Daily Inspiration: Meet Shalisa James

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shalisa James.

Hi Shalisa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
We own an entertainment agency and production house that specializes in musical shows and acts. My husband and I bought the company in 2000 because we met singing with it. We were in the Doo-wop group at Universal in the 90’s and we also caroled in the Caroling Company, which was largely seasonal when we bought it. We named it Entertainment Central and we have grown it into a National multi-million dollar production house in these 21 years. We’ve partnered with Universal to help create and vendor three of their daily operations shows and one at Universal Hollywood too.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We got started while we had three children, five years old and under, so the work/life balance was challenging since we were both so vital to the company’s progress. While it’s hard to define where one of us picks up and the other leaves off, I excel in musical direction and he is a great comedy/content writer. We both take turns negotiating deals. We had a lot of plates spinning for many years, taking calls and directing shows while chasing toddlers. We also traveled together as a couple professionally, sometimes as many as 150 days a year. Now our kids are adults and the boys are in the business, but the doctor rebelled and went to medical school. She’s now a doctor, but at least she fronted the med school rock band. Julian graduated as an actor from NYU and is also an a cappella singer, guitarist and an award-winning beatboxer. Jason is a senior screenwriting major in CA at Chapman U. We often wondered how we were doing, but the idea that they love this industry lets us know that they totally “got it”.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We’re running an entertainment company, and sometimes I drown in the challenges of daily operations. However, it’s important to go back to the well creatively and musically. I love the work we do in the studio, and when I’m on the mic creating arrangements, I remember that the grunt work of scheduling and contracting deals is the vehicle for doing the magical part of my job!

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
We were shocked to be shut down to begin with but understood it was for two weeks to “flatten the curve”. Remember that? When the two weeks turned into two months, we shifted gears and immediately pounded the pavement for virtual and video work. I am still surprised Broadway has been closed for almost 15 months. It’s so strange that the artistic community and timeless institutions like theatre could be interrupted with so little warning. But it made me realize that artists burn to create and that we will find a way. We will find an audience and will use that creativity to reinvent ourselves because we love what we do.

Contact Info:

• Email: shalisa@entertainmentcentralproductions.com
• Website: www.entertainmentcentralproductions.com
• Instagram: Entertaincentral
• Facebook: Entertainment Central Productions
• Other: shalisajames.com

Suggest a Story: OrlandoVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.