119: The Business of Performance Based Industries

Catalyst is a Creative Industries podcast, from Chapman University. Each episode features Chapman students who have completed a Podcasting course through the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries at the university. Students who had no podcasting experience or technical ability in the genre before taking the course were able to contribute all the segments to Catalyst this season with the goal being that they will take this ‘hands-on’ experience and carry it over to the launching of their very own series. Each episode of Season 13 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.
We start Catalyst this week with Mackenzie Kim and her interview with Sharon Westenhofer, executive director at The Music Room, a school for performing arts in Orange County. Mackenzie dives in with Sharon by discussing the balance of business and art and what the good and the bad aspects of creating your own company and studio can be. They talk about the inner workings of The Music Room, including classes and what is required in money and manpower to make the business work. It is revealed through the conversation that several Chapman students work at The Music Room as both teachers and directors. Listen to hear how this creative business has been succeeding in Orange County for Forty years!
Concluding our episode this week is an in depth interview with someone that many of our audience members may know from their TV screens. Singer-songwriter Jenna Marquis sits down with Leila Neet, to discuss her illustrious career including her appearances on BOTH American Idol and The Voice, the latter of which where she was coached by the one and only Gwen Stefani. Jenna and Leila delve into what it is like as a creative performer to be on both of those shows and what their main differences are. They also discuss some of the behind-the-scenes aspects and what a performer can expect of an experience like that. The pair also discuss what it is like to be in a performance-based industry and still struggle with anxiety. Jenna gives the listeners tips on how to deal with stage anxiety and how she has overcome these struggles over the years.