#3 - Erica Swindell: Lead Violinist / Concertmaster for The Eagles
Explicit content warning
12/06/21 • 73 min
The broadway actress and lead violinist for The Eagles, Erica Swindell, gets straight to the heart of the matter of how taking a massive chance opened doors she actively tried to previously keep closed.
She first picked up a violin at the age of three but after joining her high school theater program decided to pursue acting rather than music. That’s not, however, what fate had in store for Erica. While performing in Broadway Tour of Once, an unexpected audience member completely changed the course of Erica’s life. Who was the audience member? None other than Eagles founding member Don Henley.
Erica has long believed that embracing chance opportunities, taking thoughtful risks, and having a damn good time in the process is the key to success.
Make sure you catch all of the amazing things Erica is up to by following her at @ericaswindell and go see her light up the stage on The Eagels Runion Tour: https://eagles.com/
- Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our DMs at @wasitchance.
- More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files
- More about Alan via @theatre_podcast and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales
EPISODE TAKEAWAYS
- If you want to be successful you have to accept that you’re going to fail a lot!
- Work hard, but stay open to change and new opportunities
- It’s really important to laugh, have fun, and experience joy when you’re a creative
- When you stop worrying what other people think, your energy shifts, and people are attracted to that
- Sometimes you need to create a “persona” to help you step into the uncomfortable and do hard things
- There are ways to communicate that go well beyond language
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The broadway actress and lead violinist for The Eagles, Erica Swindell, gets straight to the heart of the matter of how taking a massive chance opened doors she actively tried to previously keep closed.
She first picked up a violin at the age of three but after joining her high school theater program decided to pursue acting rather than music. That’s not, however, what fate had in store for Erica. While performing in Broadway Tour of Once, an unexpected audience member completely changed the course of Erica’s life. Who was the audience member? None other than Eagles founding member Don Henley.
Erica has long believed that embracing chance opportunities, taking thoughtful risks, and having a damn good time in the process is the key to success.
Make sure you catch all of the amazing things Erica is up to by following her at @ericaswindell and go see her light up the stage on The Eagels Runion Tour: https://eagles.com/
- Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our DMs at @wasitchance.
- More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files
- More about Alan via @theatre_podcast and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales
EPISODE TAKEAWAYS
- If you want to be successful you have to accept that you’re going to fail a lot!
- Work hard, but stay open to change and new opportunities
- It’s really important to laugh, have fun, and experience joy when you’re a creative
- When you stop worrying what other people think, your energy shifts, and people are attracted to that
- Sometimes you need to create a “persona” to help you step into the uncomfortable and do hard things
- There are ways to communicate that go well beyond language
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Previous Episode
#2 - James Harkness: Navy Vet turned Broadway Actor
Actor James Harkness made his Broadway debut in Aida back in 2001 before moving on to productions such as Chicago, The Color Purple, Guys and Dolls, the Dreamgirls tour, and Beautiful. Now that Broadway has returned he resumed his role as Paul Williams in Ain’t Too Proud on Broadway. A navy veteran, James seized an unexpected opportunity and took a chance when he walked into a dance studio while on leave and forever changed the trajectory of his life.
James shares how embracing chance, taking intentional risks, and learning to trust his instincts lead him to a beautiful and unintended career working alongside mentors such as Tiger Martina and Sergio Trujillo, and performing alongside some of the greatest in the arts, including John Legend, Julie Andrew and many others.
Y’all don’t want to miss everything James is up to. Follow him at @iamjamesharkness and go see him in Ain’t Too Proud on Broadway right now: https://ainttooproudmusical.com/.
- Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our DMs at @wasitchance.
- More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files
- More about Alan via @theatre_podcast and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales
EPISODE TAKEAWAYS
- Missed opportunities may be hidden gifts
- Manifestation only works when you work hard
- Resharing our experiences and stories brings new awareness
- Learning to trust your intuition
- Running towards fear rather than away from it
- Resting is an important part of being ready to embrace “chance”
- Staying connected to creativity by being flexible in the moment to always do your best
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Next Episode
#4 - Steven Sater: Tony/Grammy/Olivier/Lortel/Drama Desk Award-Winning Awesome Guy
A chance encounter with Burt Bacharach led Steven Sater to collaborate on a decade-long project to produce a full-length musical concept album featuring some of the industry's biggest artists. Now 93, Burt hasn't written anything for the stage since Promises, Promises in 1968. Steven felt drawn to Burt, this project, and their mission to explore what it's like to write love songs for couples after the "newness" of the relationships are over, and they've settled into their routines. This album is a must-listen, and this podcast episode is ... an even muster-listener.
Find Some Lovers on Spotify, or everywhere you stream music: https://open.spotify.com/album/1tEyFYVH36zYUYfFK58gPN. List of featured artists include:
- Christy Altomare
- Kristin Chenoweth
- Lilli Cooper
- Auli'i Cravalho
- Santino Fontana
- Molly Gordon
- Jonathan Groff
- Jennifer Holiday
- Derek Klena
- Katrina Lenk
- Lea Michele
- Laura Osnes
- Ashley Park
- Graham Phillips
- Conrad Ricamora
- Colton Ryan
- Ari'el Stachel
- Ethan Slater
- Tracie Thoms
- Betsy Wolfe
- Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our DMs at @wasitchance.
- More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files
- More about Alan via @theatre_podcast and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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