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Three times a charm - our end of year Q & A with the one and only Jagger Kaye, owner/operator of www.CastingsnClasses.com

Talk to us about your charity event, why is this so important to you and the community? Which charities will benefit from this event?

Well, the event is AVeryJaggeredXMAS.com. For TEN years it was an adult themed variety show where the box office went to buying toys/gifts for children/teens living with AIDS & patrons added to that collection when they arrived at the show. The last few years we added The Children’s Hospital at St. Peters to the charities we donate to because a CnCer’s daughter’s life was saved by the medical staff at that hospital.

The little girl was born with all her organs on the outside of her body & was not supposed to survive, but a Doctor at that hospital convinced the mother he could try his best & lil Olivia is now 5 years old & known as a living miracle. The mother Aimee told me the story a few years ago before a class & I was so moved I wanted to help her repay back the staff at the hospital by donating to them as well.

This year the donations go to The Incarnations Children’s Center (AIDS) & the above mention facility & the collection should wind up between $5-8,000 ALL in toys/gifts & that is about 300-500 items.

Long before the Holidays became commercialized it was about making children who had very little in their lives smile … that to me is the most important thing about Holidays & that is the driving force behind it.

 

Since the first interview you've won a few Backstage Readers Choice Awards, what's the key to your success?

 

This year CnC was sited SEVEN Times (winner/runner-up) & I personally set a Backstage record for SIX nods.

The key is … we connect with students like I have never seen others do.

 

This began as just me teaching one class a week & now in January we have 26 classes/events in 29 days.  My goal was to build a community & we done that.

 

Recently both a well-known agent & a respected CD both said they see Jagger/CnC on more newer actors resumes they call in and/or work with than any other facility/teacher & its mind-blowing the momentum we have.

 

CD Brette Goldstein said a year ago that she heard of my desire to build a community & a family of actors & never thought it could be done in NYC – until she met me. She then jumped on board with gusto, love & energy.

 

That spirit is what we are about “behind the scenes” as well as the family of actors that frequent us.

 

 

The key is … we connect with students like I have never seen others do.

Like with all success, people tend to make changes, why did you move your CnC studio from the producers club?  When did you realize you needed to make that move?

Well, I am still VERY close with the owners/management of The Producers Club Theaters. They hosted our CnC-6th Anniversary Event as well as our 11 years of charity events.

I still frequent there a lot and I get CnCers from the office recommending me all the time.

 

In order to do what I wanted, I needed to have my own space & not worry about “rental availability” & rushing a student because we were close to the hour we had to vacate by. I still do 90% of admin/emails from my home desk but it is so relaxing knowing I have 750+ sq. feet of my own that I control in the heart of TSQ.

 

CnC is also known as a fun industry hang-out after classes…

Throughout the years you've had a good list of instructors, this past year you had Hollywood Director Steve Carr [credits include Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Dr. Dolittle II, Daddy Day Care, Next Friday] come in, not once but twice!!  How did you manage that one?  What do you think draws people like Steve to CnC studios?

Well Steve was our huge special guest for our CnC-5th Anniversary Event & came back this past August as well.

Steve & I reconnected when I read for Paul Blart: Mall Cop & we stayed connected & he saw what was going on at CnC & I went with my gut & asked him if he would like to do something & he was genuinely excited to do so.

 

I would never insult Steve by offering him the little I can afford money-wise, so both times he came in, I did not profit from him (it was either a FREE event or went to charity).

 

Steve is a nice guy & see’s how newer actors appreciate his time as well as his incredible visual instincts & hopefully our yearly affiliation will continue, but I respect his time way too much to assume anything.

 

Oh did I mention we are the ONLY facility he ever appeared at?

 

Regarding others [credits listed on IMDB] … I am insanely proud to have on CnC staff, Emmy Nominated Actors: Louise Lasser & Larkin Malloy, CD’s: David Vaccari, Brette Goldstein, Roger Delpozo & Fay Shumsey, Agent Jerry Kallarakkel. CESD VO Manager & Backstage Winner Diana Lote, as well as Andrew S. Hurley (Shakespeare), Susan Eichhorn-Young (Voice) & our recent addition & ex—assistant of Conan O’Brien’s Todd Blass doing Sketch … my CnC running crew is AMAZING

Numbers usually speak for themselves, with that in mind, how much has your subscriber based grown since we last spoke?

Well we are at 12,900 members of our FREE casting side of CnC. It has yet to level off … so far so great.

 

The buzz around town is that something big and exciting is happening over at CnC? What's the inside scoop?  What do you have planned for 2011?

Well, there is a lot happening that isn’t confirmed but since I returned from

a recent hospitalization, several major industry names have taken meetings with me about possibly being more involved & expanding the CnC brand. Honestly I am not too sure if I want that. I like the level we are at & never want to be “just another place”, but I am excited to look into it further.

 

Also if a certain SAG project gets green-lit it will be cast out of CnC & I have been in talks about a CnC reality show. The reality show is tricky because I don’t want it to interfere with the sanctuary of classes (we do not allow outsiders in) & I have butted head over content - they want it to be about behind the scenes “drama” & edginess & I want it to be about actors making

it to the next level

 

But one thing I can warn you about is Friday, April 15th when we have the first ever CnC-Fest as the kickoff to our 7th Anniversary. Live bands, Comedians, Cabaret & some very special guest including the red-hot NYC band Mister Gio who performs our new theme song  Life Goes On

 

The rest … let’s see, but I guarantee CnC in 2011 will be a fun ride!

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