Meet Michael Sackett of INSPIRE Entertainment in Gilbert and Mesa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Sackett.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Michael. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
People always ask what we want to be when we grow up. I never really knew, and still don’t really. 🙂 But when I moved to the East Valley 10 years ago I noticed that there were not nearly enough performing arts studios in the valley. And yet there are plenty of talented youth looking for exactly that. When I noticed that need I decided to start an adult singing group with my friend Kylee. From there I started a youth performing group out of a friend’s house with about 25 students. Then I noticed that what we were doing was really powerful for these youth and I decided we can go a lot bigger! That’s when I quit my full time job at University of Phoenix and decided to start INSPIRE Entertainment.

After months of research and a lot of learning I found a place in Gilbert to start the INSPIRE Entertainment Studio. The builder was two months late on finishing the space, so we opened in March 2015 with about 32 students. A few months into the season I noticed we were growing faster than anticipated and would need more space ASAP. So I negotiated a second lease in the same complex where we were and we doubled our size after the first year. Shortly after that, another studio owner in Mesa asked if we were interested in buying their studio and – long story short – we decided to buy. So within a year and a half of starting INSPIRE we had 2 locations with about 30 instructors working for us and about 350 students.

Here we are three and a half years into it and have almost 650 students and just over 15,000 sq. ft. of studio space. We offer classes for all ages in music, dance, and theatre, we run a preschool and have an after school program at two Benjamin Franklin Charter School Campuses. Also, I have been blessed with the most amazing people to work with and would not have had near the same success without each of them. I know that they were guided to me and INSPIRE and feel blessed to do what I do now with all the amazing people I do it with.

Now I think this is what I want to do AS I grow up, but I also know we have so much more growth ahead and who knows what lies ahead. But I learned that you never know where an idea will take you if you’re willing to take the leap and then work your tail off to make it happen!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There are always struggles along the road. I think the biggest struggle has been trying to keep up with grown. I’ll never complain about growth, but with more students comes more instructors, more office staff, and more space! Finding space large enough for our growth has been very difficult. But it’s all been a fun journey and I learn every step of the way.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
INSPIRE Entertainment is the premier performing arts program in the Phoenix Valley. We are taking music arts to a higher level, creating a standard of excellence in everything we do, and generating opportunities for individuals to perform without having to leave Arizona. We help mold inspiring and professional entertainers and musicians through education, instruction, and performance. We have high standards at our studio and we are not afraid to live up to them.

INSPIRE Entertainment provides high quality education and instruction in music, dance and theater for all ages. We also believe in giving back through serving others and performing with the goal to uplift, encourage and inspire. Our nonprofit does international music service tours every summer to give our youth the opportunity to serve and share their talents with others who do not have the same opportunities as them.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up I played every sport my parents could afford to put me in. When I started Jr high I started participating in choirs and musicals at school and up through college I played soccer and performed in groups such as Young Ambassadors and Vocal Point at BYU. When I was 4 I pulled all the flowers from the hill by my apartment and sold the “weeds” from my wagon down at the laundromat. I guess I was always meant to be an entrepreneur of some sort.

Pricing:

• $45 per month for one class

Contact Info:

• Address: 3244 E Guadalupe Rd Ste 108 Gilbert AZ 85234
• Website: inspireent.com
• Phone: 480-830-5955
• Email: gilbert@inspireent.com
• Instagram: @inspireent1
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inspireentertainment1/

Image Credit:
Eric Sackett, Leavitt Wells

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