The best way to describe Kimberly Jenna Simon is an artist. Among many other things, she performs, she produces, and she is the hands behind the Instagram account @AllWriteByMe . She is one of the producers behind the hit 54 Below show, 'Pronoun Showdown'.
You do a lot of awesome things for work (performing, producing, calligraphy, etc), what is an average day for you?
Oh this is an impossible question as there is quite literally no such thing as an average day for me! Truly every single day is different, but that’s what makes it exciting! There are some days where I do a little bit of everything—I’ll have a voice lesson or audition in the morning, some concert rehearsals in the afternoon, and then record a video for @AllWriteByMe in the evening. And other times, certain things will dominate a full day or even a few days. When we get close to Pronoun Showdown concerts, that tends to take over for about a week. I really love how everything is constantly changing—I never get bored! And I am very lucky that some of my jobs, like AllWriteByMe, are things I can do from the comfort of my own apartment. The only tricky thing is my weekend is constantly shifting, sometimes it ends up being a Tuesday or Wednesday!
What is your favorite part of doing so many different things?
I never get bored! If anything starts to feel less exciting, I can give my brain (and hand) a break and shift over to something else. I always feel creatively stimulated and challenged.
Do you have any advice for people who want to produce and/or perform?
I really live by the words “you can’t get what you don’t ask for” and I think that applies to both producing and performing. You have to put yourself out there in order to make any progress. Sure, they might say no, but if you don’t put yourself out there you aren’t giving them the chance to say yes! There’s a lot of great advice out there about being a performer—take class, audition as much as possible, etc. As far as producing, my amazing producing partner Abby DePhillips always says “Get in the room! Volunteer for everything!” And she is SO RIGHT! There are so many venues in NYC and they are all producing dozens of concerts each week, and everyone can always use an extra set of hands. :)
What’s your go-to outfit?
This is another tricky question, seeing as I do so many different things, I have different “go-to” outfits for each area of my life. I do have a favorite polka dot dress that I find myself always reaching for!
What is one clothing item or accessory you couldn’t live without?
LEGGINGS. Specifically “Nylon Tricot Leggings” from American Apparel (they closed their stores but their website is open for business!). I own so many pairs at this point because I wear them so much! We all know just how comfortable and versatile leggings are, and these have a hint of shine which makes me feel like I am more dressed up than a normal workout legging. I wear them with big sweaters, or a crop top and flannel tied around my waist, or a flowy blouse and heels—the options are ENDLESS!
Thank you so much Kimberly Jenna Simon for doing this interview! You can follow her on Instagram @KimberlyJenna and @AllWriteByMe and on Twitter @KimberlyJenna ! Make sure to get your tickets for Pronoun Showdown 6!
Comments