We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Carey Lewis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Carey below.

Carey, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you have an agent or someone (or a team) that helps you secure opportunities and compensation for your creative work? How did you meet you, why did you decide to work with them, why do you think they decided to work with you?

I am a lifelong talent scout, consultant, and mentor for rising actors, singers, dancers, and models. I’ve learned over 5 decades the “formula for success” that acting coaches and conservatories don’t know or teach. It’s not mysterious, but very practical, learnable, and doable. I’ve worked with hundreds of Entertainment Industry professionals and remain in close contact. That connection is vital in an environment controlled by creatives. Naturally, creatives create– which means change is common.

Carey, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m the middle generation of a 3-generation family business. My mother, Millie Lewis, was a NY fashion model in the late 1940’s. She met my dad, Jack Lewis (a WWll fighter pilot who became an Air Force stunt pilot) when she was hired as a model to stand on his float in a NYC parade. (I have the picture!)

When they married, they moved back to the South, and my mom opened a talent agency and school in SC in 1960… to help local performers do what she did– namely, if they had the potential, to go national.

So I guess you can say we’re still at it. My daughter, Glynis Carpenter (GlynisCarpenter.com) became a NY fashion, beauty, celebrity, and commercial photographer. She is my partner in Shine.us.

What we’ve been doing for 65 years is polishing and preparing actors, singers, models & dancers to go as far as possible in the Entertainment Industry. An industry of creatives is ever-evolving, but the most overwhelming change in casting… is self-submission. Getting signed and booked depends on mastering this process.

Strange to say, but talent has become a secondary consideration. What’s #1? Branding and marketability… which are the VIP door openers. If these 2 superficial components aren’t exceptional, potentially amazing talent doesn’t even get seen.

Unfortunately, most aspiring performers and 99% of talent coaches and conservatories don’t teach it! But we do. It’s our specialty, and over 70% of our students get signed to respected agencies.

Obviously, we’re proud of our placement rate, as well as our success stories.

SIDEBAR (but more of a bottom line). I became a late-in-life Christian at the age of 51. (I’m 69 now.) That being said, Shine is open to all faiths and positive performers, who realize fame, influence, and celebrity are not just perks or gifts– but, far more, a responsibility to lead others well.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is living your dream. Yes, it takes talent. But far more importantly, it takes preparation, perseverance, and COURAGE: the courage to do something different, something “logical” people just can’t understand, something without a “guaranteed” outcome, and something where the sky is the limit.

At this stage in my life (senior:)… I’ve lived long enough to see the deep and gnawing regret that inevitably comes when people ignore their dreams.

“Logical” and “practical” have their place, but they can’t be captains of our destinies.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I’ll share one story I read on your site. It was a small feature on Jael Gasden, a full-time singer and musical theatre performer. She went through our Shine program when she was much younger. Jael was and is… lovely, smart, and talented in singing and acting. Through connections she made at our showcase, she moved to L.A. to pursue her dreams… but like most rising performers, it wasn’t easy.

Rather than giving up, Jael pivoted, persevered, and pushed forward into a vibrant career overseas and now back in the U.S. Is she a household name? No, but she’s thriving and supporting herself– doing what she loves. And yes, she’s an excellent role model for her fans.

Resilience, seen in rising from the “no’s” and seemingly “stagnant” periods ALL performers face, is fundamental to success. Jael’s success (and all the other diverse performers we’ve mentored) has made me so happy!

Contact Info:

• Website: careylewis.us, shine.us
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shinetalentsuccess/

Image Credits

No need. We have the rights to use any images taken at our events.