We caught up with Christiana Hartsiotis to see what she has been getting up to after graduating from Music Theatre, MA in 2019.
What would you like to tell us about today?
My podcast, Artist Avenue, which I founded and produce.
Did you get involved with this work through Central?
I started this project on my own, during the first lockdown in 2020. However, I would say that my time at Central has had an influence/impact in creating something of my own. Our tutors always encouraged us to be our own artists, to create and take control of our careers. That definitely inspired me and gave me the confidence boost to just go for it and try it out.
What made you want to start this project?
I have always been inspired by people’s stories. I love getting to know others and getting a
glimpse into how unique life is for everyone. Over the years, I realised that I am always
surrounded by such extraordinary creatives, who’s stories are not heard and not celebrated
enough. That’s when I knew, I wanted to create something that celebrates the uniqueness
of every individual creative and shows transparency. I’m a big believer in that no matter
how big or small your success is, what stage of your career you are in, you matter in our
industry. When brainstorming how I could bring such a concept to life, I found that the
most accessible tool to deliver my concept was through a podcast. That’s how my journey
with Artist Avenue started, and the rest is history!
What does a typical day look like for you?
I spend a lot of time editing on Garage Band, recording and planning and creating the promotional materials for each episode. I also have to keep engaged on social media and always make sure to answer everyone who gets in contact.
What are you currently working on?
Currently I am recording and editing the last few episodes of Season 3. I am also in the planning process of the ‘A day in the life’ Instagram takeover series with guests that have been interviewed. This will allow listeners to put a face to the voices they hear and also see what the guests have been up to since the episodes!
What has surprised you most about your experience?
The response to the podcast has really surprised me. I never knew how much it was needed. It makes me smile every time we finish an interview, because the guests just sit there realising how much they have actually achieved and that is simply inspiring.
What has been the biggest challenge that you have overcome while working on this?
Editing out all the fillers, like ‘emms’ and ‘umms’…On a more serious note, the biggest challenge to overcome has been to slot in all the interviews and the time editing them, now that the podcast has become more popular!
Is this what you had planned to do after graduation?
Hard to answer. I would say it has evolved since graduation. It’s part of my journey as an actress and a creative.
What advice would you have for anyone looking to follow in your footsteps?
Be brave and be unique. Have a clear purpose of why you want to start a podcast and what
you want to achieve with it.
Don’t get caught up in all the technical stuff. A simple mic and editing/recording
programme, such as Garage Band, is more than enough. My mantra is ‘content’ over ‘technical quality’.
Lastly, do not worry about running out of topics and guests, they will flow in and you will
always have something to talk about as long as you are passionate about it!
My DM’s and emails are always open. So if anyone reading this is interested in being featured, feel free to contact me and we can have a chat, to see if an interview is possible.
If you want to keep up with Christiana’s work, you can follow her on Instagram, @artistavenuepodcast and @christianahartsiotis.
