Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Hays.
Hi Nicole, 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?
Since childhood, I have been obsessed with the arts. I grew up in a small town in Arkansas with very little creative opportunity, so I was naturally looking for a place to be able to express myself. I remember being a teenager and marveling at photos of the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, imagining how amazing it would be to live in such an eclectic city. As fate would have it, I would end up moving there over a decade later. Today, I run The Curiositorium, LLC in St. Pete with my significant other and business partner, A.J. Vaughan. We offer everything from full technical event production to original variety shows.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
This pandemic has definitely thrown a wrench into things for live entertainment. Since it is currently not safe to gather crowds, we have had to scale back on all live entertainment to help keep everyone safe. We are incredibly lucky to live in a city like St. Pete, which has helped struggling artists and creative businesses financially during this time. There have been several grant programs that have kept local businesses afloat throughout COVID-19. We are currently looking forward to a vaccine so that we can safely entertain the masses once again.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My specialty is professional face and body art. I have worked as a body painter for 15 years and specialize in whimsical, steampunk, and circus-themed designs. Also, if you have Netflix, you can check me out on Season 1 of Skin Wars. I had the opportunity to compete with nine other professional body painters for a $100,000 prize. A.J. Vaughan’s specialty is viola performance and sound production. A.J. performs for weddings, special events, and concerts. He also writes original music for stage productions. We both specialize in performing singing telegrams as characters such as Elvis and Marilyn Monroe. Through the Curiositorium, we focus on creating original, unique performances for our clientele.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
It’s tough to say where the entertainment industry is headed after this worldwide crisis. Virtual content is not the same as being at a live event. I don’t believe we are headed for strictly virtual shows. However, I do believe there will be stricter protocols for people attending events.
Contact Info:
- Email: thecuriositorium@gmail.com
- Website: http://www.curiositoriumstpete.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiositorium/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecuriositorium
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTQnw42juhHvTtWf8gPd4EA
Image Credits
James Henderson, Michael Sheehan
