We are spending Friday's exploring and featuring our Laners! This past year has been challenging for us all and yet, our Laners continue to pursue their passions, grow, and expand their skill sets to meet the new challenges life has thrown their way. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, adaptability, and artistry. It is our pleasure to feature some outstanding Laners over the next few months! And today's spotlight is on Susannah Crowell.
What is the new job or project you've taken on?
Freelance social media marketing and continuing to expand on teaching performing arts classes!
What made you go in this direction?
After I closed an incredible live Zoom musical in December, I knew I wasn't going to be able to top that experience immediately (shout-out the the Human Resources team! Our soundtrack goes live February 12 at humanresourcesmusical.com!)
I wanted to retreat and take some classes before going "back out there" (in my living room, self-taping) to audition, and I wanted focus on building a more reliable income outside of acting so "full-time auditioning" could continually be possible. Teaching and social media marketing are both exciting and boredom-banishing ways of using my creativity that I have control of and am able to expand upon while stage performance opportunities have been limited. Plus, teaching has kept me in fairly decent performance shape working with kids on their singing, dancing, acting, and comedic capabilities.
What has been the most exciting part of taking on this new adventure?
It has been a tie between mastering The Zoom Classroom, mastering Tik Tok and the whole marketing world it has created, and keeping up with Instagram algorithm updates!
What is the biggest lesson you've learned throughout this journey?
Prioritizing necessary rest periods and physical/mental health over ANY tasks on the to-do list (no matter how seemingly urgent) every single day was scary, and I am learning from experience that it always results in more quality work and more productivity in the long run. Making that yoga class or that musical karaoke shower your NUMBER ONE to keep on the schedule no matter what will pay off, even if you feel pressured by other looming tasks. They'll get done; take care of you first.
What are you most looking forward to?
Building up my fledgling social media portfolio and more "aha" moments from my students!
Do you have any advice to those looking to follow in your footsteps?
Study up and do the work first; it won't come overnight. Or in a month. Or sometimes not in six months... freelancing usually takes building up to, so don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle. I worked at GoDaddy in Social Media on boarding a few years back, but I'm new in the freelance space and only have one paid client so far. I've been teaching professionally for seven years and as a training TA for six years before that, and that has eventually built up my clients and my rate. Acknowledge that you can be a beginner in one aspect and an expert in another.
To learn more or connect with Susannah, feel free to check out her Instagram @susannahcrowell! Or watch her video here!