Today we’d like to introduce you to Makayla McIntosh.
Hi Makayla, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Almost every little girl dreams of being a princess, including myself. Watching Disney movies growing up, I knew that I wanted to be a Disney princess.
I found my place in the world as a princess. I know, I know – you are all laughing. I know, I’m not actually a princess by royalty. But, I am a princess to thousands of little girls (and even some boys) in this area. At eighteen years old, I accidentally did my first princess party, and after it was a huge success, applied for an LLC certificate for my accidental business, Castle On A Cloud Entertainment. The funny thing is, I never dreamed of opening a business. If you would have asked me 10 years ago if I wanted to start a business, I would have given you my famous “Are you kidding me? Where did you get that ridiculous idea?” look.
I loved princesses as a child and dreamed that someday I would grow up to be a princess like Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty. That dissolved when I realized that princesses were not “real,” and when I reached the end of elementary school where it was no longer “cool” to like Disney princesses. Instead, I moved on to Bratz Dolls and later to technology like iPods, gameboys, game systems, etc.
My voice teacher in high school cast me in a Disney-themed show, so I started watching the movies again to research the characters. I fell in love with princesses again. My parents took me to Disney for the first time that year. Maybe it was because I was an awkward high school girl, but I wanted to be beautiful like a princess.
I still never thought that I could be a princess until I stumbled upon this girl named Traci Hines. She is a famous cosplayer that works for a prestigious princess party company in LA, models for Hot Topic, posts singing videos to thousands of followers on youtube weekly, and even makes hipster mermaid videos. I was so captivated by her singing and how she could morph into any princess. I thought, “Wow. Wouldn’t it be fun to dress up as a princess?”
So, I researched princess gowns and wigs (never dreaming the expense would be hundreds and thousands of dollars), and when I showed my mom, she told me I better find a way to make them. I really really REALLY wanted a princess gown, so I found a new hobby in life; reconnecting with my grandmother to learn how to sew.
Let’s be totally honest: my reasons for wanting to be a princess at that time were shallow – I wanted to wear a beautiful ball gown, perfect make-up, and wear a pretty wig. Go look up Traci Hine’s followers on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, and look at all of the “likes” and “comments” her followers leave on photos! Actually, I will look up right now. Give me just a second… She has 70,000 followers… let me repeat that again… SEVENTY-THOUSAND FOLLOWERS. Her photos average about 2,000-5,000 or more likes. All the guys think that she is gorgeous, and girls think that she is beautiful and want to be just like her. People are obsessed with her! If we are being totally honest here, I was too.
We all want to be noticed, desired, famous, whatever, and some of us will do whatever it takes to get there. People noticed her because of her princess portrayals (which now fuels her music career), and I wanted that too. I knew that I would be the first person around here to dress up as a princess, and if I could do it well, then people would notice me!
Guess what? It worked.
More people liked my photos, commented on my photos, and I felt good about myself. Everywhere I go, I am known as “the princess”. But here is the catch: you cannot base your life on feelings because they fade quickly. Life lesson: being popular on social media does not make you happy. Even more important, it will not change the world.
I was an awkward girl in high school though, and we all just want to be desired and noticed, especially when we feel insecure. After my first party though, and especially two years later, my reasons for having a princess business are completely different. I found that if my reasons for being a princess are because I want to be pretty/desired/popular/dress-up/etc., then I would be in serious trouble because the “great” feeling of “being a princess” fades.
I now do this because I love children from the bottom of my heart and I have the opportunity to make a positive impact on their lives. There are days I don’t feel like dressing up or going into princess mode, but that quickly changes when I see their faces light up, they hug me and don’t want to let go, or their mother sends a message that they have been talking about “the princess” for days/weeks/even months! Life lesson: People remember you by the way that you make them feel.
I believe that telling stories is my calling. We live in a world that is fast-paced, technology-driven, and has an “all about me” mentality. We hear tragic stories of kids and adults committing suicide. Children endure pressure from bullies, peers, school, teachers, and even parents.
This is my opportunity to bring something positive to the world. It’s something that I know that I’m good at, and it teaches me to put other people first. People criticize me too. Some say that I’m bringing false hopes, unrealistic expectations, etc. but I know the good that this has brought to others.
In the book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Gordy said, “If you’re good at it, and you love it, and it helps you navigate the river of the world, then it can’t be wrong.”
I spent a while making a list of all the things, I hope to do through Castle On A Cloud Entertainment:
to bring the arts/theater back to Trumbull/Mahoning County
to encourage creativity in kids
to spend less time with technology, more quality time with family and friends
to be present in a world driven by technology
to encourage children to love reading
to explore our greatest gift: the imagination
to inspire kids to follow their hearts and passions
to encourage children to be kind and treat all people the way they want to be treated
to bring hope to children who have little – those in hospitals, those fighting for their life, those from broken homes, those that have lost a loved one
to fight for those who do not have a voice
to encourage children to share (toys, gifts, talents)
to inspire children to be a part of the world (the community)
to encourage children to sing and dance at their heart’s content!
to nurture children to have the courage to stand up for what is right/what they believe
And remember children, Princess Sophia always says, “obey your parents, eat your vegetables, and brush your teeth!” – haha!
I’m sure that you all have read Charlotte’s Web at some point in your life, and I encourage you to read it again because there are lessons in there that you can carry through the rest of your life. At the end of the book, Wilbur asks Charlotte why she tried to save him even though he didn’t do anything for her. Charlotte responds, “After all, what’s a life, anyway? We’re born, we live a little while, we die. A spider’s life can’t help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to life my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that.”
No matter what you have a passion for, or what you choose to do with your life, make sure that you find something deeper than wanting to be successful, noticed, popular, or even famous, because those things will never make you truly happy. They may satisfy you temporarily, but you will always have a longing for something deeper. Do something because you passionately love it from the bottom of your soul, and use the talents you have been given to serve the world: the less fortunate, the needy, the undesired, the environment, the forgotten, the innocent, the broken, the lost, the confused, whoever/whatever it may be.
In college, I had to watch a lecture called “Living the Dream” and the speaker said something that echoes true, “Experience is what you gain when you didn’t get what you wanted.” I have learned so much about people, the business side of performing, casting, taxes, contracts, confidence, acting skills, time management, and how to be a leader. It has been an incredible opportunity to create something as an artist that has meaning. I have impacted thousands of little girls and encouraged them to follow their dreams. I have used my talents as a princess to raise money for charity, visit sick children in hospitals, and I would not trade those experiences for the world.
I have one more lesson for you; cherish each and every person you meet. Some of the people you meet will create wonderful opportunities for you, and you will provide wonderful opportunities for people you meet. In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Arnold has one of my favorite quotes; “If you let people into your life a little bit, they can be pretty damn amazing.” Life is giving and receiving.
I cannot express enough that this company would not be possible without ALL of the people that have helped and that I have met.
Let me start by saying that it would not be possible if it were not for ALL of the help from my mom. She is literally Wonder-woman. She packs all of the suitcases for the parties each week, organizes the costumes and wigs, and makes sure that the performers have everything they need for the parties. She advertises for me everywhere she goes: work, doctor’s offices, stores, friends, family, etc.
Secondly, I would not be able to maintain the business without my incredibly talented cast. Some days I wonder how the party requests keep flooding in, and then I receive reviews back from parties that my cast have done, and I am reminded why; they have the most beautiful hearts for children.
A business’s “success” rests on the product that it delivers, and my cast truly delivers magic. I could spend hours naming each person that has been a part of my journey, but this article would be a novel.
Each and every person you meet will have a place in your life, and you will have a place in their life. The people that you meet will be incredible, talented, and special in their own way; just like you. Do yourself a favor by not comparing yourself to others, and rest in the truth that each person has a divine purpose that is unique to their life. When you are following your path in life, winning or losing is not important. Success in life is not measure by what you do, but who you are, which is reflected by the impact you leave on others.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road, especially through Covid19. We took a hard hit, like many businesses, not being considered “essential”. Live performing took one of the hardest hits, so we have slowly been re-opening and bouncing back.
Other big challenges was growing faster than we were ready for, and then many other companies popping up. We work very hard to maintain the highest quality of experience and product, and it can be difficult to communicate that when other companies charge significantly less. We are not able to do that and pay our performers for their tremendous work, and the thousands of dollars we invest into each costume.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m Makayla, and I fell in love with the performing arts and creating when my mom took me to a local showing of Anastasia at three years old. I’m an NYC and Vancouver, BC-based actress and artist that was born in the small town of Newton Falls, Ohio where the only thing we are known for is a zip code of 44444. I have trouble memorizing new zip codes (but not lines).
My deep love of Anastasia and musicals blossomed into a passion for film, acting, and dance. I received a BFA in Musical Theater from Belmont University and moved to NYC post-graduation to pursue a professional career in film and dance.
I enjoyed performing in the premiere Grand Ole Opry cast of How the Grinch Stole Christmas the Musical as Punky/Reno, regional equity houses around the country, and performing on Disney Cruise lines as the female swing! Highlight of my musical theater career was touring with the National Tour of A Chorus Line, working with Baayork Lee, performing the roles of Vicki, Cassie, and Val.
From the creative side, I choreographed Chicago for the Millennial Theater Company, winning a Broadway World Award for best choreography in 2019. I received my equity card as a performer, associate choreographer, and dance captain for Shrek the Musical at the Beck Center for the Arts.
Currently, I reside in NYC with my partner, training clients at Mai-TY Fitness Inc in-person and online, working on film & television and dancing in NYC, and surfing on the weekends in the Rockaways. We frequently travel to Vancouver and Ohio for family and film. I now run the company remotely from my apartment in NYC and am now writing scripts for short films, series, and working to grow in my craft.
I frequently come back to Ohio to teach, because I want to prove to my community that anything is possible if you just believe.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
We need the arts more than ever. During the pandemic, we realized how much we miss human connection and magic. Singing is magic. Dance is magic. Dreaming keeps us alive.
Never stop dreaming. If you are still alive, you can still live out your dreams. Be kind. Help others along in their journey.
Pricing:
- parties $250+
- Events $250+
Contact Info:
- Website: www.castleonacloudentertainment.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/coac_entertainment
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/castleonacloudentertainment/
- Other: https://castle-on-a-cloud-llc.square.site
Image Credits
Megan K Photography
Lauren Toub
