Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michele Brisco. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Michele thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?
The first dollar I earned that I can remember was sixth grade. I loved creating — filmmaking, photography, acting, singing — so, I did it as frequently as I could. I wore pink shoelaces around my neck with my friends’ names on it, a red crop top with a bright blue tank tops underneath. I had glasses and braces, and wore pink tails. I sang during tests, state exams, and projects. My best friend at the time gave me her old silver camera. It was a little beat up, but I loved it. I took a lot of photos of my sixth grade class in my spare time — field trips, gym classes outside, during class and free periods. I turned it into a slideshow with a few songs by Forever the Sickest Kids and All Time Low (and maybe one other band!) My teachers loved it so much, they held a pod meeting, and showed it to the entire pod. My friends began asking me if they could have one, and if I was selling them. I jumped on it as quickly as I could. Six dollars. I sold them for six dollars. I ratted myself out to my math teacher that I had been selling them. I had no idea that wasn’t really allowed, but he let it slide! I don’t think I made more than forty dollars, but the rush was incredible. I had made something people wanted to see and hold onto. I captured memories and those memories weren’t just valuable to me, but to my classmates. The money was just an extra perk to the feeling I had of sharing art, even at a young age.
Michele, 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?
My great-grandmother encouraged my creativity. She taught me how to color and how to sew a sock. She taught me about money and warned me to never go anywhere by myself as a child. Whenever I wanted to hear a story, she created entire worlds for me, with the main characters being my family members. Yet, the one beautiful outlet that she ignited in me was singing. My great-grandmother used to sing to me as a child. When I hear “Show Me The Way to Go Home,” I hear my grandmother singing, her song being interrupted with a few “Oh Madone’s” if she caught me or my brother (mainly my brother) causing trouble. I haven’t stopped singing since.
I’m an actor, a singer, and a teaching artist. In high school, I was Jeanie in Hair and Penelope Pennywise in Urtinetown: The Musical, During the summer, I was one of the original Young Scholars for the Pocono Mountain Music Festival. Mark Janas and Andy Gale were two of my incredibly passionate, driven, and nurturing teachers. I graduated from Penn State University with a Communications degree and a Theater minor. I’ve had quite a few jobs — ice cream stands, pizzerias, babysitting, the U.S. Army’s Public Affairs Office (I was a paid intern) — but nothing has brought me as much joy as teaching theatre.
My main focus as an artist and teacher is growth. It’s the message I share with my students as often as I can, especially when working with kids ages 5-14. As a society, we focus on who’s the best — who can hit the highest notes, who can cry on cue, who can land the double back handspring during the dance break. I show my students that the person to your left and the person to your right are not the people you are competing with. You are solely competing with yourself. You are competing with the student you were on the first day of class. My proudest moments come from students who began their semesters saying they can’t land the dance moves because the song is too fast, but on the night of our performance, are ready to perform that same number over and over again. My heart is warmed by the student who is too shy to even say their name or come to class after that first day, but have grown so much, they’re one of the lead roles in their spring musical. Recently, I had a student tell me she didn’t make the cut after an audition, but she’s ready for more auditions and one “no” won’t stop her.
I teach my students to kick fear in the face. Break down the door. Be whacky, get mad, laugh uncontrollably, roll across the stage, cry in front of your classmates if you need to! It is more than okay and those emotions are welcomed because it is a part of your process. I’m currently in the process of getting back into auditions and performing. I have taken a little hiatus from teaching at the moment because my students have inspired me to follow my own dreams. So, here we are!
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
Non-creatives will struggle with the idea that they, too, are creatives. Somewhere along the way, they let their brains convince them that: (a) they can’t make money in the arts, (b) they aren’t “cut out” for the arts, (c) their art isn’t worth anything, (d) they don’t have time to create, or (e) all of the above. The reality is we’re all creative in some way or another. It’s just breaking the mold of what you view as “creative.”
In my journey, I’ve realized that just as some people feel a rush from a big sale or cooking a meal to perfection or cleaning their car/house until everything shines, I feel that same rush performing and teaching.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
My favorite artist for the last 5-6 years has been Russ. “It’s All In Your Head: Get Out of Your Way” has really impacted my thinking, or should I say, my lack of thinking. I have a tendency to want to do two million things at once. I become paralyzed by my own thoughts and self-doubt creeps in, along with the “what if” questions that follow. This book was a wake up call to my inner artist. Learning to let go is hard, but it can be easy if you let it. Another book I’m currently reading is actually part-journal. It’s called “The Artist’s Way.” If you’re looking to clear your mind, to begin creating, look no further. This is it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.michelebrisco.com
- Instagram: @michelebrisco
Image Credits
Kenneth Durrant Photography Dan Demeco