Check Out Haley Spencer’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Spencer.

Hi Haley, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have been a creative since birth. I grew up in Michigan in Metro Detroit, and relocated to Georgia to pursue my acting career. I started acting when I was a child, and felt relieved that I had finally found an outlet for my energy. I was excited to learn more about the world through the eyes of different characters. I stepped into so many character’s lives. I laughed with them, cried with them, and used my voice to sing their songs. I was your typical Musical Theatre kid and also was very interested in music and guitar. I started to write my own songs, and accompany myself on guitar. I attended Oakland University in Michigan and received a double major (BFA in Musical Theatre, and BA in Film). As Covid hit, I made the decision to attend graduate school at SCAD in Savannah in order to keep the creative ball rolling. I felt like I had so much momentum and I was right on the precipice of a deeper dive into my craft. I earned my Masters in Performing Arts, and moved to Atlanta to pursue acting. My life has consisted of auditioning, booking, and then auditioning again. To keep up my creative spirit, I began teaching and coaching adults/children in acting and voice. I love coaching other actors, and have created my own online acting studio thespencerstudio.com offering virtual self-tape assistance and coachings for actors of all ages.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I often feel like it’s easy to share the “highlight” reel without touching on the struggles. Life shows up, and it takes a lot to press on through the tough stuff. How do we go through life, especially as an artist, when life shows up?
A couple years ago, all these amazing things were happening for me. I was about to graduate from SCAD, I was putting on a thesis show, I had just returned from study abroad in France, I had a great group of friends, and then it felt as though my world crumbled. One person close to me passed away, and then another, and then someone else. It felt like I was losing parts of myself along with the people that passed away. The people I lost were all young, and had promising lives ahead of them. All of these amazing things were happening, but it felt like I was a zombie walking through it. I always always emphasize having a supportive circle of friends. I had people around me who BELIEVED in me. I had people around me who helped me to pick up the pieces and regroup. I think that having a core group of people who love you, inspire you, and encourage you is really a key component of being an artist. The same grit that I have about my acting career, was the same grit I had to get through life’s struggles. Grief is no longer something that has to weigh me down, but it empowers who I am as an actress and singer/songwriter. It helps me share stories that help others.
Acting can be such a hard profession, because we don’t get to do what we love everyday. Many of us have survival jobs while we are auditioning like nobody’s business. It takes grit. It took me saying, “no matter what, I am not going to give up”. I continue to grind everyday. I built a team of agents and managers across the country. I continue to work on my music everyday and am proud to say that it is streaming on iTunes and Spotify. These days, I’m teaching myself how to produce my own music, which can be a challenge in itself. Every career has challenges. Everyone has challenges in their lives. It’s worth it to keep putting one foot in front of the other…one day at a time. I am proud to be an artist, even on the hard days.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My first love will always be the stage. As I write this, I look on the mantle above my fireplace and I literally have a square wooden piece of the stage that I grew up acting on. When I moved to Atlanta, I was so excited to jump into the film industry. I have been in a Lifetime movie, vertical short films, and indie projects. I recently did an independent film in LA called the Lonely Crowd that I am incredibly proud of.
When I’m not acting, I am working on music in my home studio. I am learning to produce my own music with the equipment of one of my loved ones who passed, Matt. It was a very special thing to be gifted his music equipment, and I keep his spirit alive each time I create. I am very proud of the album ‘Turbulence’ I released, and am excited to be working on my second full-length album.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I talked a lot about having the grit to keep going. I also really believe that having empathy and an open heart is a huge part of success as well. Connections are everything, and we are told that time and time again. It’s true that connections are vital to an artist. When we are able to show up for the people around us, be a listening ear on set, and work with others in a kind way, it results in the type of long-lasting connections that build our village. I think that there is a misconception in the industry that one has to be ‘hard’ or ‘cold’ to survive in this industry. Do you have to have confidence? Of course. Do you have to believe in yourself? Yes. Do you have to have a thick skin? Heck yeah. But it doesn’t have to take away the humility, or kindness, or empathy within us. Those components are what make a person great.

Pricing:

• Acting coaching pricing is available on my website thespencerstuido.com

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thespencerstudio.com/
• Instagram: @hspence_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC02Rkonc_W6VuzugVvr9Hwg

Image Credits
DLG Photography
Val Tanuzzi
Brian Jones
SkyeB.Photo