We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tali Allen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tali, appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

With the exception of the maybe 2-3 years that I worked as an independent contractor, I have always held a full-time job. I may have had to sacrifice some of my creativity at times, but the full-time salary allowed me to explore a wide number of opportunities that weren’t based solely on the pay. It’s only by that exploration that I truly was able to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. In the beginning of my career, I was an elementary school music/drama teacher by day, and would music direct local theatrical productions at night. I eventually moved into a more administrative role in theatre education, where I created and staffed PreK-12 musical theatre programming. I then realized that was the dream job. As an administrator, I got to pick and choose the creative projects that I was truly passionate about as my full time job, and I’ve been doing that ever since.

Tali, 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?

I’m a pianist first, but had always enjoyed theatre. After college, I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I started music directing the productions at my old high school. I discovered that I was really good at it and it was something I enjoyed, so I began pursuing it. I taught music/drama at an elementary school and music directed at other schools and small theatres around town. I eventually moved to Chicago to work at a professional theatre company that housed a performing arts school. I managed the music department at the school and again took on music directing gigs around town to continue to gain experience.
After a short time in Chicago, I moved to St. Louis and went back to teaching K-8 music/drama. I started immersing myself in the theatre community and began directing/music directing youth theatre productions around town. After teaching full time for 2 years, I took 2 years off to music direct professionally around the country. I then returned to St. Louis and accepted a position at another professional musical theatre that housed a performing arts academy. I became the Director of Education and programmed all classes, camps, workshops and an 11 show season of youth theatrical productions.
I also began teaching at Webster University’s Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts as an Adjunct Associate Professor, vocal coach, and music director. After 6 years at STAGES St. Louis, I transitioned to The Muny to be their first Director of Education, which is my current position.
I think I’m most proud of my work with young people. I like to encourage each of them to determine their own definition of success and help them reach those goals. Whether it’s performing on Broadway or presenting in a board room, I’ll do whatever I can to help them get there.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Defining success for my students was definitely something I had to learn. Working in a highly critiqued, performance based environment, the culminating project is typically what determines success. Was the show good? Did the actors sing well? Did they accurately execute the choreography? All of those things come into play when you’re quantifying whether a program or production was successful. So in working with young people, that caused me to put a lot of pressure on myself and even more pressure on them. Early in my career, I remember one night I was in tech rehearsal with 42 kids (ages 8-18), and the show was NOT going well. They couldn’t remember their lines, they were entering and exiting at the wrong times in the wrong places. I was highly frustrated, which made them even more anxious. It was disastrous! So I stopped the whole thing and brought everyone out. I asked them what would make this situation better. They said all the right things…”if we remember our lines, if we practice, if we focus.” But the show opened in 2 days. We were well past those kinds of things. So I asked them what would make this show successful. I was shocked to hear that all of their answers were about me. It’s successful if I say it is. It’s successful if I tell them good job. If they remember all of my notes. It was then that I realized that they made it about me because I had made it about me. I then asked said to them… “No. What does success mean to you?” I then started getting the real answers. If I nail this choreography. If I hit this high note. If I remember my lines. Then one kid said…”Miss Tali, I’m scared to death. If I can just come on stage and not throw up, that’s a win for me.” From that moment on, I’ve worked very hard to identify each student’s needs/goals from the beginning and what’s a win for them, is a win for me. No matter how big or small. If I’m not able to do that then I’M the one who’s unsuccessful.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I think this is a two-fold answer for me. Personally, I love to be able to express myself through my art. It’s a form of release for me, and it allows me to truly be centered and connected. However, working with and teaching young people is really what fuels my soul. Leading them through their own journey of expression and mastery of skill just energizes me in a totally different way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @taliallen
• Facebook: Tali Allen
• Linkedin: Tali Allen
• Other: www.muny.org

Image Credits
ProPhoto STL Phillip Hamer Julie Merkle