Session Details

Main Sessions

Pendulum of Success
Cristi Williams, Shading the Limelight | Opening Session (all attendees)

The Pendulum of Fame is mainly a metaphor or a visual that explains in a simple way the importance of how any entertainment industry professional or public figure can get “off track” or become “derailed”. A pendulum is an apparatus that swings back and forth as it gains momentum, something most people find amusing and/or fascinating. In order to get the pendulum moving, the surface it stands on must be unsteady or the “bob” of the device is pulled back. Once pulled, it is bound to swing to the other side and so on until its momentum is exhausted and it comes to a stopping point in the middle. Just like a physical pendulum, the mindset of fame, exposure, and instability that comes with this industry, tends to oscillate back and forth. (“the bob” would be the “industry professional”)

Through her extensive work as an entertainment life coach and emotional wellness coach, Cristi Williams developed the Pendulum of Fame - as a visual to explain the possibilities of how any public figure could easily swing to the extreme left or right, and has adapted it to the Pendulum of Success to help educate entertainment industry professionals and executives on this common idea that extends to their professions. In her experience working with entertainers, artists, executives, etc. Cristi noticed that once pulled one way by outside or internal forces, the mind can begin to swing uncontrollably until forcibly stopped, or until exhausted and by lack of momentum, and has no other option but to be still. Depending on the strength of the pull, the grip of the bearings, and the learned tools in the person’s toolbox, the inevitable teetering can determine the (in)stability to come.

The State of the Industry Panel (All Attendees)
Cris Lacy | Co-Chair & Co-President of  Warner Music Group Nashville,
Brad Parker | Festival Director with C3 Presents / Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival &
Sheldon Smith | Artist

Why Are We Here?
Al Andrews, Porter’s Call Founder | Closing Session (all attendees)

If you're in the music business, initially you found yourself there because of your love of music. Your passion for it made you want to be a part of something larger than yourself. Over time though, the intensity and stresses that accompany this industry can take its toll and your enjoyment is covered over by pressure and the daily grind. As we close out our time together, we’ll consider what it might mean to return to our first love and find a deeper purpose in what we do.

Breakout Sessions

Work/Life Unbalance
Elizabeth Porter, LPC/MHSP | Founder & President, Entertainment Health Services

This session reveals a truth everyone eventually faces, especially in the entertainment industry: there is no perfect balance. The real aim is mental wellness maintained in the Work/Life Unbalance. Nobody likes being told they can't have it all, but everyone has constraints on their time and energy. Every choice has a cost. The objective is gaining greater understanding of balance and navigating career/life choices that can ease stress of the industry. If we aim to maintain mental wellness in the industry, we may need to first shift our beliefs and goals in achieving perfect balance. Perhaps thriving and finding joy in the imbalance!

Cultivating Connections in a Competitive Industry
Beth Barcus & Chad Karger, Co-Executive Directors & Porters, Porter’s Call

Beth Barcus and Chad Karger of Porter’s Call team up to explore the themes of cultivating healthy relationships with others and oneself while working in a hyper-competitive industry. They will be joined by special guests at work within the industry who will offer inside perspectives on this struggle

Protecting Your Personal and Professional Peace: Identifying Core Values in order to Implement and Maintain Healthy Boundaries
Cristi Williams, Shading the Limelight

As humans, we operate based on a specific set of values that we may not even consciously recognize, yet they set the foundation for all of our preferences, behaviors, “gut feelings”, goals, and more. Once we are able to identify them, we essentially have access to a “compass” that helps us make decisions, set healthy and effective boundaries, and most importantly understand ourselves on a deeper level! In this breakout room, participants will learn the importance of understanding and identifying core values, as well as have the opportunity to participate in an interactive activity that will assist them in discovering some of their core values! They will be educated on the benefit of knowing their core values, and be offered a module on how to use your core values as a formula for setting and maintaining healthy boundaries in both their personal and professional lives!

Emotionally Smart Leadership: The Importance of Doing Your Own Work
Heather Schnoebelen LCMHCS, CCS, CTT-II, LCAS | Vice President of Clinical Services, Onsite

2020 will forever be remembered for its extraordinary degree of uncertainty for the music industry and all of us had to face many uncharted territories. Many of us are leaders in some facet of our lives and when it comes to effective leadership post pandemic, it goes without saying that emotionally smart leadership, which directly affects how a leader perceives, uses, understands and manages their own emotions and the emotions of others, is extremely important. This skill supports our capacity to work effectively with others, to make better decisions and to purposefully advance toward our goals. Attendees will leave this workshop with an improved understanding of the role of doing their own work in the development of healthy relationships personally and professionally.

What's Going on in my Head?: Identifying the Difference between Stress and Anxiety
Stephanie Hajjar & Britton Copeland, Shading the Limelight

Stress and anxiety are two emotional experiences that are experienced by everyone at some point in his or her life, however it is unfortunately extremely rare for someone to be able to accurately distinguish between the two prior to receiving education on this topic. In this breakout room, participants will learn how to accurately identify the symptoms of stress vs. anxiety, as well as learn appropriate tools and strategies to help regulate, soothe, and manage each one effectively. This breakout room will be highly interactive, including opportunities for participants to volunteer for demonstrations, and partner up with other attendees to begin immediately practicing the information they will learn today.