We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kelsey Lane. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kelsey below.
Hi Kelsey, thanks for joining us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?
Yes, I have felt that. I think people like to put us in boxes. Like, oh you can’t be a businesswoman and a comedian. I still get self conscious about telling people. If I’m in a one on one business meeting with someone I don’t want them to almost see this other side of me or know I am a comedian for fear of judgement or them taking me less seriously. But, I will say most of the time it’s 100% my own fears. No one is thinking I can’t do both or shouldn’t. But I felt like that in my 20’s like I had to pick one and I was either all in one category or the other. The past few years I feel like I have come into my own and really embraced that I have an interest and career in multiple areas. I think to people are becoming more and more versatile in their careers too. Such as the women on Selling Sunset! They are so bad ass. One will be a relator but also have her own business or be an actress or author in addition to being a wife and a mother and being on reality TV. We can all do so much and wear many hats and I hope that is someone take away when they come to a show or we chat is that they feel inspired to go after all of their dreams! I’m now even trying to break into the influencer realm. I just think there is so many avenues to go about things and our dreams can change and evolve as we do!
Kelsey, 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?
A little bit about me, I am originally from Richmond Virginia. It was a wonderful place to grow up. I was always very intersested in the arts. I was in choir, orchestra, on dance team in musical prouductions. By the time college rolled around, I knew I wanted to major in something I was passionate about so I went to Middle Tennessee State University in Nashville and studied Music Business and Marketing. While in college the show Nashville was filming and a friend suggested I go be a background actor on the show. I went and I fell in love with being on set. I went back again and again I got to know the crew and I started taking acting classes. After graduation I moved to New York and attended The Neighborhood Playhouse School Of Theater which focuses on the Meisner technique and I graduated from the two year acting conservatory. I then moved out to LA and I started taking improv classes at The Groundlings right away. From there it involved into me trying stand up and then also wanting to pursue that as a career. One thing has ultimately always lead to another in my career and I believe will contuine to do so!
Now in my job working in the music industry, my focus is to get songs placed primarily in Films. But, I have also placed songs in exhibits at The Met or The Moma. I do off broadway productions. I got to see one recently in New York that I placed 20 songs in! That was definitely a surreal moment. People come to me to set the scene for their project and it feels good to make that happen. I am very passionate about working in the music industry and I always want to grow and evolve. I’ll hit up colleaues on Linkedlin to get coffee and chat and to hear about what projects and things they have in the works. I also talk to a lot of composers who are hungry for advice on how to break into the sync world. I try to attend as many conferences and festivals as I can to learn. I went to SXSW for the first time this past year and I had the best time and I learned and saw some much great art from screenings to shows and I met so many incredible people. I think everyone should go regardless of what field your in! I also attend Coachella every year. I also highly recommend everyone go at least once! I absolutely love it. I feel like it’s an annual celebration of why I work in music.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Oh gosh how about every single time I get up on stage? I truly don’t know where it comes from. It’s like this inherit part of my being that just kicks in and says you can and you will. Like moving out to LA from the east coast was crazy! Yet my friends and family never doubted it would work it was like there she goes! But, I always think if I had to look back on my life with regret or wonder what if, now that terrifies me along with the idea of not being successful. So, I always have pushed myself because I’ll think this is the one life we get this isn’t a dress rehearsal so if you want to do something or travel somewhere then you have to make it happen!
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Pay everyone! I think artists and all artists should not have to fight to be paid. It should be if I step on stage then I get paid. Because at the end of the day it’s a job. When I tell jokes I can’t tell you the hours and hours that have gone into making sure every joke works the best it can. And I do get paid but I’ve taken gigs were I don’t and I am just pouring everything I have in order to get ready for this and I think it would be nice if my bank account reflected that! The same way we would never ask a hairstylist to do our hair for free and use their creativity and skills then I shouldn’t be either. We has artists shouldn’t. I think that would start with the bookers and the clubs ensuring that if you as an artist are on my show and you get on stage to entertain people ultimately at the expense of yourself right? Then you should be paid. Anything that requires our time and energy. I think it’s fair to ask for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beacons.ai/kelseynlane?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadzbFLYLBSL8H5EeOA0MN6z5Sv24eX_n9MKVckH1nmGxwYIHo1CbGCOk-6LJA_aem_QXg_HaHE56tFY0LoRVG56A
- Instagram: kelseynlane
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelseylane284/
Image Credits
Cameron Rice Productions