We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicole Davis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicole below.

Nicole, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?

The most important lesson I learned in a job is to never give 100% of yourself and your time to someone else’s vision. We often spend more time at work then at home. Giving of ourselves to others that make them money and look good, often in toxic environments and neglect ourselves and true passions. The worst advise I got was to get my degree and go and work for someone else. If only those around me had advocated that the degree was proof I was qualified to do the task at hand but I could do it for myself. I think I would have found solace a lot sooner in pouring more into my craft in a way that suited me.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

The industry got into me. I was bullied as a child and the theatre is a space that scooped me up, built my confidence and gave me my wings. I found comfort on the stage performing, drawing and writing. I attended a Arts High School and majored in Theatre and it was solidified that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I had my first college show playing the Queen “Eurydice” in Antigone and my family was late, therefore missing the entire performance. I was devastated and from that something shifted and I had a desire to be behind the stage instead of on it but had no idea what that looked like. I went on the NYU and focused on Educational Theatre but didn’t want to be a teacher. Again not knowing what that looked like. But I looked up venues I wanted to work at and emailed them. One got back to me Newark Symphony Hall and brought me on as a Teaching Artist /Assistant Director. The rest is history I terms of my trajectory to stage management and production.

Have you ever had to pivot?

COVID for some was a difficult time. For me it was the best time of my life mentally. I realized I was in a toxic work environment and not fully investing in myself. No amount of money can by us peace. After reflection I determined that I would much rather but my faith in myself than to stay in an unhealthy space. Not matter how much I loved what I did. It was who I was doing it for, which was not for myself that redirected my path. I went immediately into building a lane for myself by establishing my own business in production, arts ed and event planning. As well as returning part time and as a contractor back to the stage.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is being unapologetic about my enjoying, embracing and pursuing my craft. I am working for me and that is an amazing feeling.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: Thespian Niki
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-davis-leap?trk=contact-info
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@ThespianNiki