We were lucky to catch up with Carnita Jones recently and have shared our conversation below.
Carnita, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
In 2010, I started Nu Star Maker Performing Arts & Talent Management Inc. to work with and give back to performance arts creatives who were interested in participating in live performing arts experiences, management booking opportunities and artist training platforms in dance, music and acting. Most of my clients were looking for a program that enhanced their dance skills so, I developed the Mihi Movement Dance Training Method that focuses on dance technique, terminology and injury prevention.
It is important that we work with performers that are really dedicated to honing their creative skills and who work hard at reaching their full performance potential.
Our performance arts clients are hard working industry professionals who enjoy performing live on stage in theaters, concerts, and festivals.
As a result of the hard work and perseverance of our staff and performing artist over the past twelve years, we are honored to say that our company has developed some wonderful business liaisons and relationships with several local cities, venues, event coordinators and businesses that regard our Nu Star Maker Performing Arts management model as their one stop performing arts management resource.
Carnita, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I started Nu Star Maker Performing Arts & Talent Management Inc. in 2010 to provide training and entertainment management for creatives in the performing arts professional community. Over the past twelve years, we have expanded our services to include live performance stage management and live stage bookings for indoor and outdoor concerts and corporate events. We have partnered with local cities, business groups, and local event planners to provide quality stage management and entertainment in Georgia.
I believe that my pathway to become a part of the arts community started when I agreed to do a creative dance at my elementary school in 1969 as a way to deal with my shyness around other children at my school. I absolutely loved being on the stage! I found my quiet confidence through movement and entertainment.
In 1971, I met and trained under the guidance of Atlanta dance icons Valjeanne Taylor Grigsby and Barbara Sullivan. Like my very strong and opinionated mother, these two women were the type of powerful women that I was accustomed to trusting and following their guidance and advice. They were old school dance teachers who believed in hard work, don’t waste my time, and no excuses!
Their training and my mother’s insistence for me to attend this performing arts high school through the minority to majority district busing initiative, which was basically a voluntary desegregation program in Atlanta Public Schools in the 70’s, led me to audition for Northside High School of the Performing Arts in Atlanta for Mr. William “Billy” Densmore Jr., the Artistic Director of the program.
While under Mr. Densmore’s guidance, I continued my dance training with Mr. Jim Baker in tap, Jennifer Pots in classical ballet and the iconic Lee Harper Vason in ballet, jazz and modern.
In 2006, after working in corporate America and raising my children, I returned to the dance world teaching at my daughters dance studio. One of the dance teachers at her studio decided to quit on the spot and the owner asked me if I would dust off my old shoes and help her out. I agreed and I’ve been teaching, researching and developing my skills to be the best teacher I can be since I put my old dance shoes back on my feet. I decided to continue to develop a dance method that is fun and easy to learn how to move no matter the age of the student. After twelve years of research, testing and implementing movement theories based on my experiences, I moved forward with creating the Mihi Movement lifestyle and Mihi Movement Dance and Injury Prevention Method for dancers of all training styles and levels.
I am so fortunate that I’m able to research and test the results of my Mihi Movement Dance and Injury Prevention Method and creating and developing Mihi Movement Lifestyle research at my newly renovated 4,000 square foot creative space on our small family farm in Calhoun, GA. Our space includes a research dance studio, black box theater and a recording studio. This is where we brainstorm ideas, gather resources and plan out management strategies for our clients.
Through our entertainment management resources and services, we are excited to develop our stage management booking services and to contract with companies like Brittany Leazer Productions located in the East Cobb area near Atlanta, Ga. We provide Mihi Movement Dance and Injury prevention technique services for some of the performing arts students and pre-professionals at her impressive studio.
Also, we contract with Ricketts-Rhodes Events providing festival entertainment and main stage management, and RMAK Productions to handle their event stage and management needs for festivals, live performance concerts and live geographical stage production in Georgia and Virginia.
I am beyond thankful that I am able to live my life as a creative artist and I credit my wonderful family for believing in my abilities, and to all of my performing arts teachers who are responsible for igniting the passion I have for the arts. Through my Mihi Movement Dance Training and Injury Prevention Method and the Mihi Movement lifestyle, I celebrate “me” and other creatives that are age 50 plus who enjoy living and celebrating “the back 5’s” of their lives. We still have a lot to give and receive from the artistic community and we have a whole lot to show and give back to the public through live entertainment!!
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
What helped me build my reputation within my market is my straight forward approach to problem solving. I’m not the kind of person who believes in complaining and making excuses for anything. There is a solution for your dilemma that does not include blaming someone else. I’m also not a “yes” person or a “finger pointer”. Let’s get it done. I’m a problem solving creative by nature. There is a need in the creative community for people who respect creativity through an artistic level and can also approach challenging issues through management resources, evaluation and follow-up.
I’m the one who will be your biggest supporter and I’m researching and evaluating your action and strategic plans for your project and working it out in my head.
In the LinkedIn community, I am considered a micro-influencer. I enjoy connecting with industry leaders and professionals who are creating and implementing their ideas, developing business models, and reaching out to help others who are serious about building and branding their platforms.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Small businesses have to find new and innovative ways to stay relevant and current in any industry, especially the entertainment industry. I found out quickly that I needed to stay involved, informed and resourceful as a small business owner.
Every three years, I evaluate my business model and “fine tune” my model based on collected facts that I have faced during those three years and the prior three years. I also watch the market and try to make informed decisions about the next project that I feel my company should explore.
With that said, there were times early in my business when I had to choose between financially forgiving monthly fees to support a few of my struggling clients or let them fall by the way side. I chose my clients. My financial advisor kept giving me the side eye whenever I would make a decision to stay the course with my client. I was deviating from my carefully crafted business plan. I decided to listen to my inner voice. I happy to say that I am fairing well and so are my clients. We rode the storm out together and abundantly received our blessings. Those same clients have never left my side to this day.
When you are a small business owner, you have to want to be a business owner and you have to be creative to make it for 365 days and then hit repeat. After twelve years in business, I continue to talk to anyone who will listen about the plans I have for my company. There is a positive energy that surrounds my company and I am so thankful that I get to experience this positive charge every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nustarmakerevents.com
- Instagram: carnitajones
- Facebook: @nu.star.maker
- Linkedin: Carnita Jones