Meet Paige Phillips | Small Business Owner & Actress

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

Hi Paige, how do you think about risk?
Risk to me is sticking true to yourself. It’s ignoring all the nay-sayers who don’t agree or don’t like what you believe to be true. It’s throwing away the comfort of having people completely understand your vision, but sticking to it because your vision is true to YOU. Not everyone has to understand that which fills you with passion and hope and excitement. And who cares? Those that understand and respect the vision will be your ride-or-dies. They’ll be your biggest fans and supporters. Regardless of any fails. I’d rather make quality work that makes me proud than live a life where I’m only trying to please others. I’d rather take the risk and see what happens then regret never trying at all.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As an actress- To get to where I am as an actress took a lot of shedding my ego. To be honest I feel like it’s only just getting started because I had so much growing up to do. I confined myself by not staying true to who I was- by not believing that what makes me unique was enough- special, even. I thought when I moved back to LA from college that I’d get handed an Oscar. But I was handed an apron and a shift at a catering business. When I did finally get the ball rolling, I walked into my first agency and demanded a meeting. I got one, and the agent looked me up and down and said he was trying to figure out my “brand”. I HATED that. . I just moved back from a sleepy-hippy-beach town and to be branded and “packaged” hurt my soul. (Mind you this was before Instagram, where I feel the word “brand” has taken new form).  I was branded as “the ideal girl” *insert eye-roll here*. Being told that being pretty is enough is just… a lie haha. And also very boring in my opinion. Plus, looks run out sweetie. But I redefined the word “brand” to mean “how do you distinguish yourself against others?”. It took me a while to claim my brand back to something that I could look at my materials and be like “oh, there she is”. I told my (new) agents- look, I’m good with comedy, I’m a tomboy, I have a lot of tattoos that I’m sick of covering up, and I’m very well trained and can take a lot of dialogue. Send me out for roles where I can shine all that makes me special. And I haven’t looked back since. My team is now dialed in with sending me out for better suited roles. I’m able to act full-time now (a lot of commercials) and I’m breaking into theatrical more and more everyday.

As a small-business owner- I saw all of these elegant hassle-free beach set-ups happening whenever I’d go down to the water and I thought it was genius- but they all looked so basic aesthetically. So I created my own set-ups that are fun, funky, and colorful. I could’ve just bought all the necessities and probably had a way easier time doing it, but I wanted my set-ups to be unique. So I hand-sewed colorful trimming on the umbrellas. I bought wood, shaped, painted and assembled a cool table that looks like an eye. I tie-dyed throw pillows. I want people to get excited when they partake in a beach day with Lovely Day Picnics. I want it to be unforgettable. That’s taken lot of trial and error making my unique visions for set-ups come to life. Sometimes what I draw on paper just doesn’t work functionally (like my dome-shade structure idea, RIP). Or sometimes the wind decides to annihilate everything and break umbrellas and my patience. And honestly the competition is more fierce than I thought it’d be. But if I’d rather be able to stay smaller scale and give it the attention it needs to make it the experience I want others to have.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Ok best friend, here we go… Let’s start on Sunday- Shmorgasborg in downtown LA. A bunch of food vendors set-up and it’s a great place to try delicious artisan foods. Next we’ll hop over to Venice Beach. Venice Beach on a Sunday is purely magical. We’ll start on Abbot Kinney and walk by all of the ridiculously over-priced shops and just bask in the hipster glory. From there, we walk to Venice Beach proper and stroll the boardwalk for one-of-kind gifts and nic-nacs that we actually can afford. Then, we stop by the skate park and watch the talent show of gravity-defying skaters. Next, prop up on one of the grassy hills near the roller rink and vibe with the blasting funk and all of the roller skaters dancing. Oh, you’re hungry you say? We’ll pop over to The Window for the best burgers (yes, vegan options too). Go back to a grassy hill, and just sit and people watch… there’s endless entertainment there. As the sun starts to set, we’ll walk over to the drum circles and watch (maybe partake?) in the sweaty dance party it creates (definitely partake).

Throughout the week we’ll go on some hikes- get lost exploring the old Nazi encampments on Murphy Ranch trail, the epic views from the Los Liones Trail, and hiking up to the Hollywood sign are must-dos.

In downtown, we’ll walk around Little Tokyo and stop at my favorite sushi spot- Kura. It’s rotating sushi (yes, like on a rotating belt that you just grab). It’s actually good quality fish and just a fun unique way to be served.

Then we gotta hop over to the Echo Park section of Sunset Blvd. and meet all the artsy farts and good conversationalists. If Funky Sole is re-opened by then, a dance party there is essential.

Jeeze I’m tired are you tired?

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m very lucky that within a one mile radius I have some of the most supportive friends in my life. They encourage me. They help me film all the crazy things that come to mind last minute. They promote my business to friends and family. They save space for me when I’m low. They highlight and bring out the good in me.

Website: paigephillipspersona.com, lovelydaypicnics.com

Instagram: @bringyourownstereo, @lovelydaypicnics