We recently connected with Michael Lee Stever and have shared our conversation below.

Michael, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I think one of the trickiest and most critical mind sets we can wrap our heads around in this crazy ‘business of show’ of ours is understanding the importance of learning one’s craft. The great irony of course is often when we’re younger the importance of such an idea is often lost on us. I was fortunate enough to work for close to 20 years straight as a full-time actor singer dancer and stage combat enthusiast. Before that I was a journalism, film-making and communications major in college where I got my first hands-on experiences with video & film production and editing and on camera hosting. It was while working as Unit Production Manager on the critically acclaimed documentary ‘Broadway: the Golden Age by the Legends Who Were There,’ that I had the sobering realization of just how little I knew about the history of my own business that I’d worked in steadily. It was a real slice of humble pie to sit at the knee of these 100 incredible luminaries from the Broadway stage and the West End and realize how little I actually knew. I was up for the challenge however and continue to learn every day. We all grow and evolve at our own pace and it’s important to remember that, but it’s also very important to know the history of our field and chosen profession. The more history we learn the more we can fine-tune our own skills and zero in on our own strengths and figure out exactly the best ways we can contribute to our industry of choice. The more ways you can contribute the more opportunities will manifest themselves.

Michael, 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 did not come from a show business family by any stretch but the Entertainment field seemed to call me at a very young age as I was lured into the magical world of the theatre doing church musicals and such and it was there where I got my first experiences singing dancing and acting and working in the professional theatrical world in my hometown of Sacramento California. My studies and interests straddled the line between communications filmmaking and journalism and my love for acting singing and dancing. Initially I thought I wanted to be a news anchor but I realized after several internships at major network affiliates in Sacramento that my interest had more to do with the entertainment field in general than a love for the news. Some of my first professional experiences in theater were at Sacramento Music Circus working with the likes of Juliet Prowse, Peter Reckell, Marcia Lewis, Helen Reddy, Betty Garrett, Carole Cook and many others. After singing in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular around 1999, it was then I pursued my Road Less Traveled, bought my first professional camera and embarked on my life in production & behind the camera as well and in doing so have now lived 2 different lives in this crazy biz.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

This crazy entertainment field and its rapidly changing landscape is so full of slippery slopes and pitfalls it is truly mind boggling the myriad of challenges that await all of us as we push forward on our own personal paths. From my standpoint there is nothing more important to keep in the back of our heads then remembering that ‘Fame’ is not the magical answer we are taught to think of it as. If you are on your path for the pursuit of fame you might as well pack it in and find something else to do because you are almost guaranteed a lifetime of heartbreak and misery. This lust for fame is probably one of the most toxic, poisonous and insidious mindsets people constantly fall into, often without even realizing it. Sure the allure and dream of fame is extremely powerful and we’ve all entertained it but it’s best to stay focused on the contributions you have to make in the field. Doing so will speak volumes about you, and word of mouth is key in this or any profession.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I’m so glad you’ve included this question into the mix. As our Entertainment field is currently gripped in the deadlock of a critically important writers and actors strike this question drives at the very heart of our salvation as humans in this field. The overwhelming advent of computer CGI technology and AI technology is something which must be fought against tooth and nail! The idea that writers or performers or musicians or any of us can be so easily replicated and replaced is a threat the likes of which we’ve never really had to deal with until now. These major Studios and greedy CEOs who are refusing to acquiesce and respect the live nature of performance and the Irreplaceable nature of the Human Condition and the tireless efforts put forth every single day by real, living breathing artisans must be valiantly fought for and triumphed over. We as the General Public have tremendous power to bring these greedy corporate S.O.B’s to their knees by simply refusing to purchase, view or stream their materials. This is truly why the theater is still and will always remain probably the most important entertainment vehicle out there. It is LIVE, a communal connection where we’re all breathing the same oxygen together. That’s where the real magic lies.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://michaelstever.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelleestever
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelleestever
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstever/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MichaelSteverMLS
• Yelp: https://www.google.com/search?q=michael+lee+stever+reviews&client=firefox-b-1-e&ei=BhS4ZMvZH4PiiLMPypGmuAY&ved=0ahUKEwjL9MH8nJuAAxUDMWIAHcqICWcQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=michael+lee+stever+reviews&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiGm1pY2hhZWwgbGVlIHN0ZXZlciByZXZpZXdzMgUQABiiBDIFEAAYogRIiRRQmQhYsRJwAXgBkAEAmAFsoAG3BaoBAzYuMrgBA8gBAPgBAcICChAAGEcY1gQYsAPCAgYQABgWGB7CAgUQIRigAcICBRAhGKsC4gMEGAAgQYgGAZAGAg&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#lrd=0x89c257ef03aae63d:0x9239fd1534a7d1da,1,,,,
• Other: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Stever