever, was having a solid plan in place and letting the performers focus on what they are good at, making adjustments kindly as seen fit and never letting anyone see you sweat.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Amanda Finch, I am an aerialist, I studied in Montreal at Ecole Cirque du Nationale right next door to HQ of Cirque du Soleil. I attended school In Vermont at NECCA , the New England Center for Circus Acts. I originally got into aerial acrobatics as a hobby and a form of fitness. When I first started as an acrobat, I was actually 40 pounds heavier and 36 years old, which is ancient for an acrobat. In “acrobat” years or dog years that’s like 100. Most professional acrobats have retired, or perform the bulk of their career by the age of 25, to 27. At 36 I was just beginning my acrobat journey. So it’s a good reminder it’s never too late to start something. And it’s never too late to change.

Currently things are changing in cirque years too, I personally know a lot of Professional, Cirque Perfomers , and colleagues of mine that are in their mid 40s that still perform and currently work in Cirque Du Soleil.

I started my production company about 11 years ago as a freelance solo, Acrobat, and as my business grew, I started subcontracting multiple performers and managing / directing higher profile , larger scale, corporate events.
I’ve had the opportunity to manage and direct entertainment and performances for halftime shows, corporate galas, museums , and lots of other fun, theatrical productions.
My business is based in Raleigh, North Carolina, but I primarily travel and produce corporate events throughout North America & Canada.

Something that I’m most proud of is I created a summer reading program about six years ago. I currently have performed & toured at over 150 libraries in the course of the last six years. For some of these Libraries it’s the first time they’ve ever had a live Acrobat in person. The biggest take away was this was an opportunity for me to provide social outreach, I get the chance to talk to kids and let them know that learning physics is actually fun & really isn’t that hard once you figure out how you learn. I try to make it approachable just how I learned it.
When I started out as an acrobat, I learned really quickly that I am a kinaesthetic learner, therefore I learned by doing. We’ve incorporated, science, technology, engineering and math into our summer reading programs. The social outreach is such an inspiring feeling for me personally and rewarding work. I am so proud that I get the chance to meet so many different families , librarians & children, often in very rural communities that get to see me come down to earth metaphorically, and literally. I think that it’s really inspiring for people to know that something that is challenging is possible with a lot of hard work and determination. I also really enjoy sharing the benefits of what I do physically also helps my own new neural pathways grow in a positive direction which benefits my mental health.
For me, getting the chance to tell kids if they move their body, eat healthy and they read lots of books , They also can help heal their own body & minds.
The mental health component in my program for children, is crucial now, more then ever. I definitely want to teach kids that it’s ok to be different and encourage folks that draw outside the “normal” lines of conformity.
I like to communicate to children and families, that the social component of physical activity, and real face to face organic engagement with community is beneficial for everyone’s mental health.
It is important for me to be really vocal and transparent, and let kids that may feel a little out of place in the world, I let them know that coming from the island of misfit toys is not necessarily a bad thing. There are a lot of creative and professional performers in the business that don’t really think in a conventional mindset. I believe that, sharing my own difficulties with how I learn,
Isn’t actually a disadvantage. The brain is so fascinating the way that it adapts and overcompensates, sometimes you learn a language within a language just to understand the language you’re learning. To me, I let Kids know that’s their superpower.
One of the most profound things I’ve learned along the way, is that with any skill, profession , craft or trade that you have to invest 10,000 plus hours to master it, you slowly develop and learn a certain type of resilience and duration over time. The message of resilience and duration overtime can also be passed onto others, letting them know that sometimes we all have to sit in challenging or painful moments, but with self reflection, and repetition we gain a lot of valuable insight and perspective that takes us to much higher places, metaphorically, and literally.
When I’m hired to be a keynote speaker , I’m very passionate about sharing and speaking up on mental health for survivors of past abuse & trauma. I feel like there are a lot of people carrying the weight and shame of their worst days with them and I try to offer empathetic support and share my story in the hopes of humanizing myself and others. I found that Finding an alternate modality & healthy distraction from personal pain and past traumas, through the use aerial acrobatics has given me a lot of muscle memory for my own confidence.

Something I have learned over the years is that all of your failures and mistakes seem like a bottomless pit of despair in the moment.
It’s definitely a dark road to be stuck on, but I look back now on my failures and all the things that didn’t work out the way I planned ,and I realize that there is always a beautiful gift in that moment.
My brother Sam took his life at 32 in 2018 , at the time I was also getting a divorce. It was probably the worst year of my life mentally. It later turned out to be the most successful year for my business ever.
Over time I realized I had two options, option 1 give up and sink into the pit of depression and despair , or option 2 , try a different way to occupy my time and help others. I am still learning.
What I learned over the years is that I’m actually grateful that I had the chance to learn who I really was I’m difficult moments , and what I was made of. The amount of opportunities, and the amount of growth in my business, for one of the worst years of my life was astounding to me. I realized none of those life changing magical moments in my life or career would have ever happened to me if I stayed stuck in a toxic relationship and let myself spiral into the depths of depression.
That is not to say, or not to acknowledge that I didn’t have many days where I was extremely sad, depressed, and felt defeated by life. I wanted to take the opportunity to speak up about my brother, and also be an advocate for mental health. I believe sometimes other people that are struggling just need to hear some words of encouragement, or reminders that other people feel that way too.

At the time , Everything with my business was happening so fast I didn’t have time to really enjoy it or take it all in. But as I sit back now and reflect, I think to myself, some of the moments that seemed like true failures & roadblocks actually were alternate detours to a better path for my life where I felt more at peace and I felt like I had the opportunity to use my full potential in my professional training. I wasn’t bogged down with limiting self beliefs anymore I had the opportunity and autonomy needed to pursue my career goals to the fullest.

The past does tug at me some days , but I no longer let what happened to me define me, I have learned to take the lesson and be grateful for the time and opportunities I have now, in spite of all the past failures. Truly I have learned the most in life by recognizing the pattern of what Didn’t work & why.

I like the analogy of , walking down a trail, and you accidentally stepped on a poisonous snake, and it bites you, well now you know don’t walk down that trail again.
You adjust course in business and life based on lots of trails you shouldn’t be on.

I know it sounds corny, but it’s very true , I learned to put the oxygen mask on myself first , In order to them help others , it’s Easier said then done , aerial acrobatics and cirque arts have taught me a strength that transcends the physical component.
I really respect the humans of the world that can have the courage to be transparent and also focus their energy in an altruistic manor.
Maintaining empathy and following a good gut instinct from past mistakes has made me a better leader.
I am glad I get to share and help others realize their own potential and the importance of the opportunity in a good detour.
I believe that every experience we have whether negative or positive is an opportunity to learn and grow, and the best part is, if you hop on another trail, you get to choose.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

In entertainment or production I learned very quickly that 70% of my business is from repeat clientele. Having said that, I try to be extremely accommodating to all my clients and remove the worry for them. I think it’s really important, especially in events to be able to problem-solve in the moment. It’s also important to have a type of confidence That conveys to the client they’re in good hands. I’ve also learned that it’s beneficial to be confident in the way you speak to others, sometimes you have to tell clients something isn’t possible because it’s not safe, and to have enough confidence to not bend on that. Being a yes, person and business is a good thing, and then figuring it out for your client. However, learning how to say no firmly and confidently without explaining yourself is also an excellent quality. And I find most people respect that if they understand the perimeters of safety.

I also am really good at making personal connections with all my clients.
I really do try to just be down to earth as much as I can. I love that I get to meet so many different people from so many different diverse backgrounds, and for me, every opportunity is a chance for me to learn, and I love learning .

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I read a really good book by Malcolm Gladwell it’s called talking to strangers. In this book some of the data and research in his book shows how easily we all naturally default to the truth. Meaning that we take things at face value what we are seeing ,what we read. Meaning that most people tend to be pretty trusting and agreeable.

Something that I had to unlearn is to not easily default to the truth.
Not that I don’t trust individuals, but I now implement a contract that prevents all the things I don’t want to happen and if they happen I’m covered.
I had a really good client take me by surprise after about three years we had worked together on multiple events and always had a really good rapport.

Sadly this particular client decided to not pay the final balance for an event. In the moment, I wasn’t really worried about it, but I was a little bit surprised. This client never paid the balance , and the hassle of dragging someone to small claims outweighed the possible benefit-
I wrote it off as a Loss, but learned a valuable lesson.
What I had to unlearn is, sometimes you just never know, and some folks can throw you a curveball.
What I learned from that experience is to put specific writing in the contracts and implement a strict advance payment policy to avoid ever getting stiffed after an event.
I had to learn how to mitigate the possibility of non payment , and how to navigate ahead of that first, no matter how long I’ve know someone or worked with them.

The beauty at every event is that you always learn something because in the moment you’re like, “ this has never happened before.”

So your best option after that is to create a strategy to prevent it from ever happening again.

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