Conversations with Jacque Arend

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacque Arend.

Hi Jacque, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Graduating High School in Michigan, I had big dreams of being an Oscar winning director. I went on to college near Grand Rapids as a Film and Video major. My third year of college brought me to Phoenix, Arizona where my parents had recently moved. I applied for California film schools in preparation for this, and got accepted at USC Long Beach. However, the price tag was frightening and after such a major change moving to Arizona, I was intimidated by the idea of leaving my parents and starting a life in “Hollywood”. So I went to Scottsdale Community College to pick up my studies instead. At the time, they had the best education in film studies. As a Directing focus, I had to take acting classes and in doing so, I found a community of peers who empowered me to do more acting, even auditioning for the plays, in which I was cast a few times. I was finding more support as an actor and I leaned into that. Meanwhile, my film studies was riddled with more competition and hubris than I could stomach and I lost interest. Not in film making, rather the hustle of it. Recognizing that it would require more from me than I was willing to give at the time. I dropped out of film school, getting my first “F” ever in my academic history by not showing up for my final in cinematography. My instructor was very disappointed in me. Now 20 years later – living a sort of, “laissez a faire” attitude about my future, I let the universe guide my decision making which led to finding Improvisation as an art form and attempting to build my career on that. Now today, just by living my life, I am proficient in positive communication skills and performance arts training, theater and arts administration, operations, creating infrastructure and systems, web design, as well as producing events and performances.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Confidence is a fickle thing. I had such confidence in the innocence of my teenage years, I was certain I could grow to be an award winning director. However, this experience in college made me realize that acting was the real passion and it was in lack of opportunities in High School, amidst a strong drama program and lots of talent, I was convinced I didn’t have the talent necessary to pursue that. Recognizing also that no one empowered me to believe in myself (or I wasn’t hearing/seeing it), I had to do it all on my own and learning the hard truth that we have to be our biggest advocates and go against the odds. The result was backing away from goals and letting life happen to me. We value ourselves often based on how people are reacting to us, and I was not able to sort out reactions that are in support versus out of some other negative response, and so my value was misinterpreted. I sought validation of my worth, and had the bad habit of not hearing it, because as they say, actions speak louder than words. In a world where we’re all trying so desperately to find our own sense of value, we can often stymy others in support of our own. I think often on the times I have done it to others as well as when I can sense it was done to me. I think, due to my disregard for my ideals I had as a young person, giving up on that dream of making movies, and floundering through life, gave me the belief that I would never amount to much and accepted my place as a work horse. So, I found myself, here in my 40s, completely unaware of my true value and anxious to find it, and so the struggle to figure out what you want to be when you grow up, even in your 40s, is real. Truth is, it’s never too late to go after your dreams, and for me, there is definitely, 100% still time for that Oscar, the key is building discipline, managing priorities and going after what you want, without requiring validation from others because you know deep down inside that, that’s what you need to do, for yourself. Ultimately, you have to appreciate the destination not as the goal in life, rather it’s the journey that it takes you on that reveals the reward of living for something beautiful to dream about. I won’t set my value up on my teenage dreams, rather how I step forward along the way.

Two avenues where I’ve overcome the challenges of confidence and forged head on, even through the obstacles:

1. Taking lead in creating an annual festival of improvisation called SAVI FEST here in the Valley, it was a large and scary endeavor, where I was certain, and confident I had all the skills necessary to make it happen and so for the first time in my life, leading something on a large scale where I wasn’t fulfilling someone else’s vision but supporting my own. Of course I found help by bringing in partners who I knew would align with my interests and have two amazing co-producers, Liz Hutchman and Krissy Lenz. We just successfully executed our second year and will continue on as an organization for as long as possible.

2. Building a mandatory Improv program for medical students at the University of Arizona. This was taking my years of experience in both the improv environment and my facilitating applied improv in businesses to make an accessible and valuable experience for folks pursuing a career in medicine. This required lots of resiliency to forge through the naysayers of the program, to take each criticism and negative attitude as an opportunity to finesse, build, and adapt to what was needed to successfully apply Improv in this environment. To not allow the bruised ego to respond with walls, rather bridges. This program is now of interest to others in medicine and my team and I have been hired to pass it onto another medical school to add value to their communications programs for doctors. We’re already on our fifth year of developing it and I am certain this is only just the beginning.

There was a time when I gave up on Improv as a provider for me and tried other things, unfortunately affecting my self worth as I sat in the feeling of time wasted. The universe eventually brought it back around to me in the manner I deserved and I, like a child walked into the opportunities kicking and screaming. I had lost faith in myself, and getting back to my full self took time. To show back up confidently, without fear, as the one for the job, took time – however, I did not back down, as painful as many of the opportunities were, I persevered. I look at this time in my life, in my 40s like a new childhood and accept that there is still learning to do and mastery to master.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I identify as an artist and humanitarian, even though I have generated incredible skill sets in operations and administration. It was only in support of my passion for performance art that I found those skills. People in my life had told me that I possess the incredible ability to access both right and left brain acumen, being able to create artistically while also building the systems and infrastructure for execution. My experience with improv was never questioned, I loved the performance, the creativity, the community of it all so much, that I just moved forward every day in support of growing that in Phoenix. In the end after 10 years of dedication from age 25-35 had I become an expert in so many avenues, ultimately building a diversified portfolio of skills.

Today I offer that expertise in Applied Improvisation – a way to utilize the practice of “Yes, And” to build positive communication habits in the workplace and everyday life to find success and personal empowerment. I also teach/coach Improvisation as a performance art and acting skills, while considering myself an actor for hire. I regularly teach High Performance Improv at Arizona Actors Academy for advanced Improv focuses.

On top of my artistic abilities, I can consult on systems and infrastructure and see people to their goals in operations and administration, while continuing to be an administrator and manage operations for both Improv Utopia and Arizona Actors Academy.

Additionally, my experiences supporting small arts organizations, I’ve developed skills in web design and can offer you an affordable option toward a fresh site that celebrates your voice, brand, and services. I specialize in a patient and kind approach to finding something you’re proud of and educating you to maintain your own site and operational systems thereafter without the intimidation.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I think my greatest risks have been taken in the aspects of getting out in the world, leaving my bubble and having to navigate newness. In High School I took a trip with my German Club to the German speaking countries and stayed with a host family for a week. In College I drove to New York City on a whim, I moved to Arizona where I had family, but no friends. In my 20s I went to Chicago for a summer to learn Improv from one of the best institutions around at the time. Since, I have adventured a ton, been over seas a handful of times and continue to try and expose myself to new stuff. I love roller coasters and have been sky diving. This thirst for adventure translates to the risks I’ve taken professionally. I am not afraid to say, I don’t know how to do that and I’ll try to learn, and with the internet these days, you really can learn anything and this is how I’ve built my skill sets, by trying something new, failing, persevering through discomfort and trying again, succeeding and harnessing the power through practice.

Unfortunately, as I’ve gotten older, I have developed a stronger aversion to risk and more dibilitating anxiety. Through experience we are able to generate more predictability and develop quality control. I call it chess playing with life, “if this, then this, and that”, and have found that it’s now prohibiting me from putting myself out there. Unfortunately, we can also allow fear to gain control in our lives. I am hopeful that it’s temporary, a narrow part of life that feels uncomfortable and in continuing forward rather than giving up on myself, I will come out feeling amazing again, ready for adventure without fear, guidance of having purpose, passion and love for the unknown. Life is inevitably going to give you these narrow spaces along the way as you better yourself, grow and elevate your spirit within the greater sense of humanity and earth dwelling. I am in that right now, no doubt about it, and so I have to be diligent about continuing to take risks, despite the discomfort or anxiety and fight that urge to play it safe.

Ask me this questions again in 10 years and I’m certain I’ll have a different vantage point. As it does seem I’m currently in one of the largest uphill climbs of my life. I fell into depression over the last few years, getting stuck in that narrow space, without the confidence to see myself through. I was able to pull myself up, having still an inkling of self respect, an incredible support network and made the healthier choices necessary to continue the climb. The risk here is in knowing that just choosing to preserve, will see me through the cloudiest days of my life. Although this is my first step in recovery, it isn’t the answer, rather it’s the dedication to forward momentum without regressing, too much, and having compassion for myself when I do, so that I can try again, just like I’ve done most of my life to get where I am today. This takes resilience, and even more so faith. One thing is for sure, although I’ve always been empathetic and compassionate, my ability to offer this to others is profound, and my hope is that I have the capacity to keep showing up with love for others and most of all, love for myself.

Pricing:

• Private Coaching $75/hr – Acting & Personal Development
• Applied Improvisation – min. $600.00 – Customized pricing depending on needs.
• Improv Team Coaching – $50-$100/hr depending on Group Size
• Improv Workshops & Intensives – Let’s talk.
• Website Design – $1000-$3000 – Customized Pricing depending on needs

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jacquearend.com
• Other: https://savifest.com

Image Credits
Photos by Michael Astrauskas and Alex Lee