Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to April N. Wheat. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, April N. thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?
My first dollar earned as a creative I was fresh out of graduate studies and my voice teacher recommended me for a job at a church. It was Christmas time and they were doing an opera. I won’t name the opera but let’s just say it was extremely avant-gard and I was a fish out of water to say the least. But I was grateful for the professional experience, and I made a few friends I still keep in touch with. It gave me a taste of what was to come. Nowadays, I am pretty good at adapting to new spaces, places, and people.
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?
I am an Actor, singer, educator, and blogger. I was born and raised in the great state of Louisiana and I got into singing and performing when I was a child. I continued my studies of music through high school, college, and graduate school. I recieved my Masters of Music in 2008 from the University of Houston. Which I came to after hurricane Katrina. I have been a Music teacher/choir director for Aldine ISD for 15 years. I also perform regularly around the city of Houston and also with the Phillip Hall Singers, The Ensemble Theatre, etc. I have youtube channel where I talk about my favorite TV shows and some lifestyle things. I think what sets me apart is that I am versatile. I am able to adapt and change if necessary. I am most proud of the body of my entire work in the city. I know people in a lot of different circles and that what I love the most about performing. Meeting people. I want people to know that I am a professional who is full of personality. I love my job, my whole life is about making other peoples moments special and it’s my mission to tell more stories and sing more songs.
How did you build your audience on social media?
I built my audience on social media by being authentically myself. I made sure that I started doing the content I care about so that my audience could grow from something real, Social media will have you thinking you have to create some artificial content to keep up with the next person but it’s not true. Your content needs to have value to the viewers only, not the whole internet. I’m still a micro influencer but my audience is loyal and engaged. But that’s because I took the time to build my channel around authenticity.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
I think artists can be supported by attending, sharing, and being apart of the conversations. A lot of times as an educator, I have the ability to help people see the value of the arts in our everyday lives. I get to inspire youth to have big dreams and I have seen some of them come true. So I think as a society if we could appreciate the way the arts sustain us and support them by sharing them with someone you may know. Or it could be just pushing through the drudge of the day to let your child participate in band, theatre, choir, or whatever their creative interests are. Support for the arts comes in the form of DOING.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @whoisaprildawn
- Facebook: April Wheat
- Linkedin: April Wheat adawn
- Twitter: @watchdawnofap
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8ryarquz_wHDXosOT7AORQ