We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cayla Shae O’neil. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cayla Shae below.

Cayla Shae, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The story of my college journey, I would say, has been a risky business.

I have always been a more quiet person unless I’m performing; I love trees and woods and generally calm environments—cities are not my thing. I only knew about stage dance and even less about musical theatre. Where did I choose to go to college? Downtown Los Angeles.

I chose this small, very commercial focused school that was located on a film lot. Because dance was the only thing I knew, I applied and got accepted as a Commercial Dance Major. Everything I learned was completely new to me—the industry, clothing, styles and grooves, social structures, etc.

While I was learning a lot, I couldn’t help but feel like I was out of place and not doing the right thing. For someone who has a hard time leaving something behind, this terrified me.

Halfway through my four year program, I decided to switch to a Musical Theatre Major. At the same exact time, the commercial school I was at shut down, and we were taken on by another school. For my Junior year, we had the privilege of being able to stay on our old campus with our teachers, and I discovered switching was the best choice I could’ve made for myself. It gave me confidence in myself that I was sorely lacking, and it gave me the ability to know that I am a capable artist who can be in this industry.

Being in at the new school, officially on their campus, has come with its own ups and downs, but I am confident in the knowledge I am still on the right path. Soon I will be able to say that I switched majors halfway through college and am on track to finish a semester early.

I couldn’t be more grateful for the college journey/risk I’ve taken because I’ve been shown two worlds. I’ve found new interests that I can’t wait to explore after I graduate including stunts and voiceover work!

Cayla Shae, 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 started off dancing when I was four. Thank you to my aunt for signing me up for dance classes! I tried gymnastics and volleyball, but the one thing that stuck was dance because it just felt right.

In high school, I finally listened to the voice inside my head that kept telling me I wanted to act so I joined the spring musical. Let’s just say, it was a done deal for me!

I have always been drawn to performing, and I like to believe it was what I was born to do. I love it because I like taking people to other places, even if it is only for a little while. P.T. Barnum said, “The noblest art is that of making others happy.” And that has stuck with me. It is what I hope to do for others.

I would like to work any which way I can! On camera, in a music video, character in a parade or on a cruise, ensemble on Broadway or on tour, a voice in a video game or cartoon, I’m interested in it all!

One of my goals is to work in safe, effective, and communicative environments. It is important to me that honesty and hard work is always present while we still remember to have fun!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

What’s most rewarding for me is feedback from the audience. I love making people feel things, and them telling me about their experience.

How I view it is that seeing a show is like going to a consensual safe space. They allow artists to make them feel angry, sad, happy, confused, fearful, and/or every other emotion, but are safe in feeling them because they know it’s a show. They also get to learn about these emotions or scenarios.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I don’t think most people understand how much time outside of work hours goes towards the craft. As a performing artist, it’s constantly having to be conscious about mental and physical well being. Along with practicing routines or scenes or songs, making sure we know them beyond a shadow of a doubt.

For example, you are in a rehearsal and you receive a song. You have to memorize the timing, words, and pitch. Then you have to add nuance, dynamics, and the emotion. After that physicality, props, set pieces, or other scene partners can be added in. Not only does all of that have to be ingrained in the mind and body, but understanding the history of the piece must be clear as well.

As a creative, we are constantly having a million things to think about outside and during our day to day life. If we have another job or school, we also have to divide our attention to those. A lot of the time we are multitasking—running through things in our heads while driving, cooking, cleaning, etc. And though it can be emotionally and physically taxing, we wouldn’t change it for the world! It’s how we share our hearts.