We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Angela Katherine Baker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Angela Katherine below.
Hi Angela Katherine , great to have you with us today and excited to have you share your wisdom with our readers. Over the years, after speaking with countless do-ers, makers, builders, entrepreneurs, artists and more we’ve noticed that the ability to take risks is central to almost all stories of triumph and so we’re really interested in hearing about your journey with risk and how you developed your risk-taking ability.
I think “taking a risk” is actually curiosity in action. My mother always told me I was an adventurous, curious child. I have scars on my face to prove it. When I was at the mere age of six I decided it was a good idea to dive off the edge of the bathtub like Superman. I was currently learning how to dive at our local pool and my little mind thought..”Hey, there is not very much water in the tub. I wonder if this will be easier than a swimming pool?” I jumped head first, hit the bottom of the tub and rolled two times. I ended up with a sobbing, panicked mother when she saw the blood dripping down my face and blood stained water.
Somewhere between childhood and high school I became a more cautious teen…but I remained curious, moving between musical instruments such as piano, trumpet, and drums, and finally settling on voice lessons because it made me a better singer in musical theatre. Eventually in college, I decided to use my curiosity and try new things relating to my passion to perform…accents, character voices, auditioning for operas, Shakespeare, modern dance classes and every type of vocal style available to me. I am always willing to try something new because of my curiosity.
Failure is part of the process, just like my bathtub incident. Sometimes we fall and that’s okay. This mindset has helped me seize opportunities in my career when they came to me. Voice over always made me curious, so I took a class. I always wondered what it would be like to be in a movie, so I applied to be a background extra. An opportunity to teach theatre summer camps and take on challenging roles has helped me gain skills I never had before. Taking these small steps because I was curious and not afraid to fail ,shaped my current career as a performing artist where you are constantly challenged by new roles and new opportunities. Surrounding myself with people who know more than I do challenges me and has helped me develop new skills.
Because I love to learn, taking a risk is not as scary. Taking a risk is an opportunity to grow.
When I am in doubt, I think…”Do it anyway!”
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?
I studied musical theatre in college finishing with a Teaching degree in Theatre, Speech and English. At the time it seemed to be the “safe plan” rather than become a professional actor. Years passed as I met and married my college sweetheart and began raising my family. In 2020,when the world was locked away, I decided to be bold, take a risk and put my acting skills to use.
I am a stay-at-home mother of six children who decided in early 2020 to take a chance and apply to become a background extra in a small budget film. From there I meet people in the film and theatre community at Houde School of Acting and the surrounding areas of Cleveland.
As a mother of six, I began balancing family and various performing art opportunities related to acting. Eventually I landed over half a dozen independent contracts for various performing companies and three talent agents.
Curiosity also lead me to voice over work, commercials, television, improvisation character work, touring children’s theatre. dinner murder mysteries, and my first IMDb credits. With more projects circulating the film festivals and other in preproduction, I am currently excited to be living the dream and seizing the opportunities coming my way.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1) Patience:
Living the life of a creative takes patience. This is not a 50 yard dash. This is a marathon and I am still running the race. It takes time to hone your craft, book that next job, or master a new skill. So be gentle and patient with yourself.
2)Generosity:
Cheer others on and support each other! Comparison hurts only you. Your journey is unique to you. Not one runner is the same. Some run faster than others, so don’t compare. Be the better version of YOURSELF than you were yesterday. Stay in your own lane and cheer others on when they succeed. Not only will you gain a support system, but you will be happier! I try to reach out to friends when I see them book that big job, get that big audition, or see them in a commercial on tv. What is meant for you will come with your hard work.
3)Gratitude:
Enjoy the view. As you are running your marathon, it’s okay to look around a little and enjoy the view. I heard about a gratitude journal years ago, and when I am feeling down and out, I will write down ten things I am grateful for in my life. It could be as simple as, “I am thankful for the sun shining today, or a phone call with a friend, or my favorite dessert I had last night.” Have an attitude of gratitude!
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
There are actually two groups of people who have helped me overcome challenges and build essential skills and qualities needed to become a professional actor and voice actor: First, my acting community, and second, my husband, who is my personal support person.
When I decided to start making real money as an actor, I learned about the Houde School of Acting in Cleveland, Ohio, and started taking in-person classes in the Meisner Technique. I was blown away by everything I was learning from Jessica Houde-Morris. I then started taking classes online and met an entire acting community that I absolutely love. Jessica introduced me to TMFA Facebook Group (Talent Managers for Actors) and HWC ( Hollywood Winners Circle) founded by Wendy Alane Wright, who taught me the business of acting and introduced me to more acting coaches and mentors to learn various skills such as self-tapes, cold reading, audition technique, improvisation and other essential skills that are invaluable. These business skills and techniques helped me prepare my materials and demo reels that allowed me to submit to talent agents. I am currently represented by three agencies who keep me busy auditioning and booking that next job!
I would be completely amiss if I did not mention my husband and life partner who has been my number one fan and support system from day one. As a creative, sometimes I feel like an entrepreneur and need someone to bounce off ideas. Other times I need a hug when something new challenges me. At times my husband has been my reader for commercials or auditions. There are numerous ways he loves and supports me on this journey and sometimes, it’s just a simple walk around the block, or a date night. I definitely could not do this career as a mother of six out with out his equal partnership as a parent and caretaker of our home. This adventure would not be possible without him.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Fighting the Fire and Final Contestant posters from IMDb
Shannon Ahlstrand Photography
Hatsuho Cook
Dani MeCaskey
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
