Life and Work with Rachel Fey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Fey.

Rachel, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m an actress. I went to school to study Music Theatre where I met my husband, Colton, who is also an actor. After graduating, we were fully prepared to venture out and do the “starving actor thing,” as we affectionally and tactfully told our proud families. With large regional theatre dreams, we packed up everything we owned into a 10 ft U-Haul and headed west to Seattle. Two days later and in the middle of Utah, we discovered I was pregnant. Unemployed and homeless, we turned the U-Haul around and headed for my hometown, Colorado Springs.

Throughout my pregnancy, I feared I would be a candidate for postpartum depression. I forced smiles and accepted congratulations, but was ultimately heart-broken over giving up my dreams and sacrificing what was left of my careless youth for this unborn child. I tried to calm and reassure myself by envisioning a future where Colton and I would return to the stage and our child would grow up backstage and in dressing rooms. This image was based on this wonderful picture of Carrie Fisher sitting offstage and watching her mother, Debbie Reynolds, performing onstage. This future drove me to perform in two shows while I was pregnant and force my husband to direct a script I adapted while I attempted to stage manage days after giving birth.

Ultimately, we were both crushed under the weight of my fantasy. Exhausted and depleted of creativity, we decided to take a break from the stage and focus our efforts and attention on our daughter, Finnian.

I fell in love with my simple and quiet life with my family. I allowed my dreams to evolve as I grew into my role as a mother. Eventually, Colton and I took turns accepting theatre roles around town and maintaining the passions that drew us together in the first place.

I always joke with my husband because he actually inspired my business idea unintentionally. We took our daughter to a Christmas Chocolate event that had dressed-up princess performers who sang for the kids as their parents downed chocolate martinis. We both took seats to watch with Finnian and we chuckled as he leaned over and whispered: “I would hate to be an actor who has to take these kinds of jobs.” Initially, I laughed. Afterward, it occurred to me that getting paid to sing and act like a princess would not only be incredibly fun but may make it possible for us to support our family and pursue our passions. After all, doesn’t a degree in music theatre basically translate to Professional Princess?

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The most difficult challenge I encountered when starting my business was confessing to my family and friends that I not only wanted to dress up and act like a Disney Princess but that I expected people to pay me to do it. I nearly had a panic attack the night I finally told my husband. Admitting a business idea and telling skeptical ears that you are willing to take the financial gamble on yourself is one of the most vulnerable experiences I’ve ever had.

Since then, nearly all my struggles have been due to doubt. While my business has proven to grow and build more time and energy I put into it, having the confidence to put forth the necessary time and energy has not come naturally. I had grown accustomed to the minor risk of auditioning for production and waiting to hear whether I was valued and talented, but I was not in a habit of encouraging these beliefs in myself. I constantly fought these fears and lies telling me that I was wasting money and that I was not worthy of success. I finally came to the conclusion that I was only going to go as far as I let myself get, which in the beginning was not very far.

With a new perspective and some forced confidence, I took the risks. The risk of losing money, the risk of looking foolish, the risk of failing and ultimately giving up. What I found was abundance.

With a grateful heart, I listen to the universe and what it’s willing to bring me. This business has survived on chance meetings and surprising opportunities. Within months of starting my business, I became friends with a girl I was in a show with. After a few weeks, I learned that she actually worked for a few princess companies in Denver but was looking to go out on her own. I found my business partner, Lina Ramirez. Between the foundation I started and Lina’s experience, we continue to build and grow.

My advice would be to listen hard. To God, to the universe, whatever you believe. When I look back, I see signs pointing me this direction dating back years before I conceived this idea. If you feel strongly pulled toward something and the pieces start to fit together, chase it. It won’t be easy, but it will feel less draining or frustrating than continuing to try to force a puzzle piece where it doesn’t fit.

One of the biggest takeaways from my experience starting a business is allowing myself grace as I stumble. As adults, we are deeply unsettled by doing things we aren’t good at immediately and we usually give up shortly after, if not before, attempting something new. I’ve botched interviews, stuttered through promising business meetings, made poor investments, and I am positive I have many more mistakes to make. Every mistake has made me smarter, wiser, and better equipped the next time around.

Please tell us about Premier Princess Entertainment.
Premier Princess Entertainment is the premier interactive character experience for children’s parties and events in the Colorado Springs area. Essentially, we embody your child’s favorite princess character and make their dreams come true!

As the mother of a daughter, I had reservations in the beginnings of this company. I was afraid to perpetuate vanity, idealized femininity and body proportions, “weak” princesses, and lack of diversity. The Disney Princess franchise is very old, dating back to its first member, Snow White, in 1937. It’s bound to have some spiderwebs and ghosts of untruths past. Was that something to fear or something to rewrite? We felt we had the opportunity to reintroduce and redefine princesses at Premier Princess.

Growing up, my two favorite female Disney characters were Pocahontas and Esmerelda. I had both their costumes and, honest to God, did not see the difference between my light features and their darker complexions. There is such a beautiful innocence at a certain age that we delight in and encourage. The opposite occurred to my wonderful business partner, Lina Ramirez. In one of our blog posts, Lina talks about the day she realized she didn’t look like Aurora. Her heartfelt account describes her excitement upon the reveal of Disney’s Moana and Elena, two darker complexioned princesses released in one year. One way we redefine Princess characters is by committing to representation. We will never profit off of sending an actress in a black/brown face to disguise them as your favorite character. Instead, we have cultivated a diverse cast of actresses so every child can feel seen and recognize themselves represented as a princess.

Representation goes further than race and color and we believe in casting actresses with disabilities. Our inclusive casting allows children with disabilities to recognize their own potential and beauty.

And finally, unlike princess casting at the Disney Parks, we have no required size. Our actresses range in size, color, height, and ability. The one ability all of our wonderful actresses have in common are their beautiful singing voices.

We are proud to offer Spanish speaking princesses if requested, affordable packages for every budget, a diverse cast, and truly magical musical performances!

Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
For my second birthday, my wonderful father rented a Barney costume and arrived at my quiet family party in the park. In the pictures, it’s clear that this was the highlight of my life. Finally, I felt like one of those special kids who got to hang out with Barney on the show! Apparently, this wasn’t the first time he did this either. While dating my mom, my dad rented a costume and arrived at my brother’s birthday party as a Ninja Turtle. The excitement on my brother’s face proved to my mom that my dad was quite a catch. You could say party characters are the reason I exist!

Ultimately, the support of not only my own family but my husband’s family has made any success I’ve had possible. I am so grateful for every experience that has brought me to my loving husband and made me a part of his amazing family.

Pricing:

• 30 minute @ 95.00
• 45 minute @ 125.00
• 60 minute @ 145.00
• 90 minute @ 215.00

Contact Info:

• Website: premierprincessentertainment.com
• Phone: 719.301.9403
• Email: info@premierprincessentertainment.com
• Instagram: premierprincessentertainment
• Facebook: facebook.com/premierprincessentertainment

Image Credit:
Colton Pratt, Emerson Cheever, Ambrosia Feess-Armstrong

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