Chani Maisonet - Singer, Actress, Dancer and Founder Made 4 The Stage
Chani Maisonet
Chani Maisonet is a singer, actress and dancer based out of Atlanta, Georgia. She’s also the founder of Made 4 The Stage, a company that empowers you to own your voice through voice lessons and coaching. Chani has been a performer her entire life, and she fell in love with performing at a young age. Today, she’s turned her passion for performing and helping others develop their voice into a career that truly lights her up, and brings her joy.
Chani’s worked hard to get to where she is today, and through overcoming challenges and persevering, she’s living her passion and her dreams. Every performance allows her to share her gifts with the world, express her authentic voice, and choose her joy.
I’m so excited for you to learn more about Chani, learn more about her journey, her plans for the future, and follow along as she continues to live out her dreams!
I'd love it if you'd introduce yourself, what you do, and what you're working on.
Hello! My name is Chani Maisonet. I am an Atlanta, Ga based Singer, Actress, Dancer. I also have my own business teaching voice lessons called Made 4 The Stage. Currently, I have the amazing opportunity performing in the musical Ever After at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Ga this past February.
How did you get started?
I started performing when I was about 4 years old singing in my mothers’ children’s choir at church. From then on I’ve always performed ranging from singing to dance to acting, I just loved performing. I finally made performing my career after I graduated from Kennesaw State University studying opera. After graduating, I knew I needed a car and some money to start full speed ahead in the music industry, so I gave myself six months to pull it together and work as much as I could. So, after 6 months, I bought my first car and quit my retail job two weeks after and that’s all it took. A dream and a car. Haha Right before I started auditioning in Atlanta, Georgia for professional musical theatre jobs, I became a professional salsa dancer and taught salsa for a full year at Rhythmz and Motion Dance Studio. Never did I think my career would start that fast. I am loving every minute of it. Thank you KSU for preparing me so well for my future!
What inspired the work that you're doing?
People inspire the work that I do. Whether I am singing or teaching, it's the people that matter to me. If when I perform or teach, I can make someone smile or change them in a positive way, I’ve done my job. I started teaching out of necessity, in college. I studied opera but I also performed in musicals a lot. That’s where I saw the need. I was able to take voice lessons being an opera major but because our music department was still growing and developing, musical theater students didn’t have that resource unless they were apart of a specific group. Not knowing that I would actually love teaching, I began giving students who really wanted to study the voice lessons and I haven’t stopped since. Last year my colleague and friend Parry Kitt and I developed a vocal coaching company together called Made 4 The Stage. This team helps train and motivate other artists and they also inspire me everyday!
What is your biggest passion? Do you feel like you're living your passion and purpose?
I have two. My biggest passions are helping to develop singers and I love performing! I absolutely am living my passion and I know it’s my purpose because if just feels right and brings me so much joy and peace to me and others.
What is your joy blueprint? What lights you up, brings you joy, and makes you feel the most alive?
Food! Hahaha I’m just kidding. Kind of. Oooh Fresh air on a nice fall day makes me really happy. But seriously, when I know that I am taking care of myself, getting exercise, eating healthy, working, and sleeping....all is aligned and I feel amazing and can feel great about giving back also! Any day seeing my students progress and succeed brings me so much joy!
How do you live intentionally? Are there tools/resources/practices that you rely on to help you stay mindful and grounded?
Intention is something that I have just grown to discover its benefits actually. I find the more intentional with how I go through life, life just balances itself. I am a bit religious, so I have to even be intentional about when I pray and how. God is my resource and praying is there to help me set my intention for the day. I also journal! I love pretty journals! Jotting down my intention and To-Do lists the night before helps me to wake up super productive the next day. Also, being intentional about what and how I speak and how well I listen to others also better rids the possibility of miscommunication or any regretful speaking. It’s a win win.
What would your younger self think about what you're doing now?
I am pretty sure my younger self would be pretty freaking proud for just not stopping. I’ve been in this business since I was about 6 years old...great, yes but that also means I’ve been getting knocked down since I was 6 too, but look, I was featured on my first CD by 9 years old and I’ve known this is what I was meant to do since then. I went on to open up for Patty LaBelle and John Legend at the age of 16 and now I’m performing at the very theatre I dreamed of when I first started. It’s a progression and I love it. For me, it’s been so worth the blood, sweat, and tears for any moment I get to share my gift with someone. So, for those who think that I haven’t worked my butt off to get here....I just laugh with no comment because all I can do is praise God for bringing me this far. Quitting would have been so easy but God wouldn’t have put me through this much work for me not to take the challenge. Same for anyone reading this. God will not put you through a challenge you can’t handle. It’s funny, literally when people find out what I do, yes they think it’s cool but they also immediately get scared for me. Why? Everyone just always thinks of the coined term “Struggling Artist.” That’s why little Chani would be so proud, because music now is my full-time career. I do realize that is a blessing so, I’d like to fist bump my little self for not giving up!
Do you have a go-to mantra or affirmation?
“My faith is bigger than my fear.” I found a bracelet that was way too expensive, it quoted that, and I bought it hahaha I wear it every time I am going for something that is challenging or may scare me but is necessary to push me forward. It’s all about taking risks right now.
What is your biggest dream?
My biggest dream is to build a facility to where I can call home to teach all of my students and open up spaces for other performance instructors to also call a home to teach. Annnnndd Broadway! Why not? :)
To learn more about Chani you can connect with her on Instagram @chanimaisonet and for her vocal coaching business @made4thestage
Joy Corner is a new interview-style blog series brought to you by Seek The Joy Podcast. Our mission continues to be a desire to share your stories, truths, joys and inspiration in your words. We invite you to join our corner, and share your joys, passions, and moments of inspiration as we continue to seek the joy, together. Join this series here