We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jodie Wilk a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jodie, thanks for joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

In 2019 I knew it was time to retire from my beloved teaching job of sixteen years at Academy of Dance Arts in Allen, Texas. I had been praying and journaling about my next steps, having moved to east Texas a couple of years prior as an empty nester. I asked God if and how I should strike out on my own professionally.

I’ve always enjoyed teaching novice performers. Coaxing shy, reluctant or exuberant wannabe’s onto the stage via dance or acting has always been a passion. Another passion is journaling with God. I have fifteen red journals that I’ve filled since 1983 that testify to our relationship and His faithfulness. So then, when God said to do the summer musical theatre camps in my new small hometown, I thought ok, here we go.

I called around to high schools, asked locals in the stores and researched area community theatres just to see if people around here were even interested in theatre. I got nowhere until I called Northeast Texas Community College. I was asked to meet with Carolyn Franks, the Director of The Whatley Center for the Performing Arts, which is part of the college, and she said, “Why don’t you do your camp at our summer Kids College program right here on the Whatley stage?”

I thought, “Wow!” I felt like I had just gotten the keys to the candy shop! A real stage for rehearsals and the performance! That summer of 2019 I took the camp I had done at the studio complete with costumes and sets and taught six girls a show. Within a total of 24 hours (8 classes, 3 hours each) they went from ‘Hello, this is acting’, to auditions, to learning all blocking, choreography and stage readiness to a short free performance for family and friends.

From there I started teaching acting classes with an end of semester show. I soon rented rehearsal space in a small yoga studio of a gym, then an empty restaurant and finally my current location at a retreat center’s large conference hall on the lake where I live. Since I started, I have produced twelve full shows in four years, taught 65 students through summer camps and fall and spring full semesters, 60% of whom have been in two or more productions, five of those students have received awards for being in five or more shows.

This past spring I included adult community theatre actors, rented a barn-like wedding venue, created a stage and produced a script I wrote, “The Untold Story of Lullabelle Harper the Good Witch of the South.” We had 600 attend our four performances. My husband, Greg, my ever ardent supporter and amateur lighting guy, talks often about our ‘loaves and fishes’ moment at our final show. At our Sunday matinee he and our volunteers had to keep bringing in more chairs because the crowds kept coming!

After my most recent summer camp at the college, I’m taking a bit of a break by only teaching classes this fall and not producing a show. God and I are spending this semester finishing a novel that’s been in the works for way too long. We’ve been typing away at a deadline because auditions for our 2024 spring original play, “Clue: Stage Fright Tonight!” are in November. The buzz around town about the ‘Clue’ play and the community that has embraced me is the best word of mouth marketing.

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’m Jodie Wilk, but my sisters called me a ‘Porch Baby’..a critter left on the doorstep, chosen to liven things up! No truth to it, of course (I’ve got my mother’s thighs & my daddy’s nose), but I’ve always loved the cradled feeling such a nickname saddled me with. Creativity and ‘gitter done’ runs in my family. Ever since my great grandmother Bessie rocked me on our porch on Corona Street in Austin, Texas, my family has been sewing, painting, building or blingin’ something from nothing.
Now, after 35+ years teaching dance & choreographing everything from contemporary to Broadway, making all crazy types of props & sets, sewing stuff from stuff, and launching three kids into the world, I am doing what my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Harrington said I should do..tell stories… and make sure to give her credit when I made my debut on Johnny Carson. Well, maybe I’ll get my chance with one of Johnny’s descendents.

My story is I’ve been choreographing and teaching since high school. I had a short stint doing public relations for McDonald’s, then, while raising my kids, I taught at dance studios in Texas and Canada and directed musicals and plays at both my church in Plano and a private Christian school in Lucas, Texas. Now an empty nester, I’ve struck out on my own with Performance Supply Company and I will celebrate my thirteenth production this spring.
My brand is Instagram on the stage–lots of memorable picture moments–powered by encouragement for every diva and shy wallflower to cross their fear lines and shine.

Performance Supply Company is a small theatre company and acting school. I produce mostly original work that I write myself or have co-authored. From the script to props, costumes, set design and directing, I get to do all the creative things I love. But the best part is teaching the kids and watching them step over their ‘fear lines.’ One of my greatest joys in life is watching a student, young or old, take courage by the tail and conquer the little things that hold them back. Whether it’s standing solo in front of the class, attempting new choreography, performing a two-page monologue on opening night or walking into my class for the first time, I love to celebrate my students’ daily steps across the dreaded line that holds us back from our own greatness and growth.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I believe we like to spend time with people that make us better people and have fun while we do it. That’s my class in a nutshell and the main reason my students return time and again, as well as a developing loyal audience base.

I am a cheerleader of sorts; a huge encourager! In class I spur my students to try, support each other in the attempt and reach for our goal at PSC to ‘Be Big, Be Loud and Don’t Be Boring!”

With each student I text, email or call parents throughout the semester and especially after performances how proud I am of their children. I’ll post show pics, tag and comment specifically about a student’s amazing performance, growth and oftentimes, leadership skills. It’s wonderful to see parents share and boast about their kids with their family and friends commenting and sharing as well.
Also, if a student of mine is doing something in their local school or community event for acting, sports, art, whatever, I try to attend and cheer them on.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Books that I go back to time again: “Breath for the Bones: Art, Imagination, and Sprit; Reflections on Creativity and Faith” by Luci Shaw; “Jon Wooden on Leadership” by Jon Wooden and Steve Jamison; and of course, the Bible. God is my guide, mentor, anchor, and inspiration. It is through an on-going internal conversation with Him that I proceed or not on any one thing. We have a non-stop status meeting of sorts where we work out issues and I receive step-by-step instructions, most times foregoing the usual artistic angst (which I did plenty of early in my career).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.performancesupplycompany.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/performancesupplycompany/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/performancesupplyco
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodie-stewart-wilk-642683247/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performancesupplycompany8786/videos
• Other: https://myredjournals.wordpress.com

Image Credits
Sam Guzman, Jude Guzman, Sonya Barker, Elizabeth Lively