Meet Lisa Konczal

We were lucky to catch up with Lisa Konczal recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lisa , so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
There was a time in my life, after the wander-all-day-through-the-backyard-woods years, and before college, that my self esteem was still… developing. For many people on life’s journey, it feels like a destined place, a period when a heightened level of early childhood naiveté and ignorance has begun to wean, and self esteem is far from its greatest potential.

In sixth grade, a culmination of braces, glasses far too big for me, the changes of growing up – and the caustic words of other kids still on their developmental journey, led to vivid memories I still hold of unkind comments and gum put in my thick, wavy hair.

Socially, I was not defined as a “cool kid” in high school, but I did feel like I connected with various groups on some level. In terms of classes, I was interested in learning more subjects that I was allowed to choose for my schedule, and wished I could have fit in a drama and visual arts class…

I recall auditioning for one of my high school’s musicals, having to sing in a great big room in front of so many of my peers. I LOVED musicals, and in seeing the role of the leads versus experiencing being in the chorus, I had a feeling it would be hard to succeed down the road without being a triple threat, with acting chops, prowess as a dancer – and solid vocals.

But high school was nonetheless a time when I chose to do some of the things I was drawn to – interests that would continue to develop. And even then, I found ways to work around a closed door, to skip it and even jump ahead.

Not feeling all that confident amongst my high school peers, I continued to be in the chorus of the school musicals, but also auditioned at my city’s community theater, and was chosen to be in the dance ensemble of “Camelot,” working with adults and feeling like maybe I had some natural dance ability, after all, regardless of my lack of dance training.

The hands on video production course offered to local students off campus was always immediately filled, so that never worked out. But when I decided to get my first job junior year of high school, it was filming the weekend news for an ABC affiliate in our top fifty market. I was paid in 1997, more than what the minimum wage is in North Carolina now – which is really just a complete embarrassment and travesty regarding minimum wage in the state. Anyways…

Years later after college, I moved to San Francisco. I arrived with hardly any money, and a couple irons in the fire for creative freelance work. I distinctly recall feeling like if I were going to apply for any job I wasn’t thrilled about – which also felt like a competitive prospect – I might as well apply for what I really wanted deep down… for anything that felt like a dream. And I started really dreaming. And how freeing that was.

I showed up to my first audition for a History Channel documentary and got the tiny role, and overall, with the ebbs and flows, kept doing things like that that made me happy – that I was drawn to. The confidence was starting to develop. I didn’t go audition because I was confident, I simply did what I had to do. And I continue to check in periodically with myself about my wildest dreams, and making sure I don’t live with “what if’s.”

I didn’t land in Los Angeles until I was twenty-nine years old. At this point, I’d become a pretty solid Salsa dancer, but didn’t have any foundational dance training… tap, ballet, jazz… My first dance related work led me to Montana about six times a year where I was to teach and perform doing Country Swing, Line Dancing, the Two-Step,… things I’d never had the opportunity to do before, but was excited to learn, and got good at. And I had to sing. I had to start out karaoke on stage in front of about one hundred people. And after shaky hands and a quivering voice, and late nights “rehearsing” – when I wasn’t even supposed to be good – I started feeling more comfortable and having more fun with it. I started feeling confident. And people started complimenting my singing. And I finally started to feel like maybe there was something there I could develop. I loved singing, and if I just had the nerve to sing out, I’d at least give myself a chance to sound pretty decent.

Years later, I started going to a bluegrass jam that felt like a connection to my roots. I wound up with my first small paid gig, and just generally started focusing my energy a bit more on growing as a singer. And then a couple magical things happened.

Regardless of choosing soccer at age five and never getting foundational dance training, my Line Dance moves led me to giddy up right onto the set of “Old Town Road,” Line Dancing in its Grammy award-winning music video that has now been seen by over 1.2 billion people.

And then one day I was tapping my cowboy boot, listening appreciatively to the man at my then local Farmer’s Market in Hermosa Beach, and he invited me to hop up and sing with him. After joining him on a handful or so other occasions, that musician later recommended me as a singer on a project he was involved in, which led to an audition at Sony Studios – et voila! My second paid singing gig was singing on Emmy award-winning “Shark Tank”.

When you live with authenticity and continue to do that which you are drawn to, you inevitably grow and build confidence. And through one path or another, a hop, skip, shimmy or yeehaw – you propel yourself to your wildest dreams.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Connecting, elevating and entertaining, through live event entertainment and media, is at the foundation of all I do.

My latest focus is on producing and hosting a YouTube travel / lifestyle series called Nice to Meet You! with Lisa, connecting nice folks from California to Carolina and beyond. While growing that, my brain is always percolating with other shows to develop that feel aligned, as well as new collaborations and and opportunities to expand.

I have shot commercial photography, been in commercials, and also done work as an influencer. My eyes stay open for ways to work with nice people and brands that I connect with.

I get so energized from the Interactive Dance Entertainment I do at festivals, private and corporate events. Specializing in teaching Latin, Country dances, and Line dancing to a variety of genres, I’m all smiles as I meet new people, create an upbeat atmosphere, and teach and entertain. I’ve been the pre-show entertainer for Grammy award-winners, and look forward to more live events. Singing is also on my mind, and I enjoyed singing to choreography on “Shark Tank” a little while back. I anticipate things evolving to where I’m doing more singing, as well as dancing.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Tenacity, creatively navigating my path and others’ support in a myriad of ways, has been so impactful.

Should you be early on in your journey – or in need of a recentering refresh:

Dream up your wildest dream, think about what your soul absolutely needs and your essence – and then commit to being your truest self.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
Say that I deserved the best. That I could do anything. And if I expressed a goal, a dream, helping me with tools – an acting class, voice lessons, a motion capture / acting action workshop…

Telling me that I’d be fine. Having confidence in me in my moments of feeling lost and struggling to have a “can-do” attitude.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Lisa Konczal / www.VéritéCreative.com

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