Today we’d like to introduce you to Bailey Reeves.
Hi Bailey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a singer, actor, dancer, model, and many-a-day-job worker by trade. I grew up in a small town called Calhoun, Georgia, which is about an hour and a half north of Atlanta. I have wanted to act since a very young age, but I started getting really serious about in in the 6th grade when I auditioned for my middle school’s production of “Oklahoma.” Ever since my “five minutes of fame” on that stage as an ensemble feature (I lovingly called my character “Virginia”), I KNEW the bug bit me… Hard. I knew art needed to stay in my life forever. I grew up, did more plays, more musicals, more performing in general.
I auditioned for 13 colleges (this is normal for a perspective theatre major), and I ended up choosing to go to Webster Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, where I received my Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Majoring in Musical Theatre. I loved the Conservatory because I got to learn about every way I could do what I love. I then promptly moved to New York City after graduation, and I have lived there ever since, taking breaks to go perform regionally and internationally. I worked for Disney Cruise lines and I got to travel all across the Western Hemisphere doing what I love: performing on stage for thousands of people each night. This feels so foreign now because things took a big turn after I got back from this contract. In March of 2020, I lost the apartment I was subletting and I had to pack up all my belongings into a rental car and move myself back to my parent’s house, where it all began in Calhoun, Georgia.
The pandemic has really changed my world to say the least, but I also owe it a great deal of gratitude. It has taught me that I can survive, and I am capable of doing so much. It was when I moved back to Georgia that I realized I immediately needed to work toward finding something creative I could do that could help pass my time and keep me from going insane while being stuck at home. One day, I stopped by the wood-working store with my dad, just so he could pick up a few projects he could work on in his shop. I was looking at all of the materials they had for pen making, knowing my dad had a lathe in the garage. We had turned pens before, but just for fun and I think I only helped turn one back in 2017 when he got his wood-turning lathe for Christmas. As I was looking at all the beautiful materials, I turned to my dad and said, “I didn’t know you could make pens out of things other than wood!” The colors caught my eye. My creativity was sparked for the first time in months. I asked dad if we could take some of the beautiful color blocks home, and he agreed.
We then made a few pens and decided we liked working on them together. My friends started noticing them on my Instagram… And I had my first customer (thank you, Mary!) ask me if I could make her a commission in “Barbie pink.” It was then I decided to make an Instagram page for my pens to see if anyone else would be interested in a commission… and WOW. I had no idea then, but things would really take off. My parents and I ordered Cracker Barrel and discussed name ideas… I said, “we need a name that has to do with this Pandemic!” All the sudden, my dad spoke up and said “what about ‘PENdemic?'” I guess you could say that the rest is history… I have now created almost 300 items for Pendemic Creations. I have broadened my items to include all writing utensils, bottle stoppers, ornaments, key chains, phone stands, styluses, cheese knives, and pretty much anything you can turn on a small lathe.
I really have my dad, Eddie Reeves, to thank for helping me realize that running a business isn’t that hard! All it takes is being passionate about what you’re doing, and I have realized that I am happiest when I am working in the arts and being creative. I am now moving to Atlanta in February, and it is mostly possible because of the money I have made from this new business venture. Now I am starting another new business coaching actors and models in the city, as well as continuing to visit home on the weekend to turn things for Pendemic customers. If you would have told me a year ago this is where I would be right now, I would have laughed in your face! But I’m glad I am here, and I am hopeful for my future for the first time in a long time.
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 would say that actually finding the road was the rocky part. I was at my lowest point when I found Pendemic. I felt like I lost my entire career before I started working on pens. I didn’t want to do anything. It really took the people around me to tell me that I was good enough to pursue it to make this dream a reality. Of course, there are some struggles within the business… wasted materials and money from countless “learning experiences,” some minor bumps and bruises from learning to use shop equipment for the first time… But mostly, the struggle was only financial until I built a customer base! I did my very first craft show in November, and even though it took a lot of prepping, I think that really launched Pendemic’s appeal in my local community!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think something special about what I do is that I really consider myself to be a “jack-of-all-trades.” Need a singer for your wedding? I’ve got you! Looking for someone to write you a monologue/speech? I am your gal! Looking for a special gift that supports small businesses? Hello! How about a makeup artist for your family photos or those new headshots? YES to all of this! I have a lot of tools in my tool belt, and I think that makes me an asset to my local community. I can’t wait for it to hopefully set me apart in Atlanta as well! I am also very proud of my ability to design things based on the customer’s needs. I have been working service jobs ever since I moved to NYC, but now I get to help people in areas that I feel I am gifted in instead of serving hors d’oeuvres or helping people pick out clothes (even though I do LOVE clothes)! I am so thankful for that opportunity, and my only hope is to continue to do things I am passionate about for the rest of my life!
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of my favorite quotes from my dad is: “Bai, you’ve gotta eat the elephant one bite at a time!” And even though I do not promote snacking on elephants, the sentiment remains. I often have a hard time knowing that every little thing will get done. I get scared and anxious a lot, and it took me a long time to realize that I just need to take it one day at a time, especially now when each tomorrow is so uncertain. If we waste our time sweating every single problem going on in the world today, we would be good-for-nothing balls of stress! One day at a time… one foot in front of the other… all we can do is check off the next thing on the list and move forward.
Pricing:
- Pricing for Pendemic Items vary based on materials and hardware! All of the items we are currently offering range between 30$-90$! You can find more info on us or direct message me on Instagram @pen_demic_creations!
- Coaching prices for my coaching business ALSO vary, but single coachings are 75$! We also have coaching packages… the more coaching opportunities you commit to the lower each coaching price drops! You can find more info on Instagram @baileyjreeves!
Contact Info:
- Email: baileyjreeves@gmail.com
- Website: www.baileyjreeves.com
- Instagram: @baileyjreeves & @pen_demic_creations
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pen_demic-Creations-102871934931742
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZd19Vu738Y
Image Credits
Michael Dewar Photo
Brenna Noble for the Pendemic Gif
