Meet Lauren DeGregorio | Owner/Founder of O’playsis

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren DeGregorio and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The thought process behind starting my own business stemmed from taking critical time to work on myself, and my mental health issues back in 2020, something I had been dealing with my entire life. I was 34 at the time and made the conscious choice to leave my teaching career of 16 years, I was done working for corporations and dealing with the bureaucracy, but I was now faced with, “I don’t know what I want to do when I grow up”. After hitting my own rock bottom, I sought help and received a re-diagnosis, after a 10 year misdiagnosis. I was re-prescribed medication, and issued a dispensary med. card, which was where the urge to create came from. I had first been introduced to art therapy during a brief week stay, 10 years prior, at McLean Psychiatric Hospital.
I began dabbling in the arts as a creative outlet from home, and started painting rocks. I would share my creations online, and found that it brought people joy; before I knew it I was getting requests for custom rocks. I did not consider myself an artist, and wasn’t very good at the time, but the process of creating still brought me joy; I was able to shut off the world, get in my own little zone and just be.
My husband, who works in the Marine industry, asked if I wanted to try sealing the rocks in resin to preserve them longer, and down the rabbit hole of the resin world I go. This was a whole new world of magic, and I was determined to get it right.
I HAD to get it right! This was it!
Over the course of 3 years of honing my craft, puncturing my cornea, and healing my mindset, I felt ready to start sharing my story and wanted to create a collaborative space for other people to come find or reignite their joy.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
O’playsis Collaborative Arts Studio and Music Lounge is a space where everyone belongs. It is a place where PLAY has NO Age Limit! The birthplace of CrafteOke, and the Hangout without the Hangover. I am so proud to have created a judgement-free space, where people can come and leave their worries at the door, disconnect with the online world and reconnect with real, authentic people who just want to find their joy. There is something for everyone, no matter what age or ability you are. I am so excited to continue to make connections with people in our community, hear their life stories, and showcase their talents. O’playsis is a unique concept, created from my European upbringing, cultural awareness, teaching career and ADHD. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for EforAll Cape Cod – Entrepreneurship for All – a nonprofit organization that helps under-represented people start and grow businesses through mentorship, training, and a professional support network. They provide a business accelerator course, with the tools to help turn your dreams into businesses, as well as opportunities to win money. Was it easy? Absolutely not! And that’s what makes it so rewarding. We are all skilled in different areas, and the majority of the time, creatives do not have a business background, which is where EforAll and their team of mentors come in. You can only overcome the challenges by facing them head on, and I think the biggest challenge for me has been overcoming my fear of public speaking, and panic attacks.
People generally think i’m laid back, happy go-lucky, which I can be in small groups and around people I know, but the truth is, I am riddled with angst and deal with dermatillomania on my face. I have learned how important it has been to share these weird truths with people because so many can relate. In a world that feels so lonely, we are not alone, and I am fortunate enough to get to witness the shift in people just because they are simply able to share, relate and connect with others. Whether you have a skill or talent, or you would like to discover a new interest, O’playsis offers the opportunity to explore with musical instruments, multi media arts and crafts, dancing, skit creating, fashion shows, talent shows and much more. #findYOURjoy

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
O’playsis is located in the heart of Buzzards Bay, the beginning of Cape Cod and all of its hidden gems. Our constantly evolving Main Street offers delicious local eateries – Mahoneys on Main, Rod & Rail, Shore Fire Pizza & Krua Thai, with the beautiful views of Buzzards Bay Park, the Train Bridge and The Cape Cod Canal. If spending a week, I would highly recommend making your way towards Falmouth, Woods Hole, Shining Sea Bike Path, maybe take the ferry over to the Vineyard (not a wine vineyard), or just continue touring all the way down Cape; either way, there is no shortage of things to do and sites to see.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people that have been supportive of this journey, from community members, friends, family and strangers from all over the world. Then there are those who have played an integral part of building this dream from the ground up; my best friends who have encouraged me, and helped unscramble all of my ADHD ideas. My mentors, cohort sisters, Stephanie Viva, and the entire Team of EforAll Cape Cod who set the foundation and the building blocks to helping curate a successful and sustainable woman-owned, entrepreneurial business; but the biggest support comes from my constant; my rock, my soul mate, my husband Bryan, and our incredible boys, Ethan & Logan. We have had to make sacrifices, cuts, and they all took a chance to give me a shot at making this dream come true. Their patience, love and support has been the key behind my drive.

Website: www.oplaysis.com

Instagram: OplaysisLLC

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurendegregorio/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Oplaysis

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/o-playsis-bourne

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OplaysisSpaces