Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in entertainment but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nathalie Yves Gaulthier, founder of Le PeTiT CiRqUe®, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I created Le PeTiT CiRqUe® about ten years ago, after numerous years of owning Gaulthier artists Inc, talent agencies in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Beverly Hills. Le PeTiT CiRqUe is a Junior version of Cirque du Soleil with gifted young artists selected from all over the globe in order to create family entertainment for the greater good. We are the only humanitarian cirque company in the world, having helped raise over 6.3 million for global charities and headlined the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, performed for the Dalai Lama, royalty, the Prince and Princess of Norway, The sultan of Brunei, world leaders, the Olympic Committee for Cal Games, numerous bespoke performances for Fortune 500 companies and have graced numerous international stages with 500-4000 seats. Our customers are gifted and exceptional youths in gymnastics, circus, dance, contortion, singers, musicians, magicians, ventriloquists, roller skaters, etc., etc. We are always LOOKING FOR NEW GIFTED FACES ages 7-21. Our second set of customers is theatre promoters, production companies, TV/film studios, Corporations, or anyone needing customized vibrant family entertainment.
Tell us about yourself
I was born in a small fishing village in Gaspe, Que. I grew up in Nunavut, right below Greenland. I grew up a complete minority with Inuits and learned Inuktitut (Eskimo) as a second language after French. I learned English at 11 in Montreal, Que, and launched my first business at the age of 14. It was called "Kids in Act-ion" and went on to become the most prominent musical theatre program for youths in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Los Angeles. Eventually, I launched talent agencies in each of the above cities, and Gaulthier Artists Inc launched many stars in Hollywood. Some of the former gifted clients that I was an agent to include: Ryan Gosling, Hayden Christensen, Elisha Cuthbert, Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire, Rachel Blanchard, AJ Cook, Sarah Gadon, etc. I am beyond proud of how many of my former clients are now stars and series regulars and have made it. Even though I had "made it" myself in Hollywood, I missed creating and working hands-on with youth. In 2001, I shut down all my agencies and opened the first circus school exclusively for youths in Los Angeles. It was a hit and grew faster than I could handle. Three studios later, and each tripled in size, the company began to, once again, churning out mind-blowing talent in the circus and hence was born Le PeTiT CiRqUe in 2012. It became one of the top family entertainment companies with gifted youths in the world. I was a gymnast as a child and was a flying trapeze artist in my 20s, and I knew if I mixed my experiences with creative athleticism and show business, it would be a hit. It WAS.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Humbly, and proudly so, I must say, thus far, my biggest achievement as a business owner has been being commissioned to create a 7-minute cirque musical piece to headline the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway. I coordinated 23 youths from 4 different countries to perform, and we headlined along with John Legend, Zara Larson, Sigrid, and Lukas Graham. Other accomplishments include: being a certifying organization with The White House for the presidential volunteer Service Awards and having already awarded nine Presidential Gold medals to youth pre-college. We are now at over 12 full-ride college scholarships for our graduating youths.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
OY!! Well, being female was tough. Being 14 years old when I first started was the roughest as no one really ever took me seriously. And being 5 feet tall and tiny was also rough. I literally have this dude alter ego that I see myself as when I am doing business. I see myself as a 6'3 big tough guy, lol. The hardest things are that you can't shut it off at 5 pm. You are pretty much on call 24-7 as your business lives WITH you at all times. Boundaries and proper time management really help!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
First, know your target audience. Who are you selling TO? Then WHY will they buy it? Then HOW will you deliver this to them? BE KIND, always do the right thing, and don't ever ever ever be friends with clients. That boundary can make you not only lose customers but it can also make you lose an entire business. IT'S BUSINESS. Not friends.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.lestudiola.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lepetitcirquela
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lepetitcirqueofficial/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/le-petit-cirque®️-gaulthier-799049218/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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