Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Della-Kate Flower. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Della-Kate, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
In the entertainment business, imposter syndrome can be part of the game. It’s terrible when it happens and one hundred percent inconvenient and for some, debilitating.
I have not “overcome” imposter syndrome, but I do manage it as best as I can. When you feel as if you don’t deserve what you are welcomed to or getting from what you are doing–treat it like it’s a game. As in, “Ah-ha! I have fooled them all! This is my greatest disguise!” I know that sounds silly, but silliness is part of what helps entertainers and producers maintain sanity.
As a host and producer, do I sometimes feel like imposter syndrome will sabotage me? Yes. But, I know when it’s happening and just work through it with silliness and on a serious note, some therapy.
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 run a horror-themed production company out of Florida, Purple Nightshade Productions. We offer up horror based entertainment in the forms of burlesque, drag, and sideshow acts. It’s been a fulfilling and incredible time for me producing shows with themes from horror movies, characters, moments, and such. As you can probably imagine, Florida is not the most hospitable place for entertainment right now, so we try to make sure our performers feel welcomed and safe and treated with respect.
With over 6 years of producing these types of shows under my spiked belt, the next level for me will be to mount a festival in 2024. The Hoggetowne Horrorfest will be three nights of horror based performances and parties and classes that will teach special effect makeup, movement, and other entertainment-based skills for our participating performers. So follow us on Instagram and Facebook or head to our website: www.purplenightshadeproductions.com
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?
Three qualities that I know helped me along my production journey: patience, flexible thinking, and humor. Patience for performer personalities, limitations, venue questions, and audience inquiries all fed into timing. The right show at the right time. Flexible thinking for minds changing, frustrations, money issues and all the mechanics that go into a show. Humor to laugh at myself and at mishaps (that aren’t dangerous) at shows as well as to bask in the absolute CAMPINESS that is horror.
Patience will come as you learn and as you succeed. Making mental notes of what worked or what didn’t in order to improve and grow. Patience with YOURSELF above all things. Nobody has the same path in entertainment as anyone else.
Flexible thinking gets you out of creative ruts or also frustrations in developing acts. If it doesn’t work one way, maybe it will work without that thing or in another way.
Humor to laugh at absolute stupidity or silliness. It will keep you sane as you navigate through the entertaiment industry.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
My biggest area of growth has to be asking for help. I am a pretty independent person who is very stubborn about asking for help. It’s a strength AND a weakness, so I work on it with each show and each opportunity to host or produce. It has yielded some pretty tremendous results. I have found creatives I didn’t know existed and collaborators on new horror production projects that are pretty exciting!
Considering I am going to produce a horror festival next year, I needed to work on asking questions and being okay with someone else completing tasks! Lol.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.purplenightshadeproductions.com
- Instagram: @purplenightshade2017
- Facebook: @purplenightshade2017
