Today we’d like to introduce you to Bonnie (Anahata) Pettiford.
Hi Bonnie (Anahata), we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I got started with talent development first and foremost as an artist myself. Growing up (& still) I was always into theatre, singing, performing and writing my material to perform to. When I went to undergrad at Old Dominion University, my love for acting led me to an internship and eventual job as a Voice talent coordinator. This was the job that first pulled me into the “behind the scenes” process of other artists. After that I pursued casting directing living in Atlanta, Georgia and during this time as a cd, I kept finding myself enthralled with empathizing, understanding and assisting the actors on how they showed up in the audition room and what affected them to do so. This is what led me into expressive arts therapy coaching and performance coaching with a mindfulness approach. I understood that there was a need for all artists to navigate and recover their emotions more strategically, so in 2017 I started my company The Reel Tips LLC. to offer artist holistic development services.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh sure, every artist has a smooth road on the artistic process! No serious, artists I feel are the group that are designed to experience the least smoothest road on their journey, it makes for good art! So no, though I always followed my heart, my journey included a lack of clarity and push and pull on if I was ever making the best practical decisions or not. There were many times I abandoned who I was as an artist myself to focus on others or more practical positions, only for the universe to bring things full circle to still have a need to value and prioritize the artist in me. That internal battle though created a grounds for depressive episodes, anxiety, insecurity, financial instability and not so genuine relationships. But it’s in my struggles and how I recovered from them that allows me to empathize and strategize for other artists just like me!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
One of the internal battles I used to struggle with is having so many ideas and several different talents, that I really just didn’t know how to choose a medium to focus on. Or if I focused on a specific medium, say just acting, I would starve other parts of me. So it’s important for me in my brand that I create media that exercises all of my talents. I produce digital media and live events that helps the process of healing and emotional recovery within myself and others. I like works/experiences that I can feed in recent lessons from life that I put into my creative writing, that I may then turn into a scene, to then turn into a song and produce the “container” that will showcase this journey that I went thru. My podcast Talent Alchemy is a perfect example of this. It’s a hybrid theatrical, monologue, and conversational format that allows me to express all of my different talents and relay the topics in a way that will resonate with other artists out there.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
You can support me by listening to the Talent Alchemy podcast (on all podcast platforms) leaving a comment or review. You can also watch my Youtube channel and share your thoughts. If you’re an artist and would love to share your story of how you’ve overcome emotional challenges in your artistic career, you can join the conversation. Shoot me a DM or email at talentalchemy@thereeltips.com I love the support of other artists in all ways because I do my work for you!
Contact Info:
- Website: talentalchemy.life
- Instagram: @thee_artist_alchemist
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artisticalignment
- Other: https://book.squareup.com/appointments/b4fpli8xzjooyw/location/2VQGE9XWTA5S3/services
Image Credits
Carlos Samuels of Flashover Visions
