Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Paige Clabo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Paige thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?

I had the honor of working as a performer for almost 10 years in my 20s. Something I learned very quickly in the industry was that there was always going to be someone just as talented as you, so I made it my goal not to be outworked by anyone. I was always doing the most and really maxing out my calendar for the company I worked for and outside of work and sometimes working multiple jobs. This came at a price for my mental health and while I do not regret putting in the hard work, I do regret not slowing down and enjoying the fact that I was living the dreams of the little girl who so many people told “this is not a career.” My most important lesson would be that you live in the now and take things as they come, and not to overcommit yourself.

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 way I found myself in the entertainment industry is the way a lot of young people find themselves there. Not fitting in. When I was younger, I grew up in a very unorthodox situation. My father had a rare genetic disease called Huntington’s and my household was a very uncertain and at times unsafe place. Our lives were different so my brother and I were bullied a lot in school. Finding a safe place was hard so, I loved to pretend. I pretended my life was different to get through days that were difficult. Then I learned that onstage you actually COULD become someone different and that is what drew me to performing. Fully immersing myself in someone else is the best therapy that I could have ever asked for. The more I did it, the more I loved it. I begged to be in any children’s show, choir, musical or play we could find. In college I was blessed enough to receive a performing arts scholarship and go on to audition and work in the industry as a performer for almost 10 years. After Covid, It is now my mission to help kids find their safe place to belong and introduce them to the thing that changed my life for the better. I never want a child to be held back by people not knowing or understanding how the industry works. That’s why Heirlooms Fine and Performing Arts is dedicated to helping children find their voice, confidence, and a safe place to be themselves.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I loved theatre and music from an early age. I would say the most rewarding part of my job is getting the opportunity to do things my students LOVE and watch them grow. When I was growing up, I often felt unheard by adults. Something that I like to do is have a lot of student collaboration so they feel like they are a part of the creative process. Without them, Heirlooms does not exist and I want to keep things engaging for them and do shows and music that they love. Creating WITH my students is so rewarding and a very different approach than the public education system offers. It helps them to feel empowered and heard, while also giving them a sense of accomplishment seeing what they helped create come to fruition.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to create an environment that is more than just music. It is to create an environment where students build confidence in all life skills. Theatre and music teach so much. You need your kids to learn collaboration with others and work on social skills? Put them in a show or music ensemble. You need them to be confident public speakers, use their imagination, learn to create and so much more? Put them in a show or music ensemble! The world is full of possibilities when they get to work hard on something and then perform in front of a crowd. There is something so magical about watching them at the beginning of the process and seeing the confidence they gain through theatre. Heirlooms is more than music and it is our mission to create confident, well rounded performers who are industry ready.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://heirloomsfineandperformingarts.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heirlooms_performing_arts/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557473181143

Image Credits

Samantha Southerland Photography