I must say, I’ve learned some important lessons in the working world. During my time as co-owner of a children’s entertainment company, I learned a big one: Reinventing yourself is hard work, but worth it.
You might say my early experience in entertainment was more a case of being in the right place at the right time. After my son started school, I wanted to work part time. It wasn’t an absolute have-to thing — I needed a stream of income of my own. Finding work that mirrors a school schedule is not easy. In the Richmond, Va., area, you can substitute teach as long as you have a college degree. I had a B.A. in business administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, so I thought I would give it a try.
I was hired to work in an elementary school, teaching kindergarten to fifth grade, but soon realized it wasn’t for me. I have a lot of patience, but I’m not wired for that.
The idea for a different job came from my involvement with the Parent Teacher Association, where my duties included selecting entertainers for school programs. One night I was talking with a fellow PTA board member, Dee Brindle, and we knew we could do better than the entertainer we had hired. That’s how the idea of Under the Oak Puppet Productions was born.
Dee had three children of her own and a degree in early childhood education. She had tried substitute teaching, too, and it was easier for her. But the idea of a puppet production company was appealing. When we found we could make as much money from one 40-minute show as from a day of substitute teaching for both of us, we were thrilled.
So we purchased a portable stage from Australia and some rod puppets, with hands and arms moved by means of thin rods (like the Muppets). We had no previous experience with puppeteering, but we taught ourselves.
All the scripts were written by Dee. We performed at elementary schools, pre-schools and day-care centers. It meant a lot of work and long hours, but slowly and surely, the business took off.
We did stories from historical perspectives. For example, in February, we would do a show about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Other stories revolved around Christoper Columbus and Benjamin Franklin. After each show, there would be a five-minute question-and-answer session with the kids.
One particularly memorable session occurred when my son, Dylan, was 8 years old. He accompanied me to a performance and I asked him to go sit behind the curtain and be quiet. I pointed out that the performance wouldn’t take long. He was still back there during the Q&A afterward, and when he piped up with the answer to one of the questions, it kind of freaked out some young audience members. They didn’t know if the ghost of Harriet Tubman had answered or what!
The shows were very well-received in the 8 years we ran Under the Oak. By the time we decided to close it down, we had three teams of puppeteers and averaged 700 shows a year in the Richmond area.
I look back on that experience fondly, and so do others: To this day, we still get feedback. Dee and I still live in the same area, and kids who saw our shows are in their early to mid-20s. A lot of them laugh about it, and we get questions about when we might start doing the shows again. (For the record: I don’t see that happening.)
The experience taught me another lesson: I truly, truly think that if you are focused and determined, there isn’t much you can’t accomplish.
Now I’m special projects manager for MPG, working on everything from marketing to education for pool and spa professionals. I joined the organization 8 years ago because I was ready for new challenges. My husband, David, says I’m happier now than he’s ever seen me. We’ve been married 29 years, and he works in global logistics for United Parcel Service.
If you keep an open mind, the lessons never stop. One that I’ve learned since joining the pool and spa industry: Find your tribe, then find your niche — and you’ll live happily ever after!
