ELE New Hire: Andie Burns

Our newest hire, Andie Burns is one of the most genuine, helpful, and perceptive people that we’ve ever had the pleasure of working with at ELE. It goes without saying that the entire team is thrilled to have her! Her work style is only one of the reasons why we must shout her out, we also know her to be incredibly thoughtful in a way that’s truly rare. Keep reading for our interview with Andie! 

ELE:

You have been doing an incredible job. As a team and project assistant it seems like you are constantly being handed tasks, full of variety and specific needs. What experiences have prepared you for this kind of work? Or are you just naturally adaptable?

Andie:

First of all, thanks so much! It’s been really wonderful to join a team that is so naturally empathetic and thoughtful. Right, no day looks the same in regards to the variety of tasks I’ll do everyday. I’d say I’ve always been naturally adaptable, but I do think it’s something that you learn very quickly within stage management. The bulk of my professional career has been centered in stage management within live theatre. Those types of jobs usually encompass a “catch-all” mindset in that we’ll handle the errands or tasks that don’t naturally fall into a specific job description. I personally gravitate towards these positions because it usually means that you’ll meet a wide variety of people and consequently, create genuine relationships with more people than you normally would tied to your desk in a small department. 

I also had a job two summers ago at Spoleto Festival USA where I worked in the Production Office as a Production Assistant and Head Runner and I’d say that gave me a lot more confidence in my adaptability. Our schedules were flexible, the tasks we’d get would constantly challenge us, and I learned very quickly to not waste any time with second guessing if I could handle something - just get going and ask all the questions you need to. I may not always be an expert in something I’m doing, but I’ll more than likely have the tools to figure it out. I’ve found that being adaptable and diverse in skills has been extremely helpful as I navigate through my early career. 

ELE:

We connected with you because of our Project Manager, Katherine Thesing, who highly recommended you. What work did you do with Katherine previously and what was that experience like?

Andie:

So Katherine and I met in 2018 when I started working at Actors Theatre of Louisville as a Stage Management Apprentice and she was a Resident Production Assistant. Even though we weren’t working on the first show together she still checked in and made sure I was transitioning well into the new environment. I was having a difficult time personally and Katherine made a big difference in helping me feel better about my move. After a few months, KT and I started working together on multiple productions and quickly became close friends. In that first season we ran 118 shows together and that doesn’t count all the hours of rehearsal we sat next to each other for the multiple shows. We quickly fell into a natural team function and learned how to work well with each other. I also got some major Lacey (KT’s dog) time and I was all for that. I felt like I became a KT whisperer in that I could read her body language, anticipate her reactions to situations, and know exactly how she was feeling just by seeing her facial expressions. Stage Management is all about anticipating needs and I got a crash course in anticipating Katherine’s needs and expectations. 

Katherine was a huge reason for why I ended up returning to Actors for a second season and while our dreams of running a show together as Stage Manager and Assistant SM were cut short, I’m very grateful she thought of me when this position opened up. I was worried we’d never get another opportunity to work together again, so this opportunity is very exciting in more ways than one. Katherine’s taught me a lot about boundaries and the importance of taking care of mental health while working a difficult schedule. I’m excited to get back to what we do best, producing quality work and supporting each other in the process. 

ELE:

You appear to be a very humble person, so I want to give the opportunity to stunt for a moment. What would you say is your greatest strength? How did you discover what you were best at?

Andie:

Thanks so much for that compliment, that’s very kind. I would say my greatest strength is reading a room and being thoughtful with how I approach people. I really value my relationships and I think that shows within my work. I love learning about people and I really enjoy figuring out how people work so that I can best support them. I think people respond well to genuine interactions so I try my best to bring my personality and humor to my presence at work. With that, I feel like my colleagues are more likely to open up and be real with how they’re doing. Reading a room has been such a focus of my career and I’ve found that being real and exercising discretion when you can recognize that someone isn’t as present as they usually are, or is clearly going through something makes all the difference. I think those subtle tone shifts and genuine moments of support are very underrated in the professional sphere. If people feel seen and heard in every interaction they’re more likely to give their best work and I think that makes a huge positive impact on whatever project you’re working on. Consequently, I really try to lead with compassion and attention to details. 

ELE:

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What about 10?

Andie:

This question usually scares me honestly since I tend to just think pretty short term. In my short few years out of college, my life has been focused on going from contract to contract and minimizing the rest time in between. Now that my former industry is on hold, it’s forced me to put a lot more in perspective and realize that my life has to mean more than the contracts I had lined up. In five years I would just love to be confident in my independence. As a young person who has primarily worked within the arts, monetary gain is not exactly a guarantee despite long hours of work. I’ve decided that the work I do will be meaningful to me and the communities that need assistance, not just about the money. Consequently, in five years I just hope that I’m able to afford a comfortable lifestyle and be truly independent. Also hustling and making moves of course. Maybe an apartment with a fierce rooftop for sunsets? 

In ten years I’ll be 34 and by then I hope that I’m in a long-term position that lets me put some roots down. I hope by then I’ll have a family, or one in the making and we can live in a calmer area. Part of me thinks this is when I’ll probably focus on having some land and maybe some farm animals. I’ve always wanted goats and to have multiple dogs, so hopefully in ten years it’s time to take some action on these dreams. I’ve also always wanted to write a book so I’d like for that to be on it’s way by then...so be on the lookout. 

ELE:

What do you do for fun? When not working what can we find you doing?

Andie:

As we all know fun in covid times looks pretty different from the fun we’re used to experiencing. These days my fun looks like taking a drive or going for a long walk at golden hour, taking pictures, collecting footage, facetiming friends, watching YouTube/Netflix, and trying out new coffee places in my area. You can also find me spending far too much time watching primarily dog content on tik tok. I also love working out and dancing in my basement. In addition to working, I actually run my own YouTube channel where I post vlogs and videos that deal with being mixed, mental health, early career advice, lifestyle, social justice, politics, and learning about sustainability.  

ELE:

If you had to describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be?

Andie:

Authentic, Perceptive, and Compassionate

ELE:

Lastly, what is one thing you want the world to know about Andie?

Andie:

I want the world to know that I'm a proud multiracial individual. As a “white-assuming” person, I know I experience a great deal of privilege which I strive to use for positive change in my communities. However, the fact that I do have lighter skin does not mean that I don’t experience racism or microaggressions. My features still reflect my mixed background and have led to me being called out by strangers and acquaintances. The question is constantly, “So...what are you?”. For my whole life I’ve been told that I’m not who I am and that I can’t identify as a person of color. This has pushed me to lean into my “white-ness” and adjust my personality and self-expression in order to fit into white supremacist standards. I don’t know why some people are so bold to tell others who they are. This conversation is so prevalent in gender identity and sexual orientation as well, but while I’m taking the space to tell you who I am, I also want to just say that if anyone tries to tell you who you are, tell them to go to therapy and figure out why they’re projecting their insecurities onto you. I’m in my mid-20s and am finally owning my identity which has brought so much more authenticity than I thought possible for myself.

So...I’m Andie (short for Andrea), I use she/her pronouns, I’m mixed, yes the curls are natural, and no you may not touch them.