Jenn Doan - Producer/Dancer

Ok it was 4:00am, I just got home from the 2 fundraising events. I was up since 8am from the day before. Its storming in Calgary. I am lying here in bed and my mind is absolutely flooded with idea and all the ways to better our final event on Feburary 10 & 11 by 250%.  My body is so physically exhausted but my mind is absolutely comsumed by new ideas.  I wished sometimes I knew how to give myself a break by turning it off. The last few nights my mind has just been flooded before bed and immediately when I wake up.

How can I generate more revenue so all the artists will get paid for all their hard work? Though the fundraising events were successful on my levels, we did not raise the expected funds. So now I must strategize even more. No matter what money always comes down to the centre of everything. Without it, most things are not possible.   This for me is a constant constant game in my head and as the producer of this project, I am largely responsible for this.  If there is anything that brings me most stress and worry, this is it. It never leaves me.

How can I facilitate better communication between everyone? Effective communication is at the heart of any successful collaboration & team work. There have been a few miscommunications that resulted from disorganization resulting in less effectiveness.   I must be the centre point of all communication between all the artists working on all the different aspects of the project like the web designer, the filmmaker, the dancers, the choreographer, the after event organizers, and soon the stage managers and technicians. I have to always know what is going on and make sure everyone is getting things done.  I am also the mediator, making sure issues and frustrations and problems are dealt with, immediately.

How can I make sure to take care of myself so I have the energy to take on this massive endeavor for another 4 weeks?  Remember I am also a dancer so on top of all the above I have to keep myself connected in my body and stay in shape, keep my yoga practice consistent, take care of body after rehearsals, eat properly, get good sleep, meditate so I can have mental clarity.

I am constantly challenged from every direction. I am constantly learning and refining how to make the best decisions and how to best put them into action.  Constantly rethinking, strategizing, discussing, asking, planning, organizing…

I do thrive on challenges like this and I know after this I will have grown so much more and be even more ready for the next epic chapter in my career!