Let’s Talk: Studio Talent Collective Blog

Lessons From a Studio Owner in the Wings

Every year around this time, I’m transported back to a moment from one of my first shows as a Studio Owner.

It was over ten years ago at about 6:15pm… house lights down and curtains about to open…

I was standing in the wings with a clipboard that was shaking more than I’d like to admit. The crew was waiting on me, parents were lining up, my team was firing questions, and all I could think was:

“F**… I really hope this runs smoothly. Everything depends on this moment.”

Have you too ever felt that same surge of adrenaline-meets-overwhelm (where your chest feels tense and you're running around in circles)?

And yet… somehow… we open and close our shows amongst chaos, low budgets and insane scheduling.

What I didn’t realise then and what I know deeply now, is that this moment of "chaos" wasn’t a failure of organisation. It wasn’t evidence that I was “bad at leadership.”
It was simply show season.
And show season has a way of revealing you.

It shows you where your systems hold up… and where they crumble.
It shows you how well your team communicates… or doesn’t.
It shows you how easily you can be pulled off centre… unless you’ve anchored yourself long before curtain call.

But most of all, it shows you how intensely we care.

Because if we didn’t care, we wouldn’t shake.

The Real Lessons Come Later

When I look back at those early seasons, what sticks with me is what I learned from them afterwards.

Over the years, conversations with incredible studio owners and industry experts have reshaped the way I approach show season entirely. The lessons weren’t glamorous. They weren’t the shiny “look at our backstage magic” moments.

They were practical.
Human.
And earned.

Here are a few that changed everything for me.

   1. Your Messy Moments Are Marketing Gold

One of my favourite reminders came from a conversation I had on my podcast (Studio Talent Collective) with Marketing Strategist, Deb Szabo.

As studio owners, we often think marketing needs to be polished. Clean shots, curated moments, the “best” version of our work.

But Deb reframed that for me.

She shared that what families connect to most are the imperfect, very real moments:

• the backstage hugs

• the shoe-tying chaos

• the quick pep talks

• the laughter coming from behind the curtain

It’s not about being flawless. It’s about being you.

Those messy scenes? They’re the heartbeat of your studio.

   2. Your Show Should Fuel You, Not Drain You

There was a time when I would finish show week wondering where the profit disappeared to.
Ticket sales were great.
Costumes were paid for.
The theatre was packed.

And yet… the bottom line looked dreadfully painted red.

Budgeting for concert profits isn’t a spreadsheet exercise but rather a strategy. And a surprisingly simple one, once you actually break it down.

That shift took me from:

• “I hope we break even”
  to

• “This show will increase our growth next year.”

It’s not magic. It’s clarity.

   3. Your Director’s Speech Matters More Than You Think

I’ll never forget a conversation with Jennifer Natale on my podcast, where she said something that landed hard:

“Parents remember your words. Kids remember your presence.”

A director’s speech isn’t filler. It’s legacy and an amazing opportunity to get in front of your most engaged audience of the year. Use it!!

It doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be intentional.

   4. Communication Will Save Your Sanity

This one… I learned the hard way.

There was a year where my inbox, texts, Facebook messages, DMs and voice notes all exploded at the same time.

It felt like everyone wanted something from a different channel. I was drowning.

Once I learned to create simple communication rhythms including clear timelines, boundaries, and containers, everything shifted.

Parents were calmer. Staff were clearer. I was breathing again.

Communication isn’t just about information. It’s about protecting your energy.

   5. And Then… There Are the Costumes glorious Costumes!

I could write a whole blog on the chaos of:

• missing gloves

• unlabelled bags

• tangled tights

• the “Who owns this shoe?” mystery that appears every. single. year.

But the truth is, systems fix most of it.

Not fancy systems. Just consistent ones.

Your Backstage becomes calmer and parents feel organised. 
YOU feel like you’re running a show, not running after a show.

🎧 If you want your next concert to feel calmer, clearer and more profitable, take what resonates from these lessons in episode #221 of STUDIO TALENT COLLECTIVE ~ the podcast, titled: "Your Ultimate Show Season Guide".

CLICK HERE to listen.

x Josephine