Showing Up and Getting Stronger with Lydia Faith
SHowing up and Getting stronger with Lydia faith
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Lydia Faith owns Aerial Events- a elegant circus-style performance entertainment company that includes stilt walkers, aerialist who dance and serve champagne suspended midair, fire dancing and more! She performs and grows this Destin Florida company with a group of women who truly support one another. While life moves forward with being a wife and mom, and learning new skills she gives some insight on what it takes, how to encourage one another, and giving yourself and the women around you, grace.
I met Lydia of Aerial Events
while she was working and during her performances and just had to get my photograph with her each time.
something that stuck out was that you brought your daughter and rocked being a mom and conversationalist and was so honest and vulnerable and it drew me into you and your business and you just crush your goals.
S: i know you have a fun sounding job, but it’s a lot of work, tell us about you!
L: i run aerial events, which is a circus style performance company. We do do a lot of aerial performances, along with fire dancing, and stilt walking.
S: Tell us about what you do
L: i love to dance, and there aren’t as many opportunities as an adult, ended up teaching pole dancing and started taking classes in north carolina in aerial dance. When i moved to Florida there wasn’t a company to jump into, so i started one!
S: how big is your team now?
L: 10-12 Ladies-
S: Have you been to Vegas and worked with those performers?
L: Yes! i take an annual trip each year, and I'm so busy training and they are so hard core over there. it’s such a pleasure to train with those artists, and really gets me going to watch their training too.
S: Are the Las Vegas performers open to imparting their wisdom and training?
L: There’s such a wealth of movement available, there’s really no secrets
S: Have you thought about or been wanting to move to Vegas?
L: I would be a small potato in vegas,
S: Do you have a favorite performance or act?
L: My favorite is performing with someone, and failing with someone. While you’re performing there’s a great energy and back and forth. You have to rely on someone else. But also funny, because you get to crack jokes in the middle of performances.
S: Tell me about family like as a performer and a mom
L: over all, it’s multitasking. It’s hard to feel like you can’t give your all to one thing in a particular moment.
S: you were nervous about having a baby in this line of work, and how has it improved and change and impacted your work?
L: I was terrified about having a baby. Period. It's one of the craziest but most important things you can do… to not raise a psychopath. There’s so many things that can go wrong, and even for someone who doesn’t worry.
S: and you still performed and practiced while pregnant correct?
L: it was really important to me that i didn't lose my identity as a person just because i was carrying a baby and becoming a mother. i tried to keep doing the things i enjoyed, but also still respecting my body.
S: i know she’s little, does she seem interested in what you’re doing?
L: yeah! any parent wants to share their hobbies with the kid. so i’ll hold her while i’m doing it, she imitates the stretching, dancing, and movements.
S: if you could give you past self some advice about having a baby?
L: Nothing has been a huge surprise, i was a nerd and read, aside from how excited i am over the small moments. She claps for herself too! i tried to come to grips with what it’s going to be like. I cried a lot, and had a candid conversation about what i can do after having a baby in this work. But it’s not losing more than i’m gaining, but that particular dream is different for me in the future- and accepting that ahead of time means i’m prepared for it now.
S: I know you’re passionate about the question women get about having a baby or having another baby
L: i felt like my life was complete without a baby, but it’s been really important to my husband so we got pregnant. i understand people are excited about showing they’re interested in your life, but you never know who’s been trying for years, who’s having a struggle or had a terrible upbringing. i would love if people would take step a back and think of other ways to show interest in life. instead maybe what are you excited for next?
i also experience people commenting about my weight while pregnant. and in my case, people thought they were being helpful, but it was a concern about her weight. in fact, i just gained most of my weight at the tail end of my pregnancy. i had a healthy baby girl, and i’m so thankful for that, but because i was on the smaller side, they thought it was okay to comment on my weight. but it’s still talking about my weight.
S: i think women are tough on themselves anyway especially after pregnancy, and seeing it online where women lose the weight very quickly- and that’s the new normal and it’s not.
L: Or that people will judge them. but instead women should focus on the baby and what makes them feel good.
S: it’s about health, but when the baby is born the focus is on that baby and feeding and connecting.
L: what i would like women to do is celebrate the jelly belly they have.
S: there’s been a quite a fitness women who’ve had babies- and now showing their realness. and things they aren’t concerned with, because they’re working on being a great mom.
let’s shift back into work- tell me about your typical day.
L: it’s closer to a regular work day more than expected. it starts off- with my husband bringing me coffee in bed. because he works out of the house, and i work at home, so he’s on dad duty in the mornings and then when he leaves i take over. i answer emails, respond, have meetings. and when she goes down to nap i do the bulk of training then.
S: let’s move towards competitive part too. i know you have a great community of women, but women don’t always support women- talk about your experience.
L:it was my experience that 3 women together means 2 will gang up against the 3rd. and when i started the business it was to build a culture where we didn’t compete against one another but celebrated the successes and someone else’s success didn’t make us any less. But to be excited for her and where i am is exactly where i should be.
not to say being competitive is all negative. because you might see a cool trick and think yeah i have to learn that! It can be helpful to fuel progress, but just not the negative thoughts.
S: so what would you like to see changed and help women day to day supporting one another?
L: If we could just be kinder
S: and what about online, how can we support one another?
L: I have someone that always comments, and its amazing how one comment can brighten sometimes day and it makes a difference. and realize the power those words have.
S: how about some advice this level or performance and what it takes?
L: it’s really about showing up and just practicing and putting in the hours and getting stronger. but it’s also important to focus on the details. and that’s what separates hobbies from a professional. is the head to toe aware of connection too.
S: tell me about marketing and how you got your business out there, but i see your team the most
L:thank you, in the last couple of years- business has shot forward and maybe it’s because i feel i have less time. it’s crazy but wonderful.
S: tell us something we wouldn’t know about your business and what you do
L: 1- the smell. when you look at us we’re polished and we’re in sequins and sparkles, but let me tell you we smell awful. it’s much less glamorous behind the scenes, but we try to show you the beautiful and exciting side, but secretly pick our wedgies and shove food in our faces.
S: any goals for the future?
L: i haven’t thought hugely far ahead because i’ve been happy but i just want to have places to perform and people to perform with and stay excited about it.
S: how about impacting women, how do you like to?
L: i want to give women a place to perform and to shine and find their joy in life and find women that support them.
S: any words for people listening to share?
L: you’re doing better than you think. you may not be where you wanna be, but you're further than you were yesterday.
S: where can we find on instagram your website, and where we can find you
L: aerialevents.com facebook and instagram aerialevents1
S: Any last words for us?
L: I have so enjoyed it, and kudos to YOU! i’m so proud of you too.
S: A lot of grace to myself to make grace
L: That is my daughter’s middle name and my mother’s name. That’s the thing i want for us to to offer ourselves and other people grace and kindness.
Lydia wanted me to add Rachel of Piper Creative Company has been helping with their marketing success in the area too!
Follow Lydia of Aerial Events
