Buckle up!

Hi, folks. I’m Michelle. Welcome to my first ever blog. I’m here to grow, learn, and make new discoveries about the world and myself. I look forward to going on this journey with all of you.

I was born and raised on Long Island, NY, and attended Calhoun High School by audition to study drama and acting. As much as I wanted to be an actor at the time, I knew the lifestyle, fear of rejection, and competition was not the life for me.

However, I excelled in math. I liked numbers. And ended up moving to New York City after graduating high school to study Accounting at CUNY Hunter, graduating with a Bachelors of Science.

I needed to find a way to start in the arts world. By hook or by crook, I WAS going to make this happen.

I held many internships in the theater world as either a Finance, Accounting, or Business intern. But after four years of work as a Staff Accountant in theater, I realized I did not want to crunch numbers or balancing books for the rest of my life, which led me to pursue higher education at NYU Steinhardt, where I received an M.A. in Performing Arts Administration in May 2019.

My first Masters provided a sampler platter of all things Arts Administration, ranging from Development, Marketing, Arts Policy, and Law in the Arts. This was the change of pace I needed from Accounting. I needed to utilize my artistic side and get my creative juices flowing.

I landed a job immediately following graduation as a Development Associate for an Off-Broadway theater company, and was able to hone my skills while adding new tools to my toolbox.

*Fast forward to March 2020*

On Thursday, March 12, 2020, the theater world was forever changed.

Broadway and Off-Broadway went dark. Touring and regional theater grinded to a screeching halt. And artists, stagehands, designers, and arts managers found themselves unemployed due to the climate surrounding COVID-19.

Theater is scotched for an undisclosed amount of time. I fear for what this moment will do to artists and aspiring creatives, albeit, I was fortunate to have been employed until the end of the fiscal year (June 30) so I could apply for relief funding and emergency grants for our artists.

My position was terminated on July 1 due to budget cuts going into FY’21. I decided I needed a plan B during this dislocated moment.

So here I am. Back in graduate school at my old stomping grounds. Only this time I am exploring an entirely different avenue; combining both the analytical and creative in me.

I look forward to becoming a stronger marketer and am eager to learn the nuts and bolts of marketing.

To quote Tony Kushner’s Angels in America, “The great work begins.”