Building the CR3W I Wish I Had

When I moved to New York at 21, I wasn't the dancer showing up with just a suitcase and a dream. I'd been out a few times to take class, I'd found an apartment I absolutely loved, and a handful of my college friends were already there. I knew how to take the 6 and transfer to the R to get to BDC, and that was a good enough start for me. The dancing part? I had that covered.

What I didn't have was a clear path from dancer to working professional. Where do I find auditions? How do I get professional work on my resume? Did I really need voice lessons? My BA in Dance covered training and history (which yes, is important!), but not much else. And as lucky as I was to have my parents' full support, they didn't have all the answers either. There was a whole side of this business I didn't know much about.

And that gap? It never really left me.

Let me back up a bit. I grew up in Chicago, where ballet was my entire world, from weekday classes to weekend rehearsals to every Nutcracker in between. If you've ever been cast as a rat in the battle scene and then had 3 minutes to transform into a snowflake, you understand.

College felt like the obvious next step, but I'll be honest, I didn't love it. We spent so much time on how things had been done in the past that we rarely talked about what was happening in the industry now. So I graduated early and jumped on a plane straight to New York.

Let’s get into the part where I start working…

My first job was as a Marketing Coordinator for the school program at Steps on Broadway, and I was thrilled. I'd minored in marketing and was always excited about finding the places where dance and business could meet. After my shift, I stayed to assist the nightly student jazz classes, then squeezed in as many classes of my own as I possibly could. If you know, you know: I practically lived at 2121 Broadway.

But quickly I realized that didn't cover New York rent. So I waited tables. Then I picked up another job. And another. At one point I was juggling four side jobs on top of dancing, and I remember thinking, there has to be a more sustainable way to do this.

So I applied to and began a master's program at NYU  in Integrated Marketing, and about halfway through, Broadway Dance Center offered me a full-time job. I started in retail (which was so much fun, and taught me more about sales than I ever expected), then moved into marketing, where I handled everything from emails to the website and built BDC's very first on demand online class platform. I was working and dancing every day. And suddenly it clicked. I didn't have to choose between dance and business; they worked hand in hand.

For the next five years, I designed and ran the careers program at the CLI Conservatory, working with over 500 artists between 18 and 26. What struck me most was how familiar their story felt. They were walking in exactly where I had been at 21: talented, hungry to work, and unprepared for the business side of the industry.

So we changed that, through personal branding (still my favorite thing in the world), styling, slates, self tapes, media days, and private audition seasons with top talent agents and casting teams. The organizer in me loved running those audition days, but the real magic was watching, in real time, the exact transition I had struggled with. Time and time again, a dancer would walk into the room at 8 a.m. and walk out at 5 p.m. with a contract in hand.

Is there anything better than that? I honestly don't think so.

Here’s where CR3W Talent Comes In.

CR3W Talent started as a coaching business, built for that 21 year old version of me. But I couldn't ignore how much I love the entertainment industry at large, so I'm also offering talent management. Marketing isn't just a tool for starting your career; it's one of the most valuable tools you have at every stage of it. Whether you're signing your first contract, building a brand that lasts well beyond the next job, or looking to think outside the box and elevate your career potential, I love thinking creatively about everything your career could be.

Here's what you should know about how I work, whether we're together for six weeks or six years. I'll always be honest with you, because there's a big difference between feedback and validation, and real feedback is where the growth happens. I'm a good balance of pushing you to your full potential while also being your number one fan. And we'll focus on what you can actually control: your materials, your content, your professionalism, the people you know. You are in control of more than you think.

Because your art isn't a hobby, and you deserve a career that pays you back 🫰

If you've read this far and found yourself thinking, "wait, that's me," I would genuinely love to meet you. Check out my coaching offerings or submit for management representation.

Welcome to CR3W Call

On set, crew call is the time the whole team shows up, ready to work. That's exactly what this space is for. CR3W Call is the CR3W Talent blog, where we'll share honest, practical advice on auditions, materials, personal branding, and building a creative career that lasts.

Next up, we're talking about how to walk into audition season actually ready. Consider this your call time 📋

Talk soon,

Claire