Meet Jillian Paige | Soprano, Actor, & Teaching Artist

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

Hi Jillian, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

My thought process behind creating Meisner in Music was purely selfish. I wanted to learn how to do it.

Meisner is an acting technique, sure, but it’s also a practice in mindfulness that gives you actual tools to achieve presence, not just nice ideas about it. I was introduced to Meisner when I was in the darkest place of my life, having just lost my young husband to cancer in my mid-twenties. I was desperate for connection and picked up an acting class to fill my spare time. To my surprise, it changed my life and greatly helped in my grieving process.

Meisner’s biggest principle is that acting is the reality of doing. If we can put our focuses out and let ourselves just be, we strip away the inhibitors that we gain as adults who learn that some impulses are too silly to act on or that there’s something inherently wrong with us so we have to self-edit. The Meisner technique teaches a lack of control through intense focus and fascination in things outside of ourselves.

Meisner changed the way I moved through the world, felt in my own body, and found comfort with my emotions. However, when I’d try to apply it to the technically-difficult act of singing, all that I’d worked on would dissipate and I’d revert back to my analytical, self-criticizing mind.

I figured that surely someone had already created Meisner in Music and couldn’t wait to try it once I got to New York. I made the move and realized that no one had. Thus, the first Meisner in Music class was workshopped.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

This question is a huge part of why Meisner in Music was created. Casting directors are frequently asking singing actors to “make things their own” or “put a new spin on” old material that most of us know so well. My art and the quality I value most in others’ art is simple, nuanced, and honest. If I had to boil those three words down to one, it’d be simple.

I believe that we’re getting away from it but up until recently, musical theatre wasn’t based on a lot of honest, simple acting. When you think of “musical theatre,” likely what comes to mind is flashy, showy, and loud. In Meisner in Music, we seek to encourage musicians to find whatever subtleties their bodies and instruments want to explore. What ensues is a richness that can be perceived as loud or outpouring but that is rooted in truth and surprise in the moment.

Meisner in Music is 5 years old and sometimes when I look back, it feels like it’s 20. It was really difficult to get our classes started. First of all, artists can be strapped for cash and if they have money to spend, they’re doing so judiciously and on things they’ve heard of. In the beginning, I would get a lot of interest in conversations but not a lot of follow-through. I would also only offer classes twice a year so the responses I’d get when following up with people were a lot of, “Those dates don’t work for me,” or “I’ll take the next one!” The amount of times that I wanted to say, “There won’t be a next one if people don’t sign up for this one!” were many.

But we made it out the other side and one lesson I’ve learned in effectively getting people to get into what you’re creating is to give free value. When I was focusing all on registration and selling the class, it was a turn-off. Now, I show up consistently in the world and social media offering free value to musicians and only promoting the class about 25% of the time. It has made such a difference to say, “Here’s my opinion on this article,” or “Check out this tool we use in class,” rather than offer nothing for free and only coming online or checking in with people when I want them to buy something. If there’s one thing I can recommend for those with an idea, it’s to show up, even if you don’t feel ready, and start talking about and providing free value for what you believe in!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

In New York City, the possibilities are endless!

I live in Queens so I have to rep my favorite neighborhood and say that the food here is excellent if you can make it over.

I would first take my visitors to Sugar Freak in Astoria, Queens for their ridiculously delicious bottomless brunch, New Orleans-style.

Then we’d have to head to the Little Island, a new incredible construction with live music, yummy treats, good beer, and gorgeous views of the city.

One of my favorite cheap things to do in the city is hop on a $2.75 ferry ride so we’d do that next, maybe taking the 1 hour ride to Rockaway or, if we were short on time, only going to Brooklyn and back.

Next, we’d have to hit up a tourist trap but one of my favorite joints, The Cauldron. It’s a Harry Potter-themed bar with excellent pasta bolognese and cocktails that are fashioned as potions (I highly recommend their potions-making class).

I’d recommend getting dinner at any of the Quality restaurants – Quality Italian, Quality Meats, Quality Bistro. They have the best food I’ve ever had if you’re willing to splurge.

And lastly, I’d take my guest to a Turkish Coffee & Fortune reading with Dr. Honeybrew in the East Village. His experience is on Airbnb and has been one of my favorite New York experiences to date.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mentor Ted Wold was the person who said, “Oh Jillian, you have to do this,” when I ran the idea of Meisner in Music by him. He was the silliest person who took things the most seriously. He was encouraging but realistic, supportive but honest, kind but firm with his students. I owe him so much and seek to honor him in everything I do, as he just passed on July 3rd after a very sudden and surprising battle with cancer.

Website: www.MeisnerinMusic.com

Instagram: instagram.com/meisnerinmusic

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-paige-b9040971

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

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/meisner-in-music-new-york

Image Credits
Pictures with black background: Dustin Dale Barlow Photography Pictures with grey curtain, both with the white shirt and the blue shirt: Alfonso Sjo Green photography Laughing picture: Jenna and Eddy Photography