039 • Thread by Thread: How Broadway Stage Manager Amanda Bertie Michaels Stitched Together a Scene-Stealing Quilting Business

She’s called thousands and thousands of lighting cues, wrangled countless cast members, and somehow still found time to build a thriving quilting business from her Brooklyn apartment. 🧵🪡In this episode, I’m catching up with my longtime friend (and one of the best stage managers I’ve ever worked with), Amanda Bertie Michaels: Broadway stage manager turned professional quilter and owner of ⁠Broadway Quilting⁠.We talk about her path from rural New Hampshire to the big lights of Broadway, what it’s really like working behind the scenes on shows like Be More Chill, Dead Outlaw, and Come From Away, and how she stitched together a creative second career that keeps her inspired between productions.Bertie shares how her family’s legacy of fiber artists shaped her, the wild story of stuffing a 10-foot-wide longarm quilting machine into her NYC apartment, and what it takes to balance backstage life with small-business ownership.✨ In this episode, we talk about:• How Bertie discovered stage management and worked her way to Broadway• The magic of Be More Chill and what made its recent 10-year reunion event so special• Why “facilitating art” is just as vital as creating it yourself• Turning a pandemic hobby into a full-fledged business (and paying off a $25K machine!)• The overlap between managing a show and managing a creative biz• Her favorite projects, dream clients, and newest obsession: glass-blowing🔗 Connect with Bertie:⁠broadwayquilting.com⁠ | ⁠@broadwayquilting⁠Let’s chat: Did anything from this episode spark something for you? DM me or tag us on social to share your biggest takeaway and let's continue the conversation! 🖤✨🎧 Listen now: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, YouTube, and more!✨ Loved this episode? Screenshot & tag me on Instagram ⁠@alyciayervescreative⁠ so I can share it! And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Mind Your Own Biz — your support means the world! 🎙💖🎤 Got a question for the podcast?I’ll be answering select listener questions in upcoming episodes! Submit yours (anonymously or with your name — totally up to you) here: ⁠https://www.alyciayerves.com/podcastquestion⁠Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on Mind Your Own Biz are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. The content shared in this episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional, medical, legal, or financial advice. Always do your own research and consult with a qualified professional when needed.