Today we’d like to introduce you to Virginia Hankins.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started in live action entertainment industry through horses – horses were always my passion and inspiration for what I wanted to do with my life. I was fortunate to attend the University of Southern California and blessed to be a wrangler for Traveler, USC’s equine mascot, while I was there. I’d never seen anything quite like it and was enchanted by how a team of people could put on exhibitions in costume that would make thousands of people so happy all at once.
After falling in love with the theatricality of the armor, weapons, and classic power of the horse and rider I decided that I, too, wanted to do something like that. I was in for a very rude awakening when I rapidly discovered that despite my passion and commitment for such a goal that the world of historical equestrian entertainment was extremely sexist. Male joust (that’s a type of horseback mounted combat) directors wouldn’t hire me because I was female, and slim in build to boot. A man could simply apply at a place like Medieval Times and be able to audition to get paid to learn and work with horses, other men could serve as squires and have all horses, armor, etc. provided by joust groups. As a woman, not only was I told that I couldn’t apply because I was female but was also told that they wouldn’t even train me – even if I paid!
It took me six months to find a man up in Canada who would even give me a lead on where to go to learn. I am so grateful to him and was then equally grateful to the historical reenactment group that then offered to teach me what they knew. Unlike a man who could have everything provided to him by working at a place like a dinner theater or on a touring festival team, this still meant that I had to pay my own way. That meant buying my own horses, spending around $10,000 on armor, purchasing my own custom weapons, and paying customers to make clothing to fit me. At the end of it I probably saved and spent over $50,000 to try to pursue the goal. Never before in my life had I realized how expensive being a woman was! I kept training though thinking that I could still be great at a skill… even if I was a woman.
At that time, again, a blessing came in to my life in the form of another male mentor who was an accomplished horseman and jouster. He listened and gave me my first shot at appearing in a show as a games rider. I can’t begin to express how grateful I was for that opportunity. With that first opportunity, I was enabled to be in the arena and it propelled me to keep trying and working on my skill meeting some of my best friends along the way.
Ultimately, I came to realize that two sayings are true: both that nothing lasts forever and that as one door closes another opens. Over time I encountered more people and not all of them, unlike my mentor, were kind people who cared about others. This one boss in particular was particularly nasty, screaming at crew members behind the scenes, demeaning his workers, blowing off the presence of government safety professionals, and yelling at his children to the point that one was borderline to being a voluntary mute… all for the “grand” total of less than $100 a day to provide all of my own gear and lodging.
Call me a dreamer but I thought that knights were supposed to be noble… I actually believed those fairy tales that we were supposed to be noble, chivalrous, and kind. While many were and I had made so many great friends, those few bosses that weren’t mad me furious. After one particular day of being told bluntly by a director that I would “never be a good performer” I finally hit a point where I couldn’t take the degradation and negativity anymore and quit. Literally walking away from my dream because I hated the hypocrisy of it all and was so bothered at the way that I saw some directors treat people. My “dream” definitely wasn’t what I ever thought it would be.
In a stroke of luck at that very time where things were looking their worst I had also had the privilege of working under one of the most famous directors in all of Hollywood on set for a feature film – and he gave me an incredible inspiration. Each day he would arrive on set, greet every person with a smile, and try to remember as many names as possible. When he had issues or direction he would state it thoughtfully and with respect to the individual. This Hollywood director was worth over $100M and he was NICE to his people. He said I did a good job, and thanked me for it! What I learned was that you didn’t need to be a jerk to be successful. In fact, you could be totally polite and professional and still make your dreams come true.
I didn’t know what my next dream was, but it was just about to hit me.
I should preface this by saying that many girls want to be mermaids when they grow up. I didn’t. I wanted to be a horsewoman. The only reason why Ariel from “The Little Mermaid” was interesting to me was because she looked like me and could talk to animals (and I am a HUGE animal fan). It was partially a joke to me that when Brenda Stumpf, an internationally famous underwater photographer asked if I had anything that I wanted shoot in a fluke modeling opportunity headed to Mexico that I said “mermaid!” I never would have guessed that six years later I’d have one of the largest mermaid and water entertainment companies in the world.
At that point in time you couldn’t just buy a silicone tail nor would anyone rent me one so Brenda Stumpf, the other model, and I made out own. It was a new skill so I hired a swim coach to teach me how to do a great dolphin kick (he still works for me!), we built the tails, tried to figure out what would work under water, did safety training with our lead SCUBA Rescue Diver, and headed as far as I could think of to get away from the blazing hot sun of a joust arena: the chilly freshwater cenotes in the dense jungles of Mexico.
Even if you, like me, look like the stereotype of a mermaid, let me be clear that it is HARD work – much harder than anyone thinks when they look at a picture. It’s not remotely instinctive. Having your legs strapped together in a 20-40 pound dense silicone tail while holding your breath and working blind under water while appearing graceful and calm in cold water is anything but easy. Thankfully, I like a challenge.
After the Mexico trip, Brenda Stumpf’s team of what was then to be known as “The Mermaid Project” came back with spectacular content. Everyone had worked so hard for two full weeks and we had one of the prettiest fantasy underwater photo portfolios that I had ever seen. It was a welcome distraction in a time where I’d just quit the only dream that I’d ever wanted, and when my best friend, my beloved horse, was having some serious medical issues. Looking at the photos I was drawn in to the whimsical world that I saw in it and for the first time in a long while I had hope: that may, just maybe, it was still possible to have magic in my life.
That trip was what lead to the founding of my company, Sheroes Entertainment. “Sheroes” stands for female heroes: the woman and men who choose to support women’s progress through their actions and service to their world. I decided that I could either blame my bad experience on others in the world on others or I could choose to make my own magic. Six years later I am still working extremely long hours seven days a week juggling a full-time job and my company on nights and weekends but it worked and I am happy. Every weekend I have the blessing of delivering custom character and mermaid entertainment to the people who make me so happy when I watch their stellar box office performances on the big screen. I am surrounded by a close, hard working group of people who care about each other and the importance of inspiring children and have “ordinary” experiences talking about dragons, griffins, and fairies and can claim “unicorns” as tax deductions. It’s work, but it’s also fun, and in a more adventurous and fulfilling way than I ever thought possible. Sometimes to be happy in life you just need to be brave and make your own magic.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Sheroes Entertainment, LLC – what should we know?
Sheroes Entertainment is a boutique Hollywood, California event services provider of custom character-driven party entertainment, once in a lifetime thematic day trip skills adventures, and guest-centric hotel industry experiences.
We delight in bringing dreams to life for people and businesses who care about safety, charisma, quality, and style and are famous for having the world’s most realistic swimming mermaids and running the LA Mermaid School: Hollywood’s own training academy for water performance and mermaid work.
Sheroes Entertainment is a distinct outlier in the party entertainment business where few companies properly classify employees, ensure that insurance is in place, or require any formal water safety training for pool party work. We are the only company in the world that places a top priority in water safety with mandatory lifeguard certification on all of our mermaids. We also have a firm representation of performers from all races, believing that a mermaid can come from China, a princess can have dark colored skin, and that a girl can be a pirate or a warrior too!
Celebrity clients, event planners, moms, and dads choose us for our professionalism, kindness with children, devotion to their family’s safety, and film-quality costuming standards on our characters.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My parents and grandparents continue to be some of my greatest champions. Since I work so much I don’t have a lot of spare time. My mother, bless her heart, will help organize my costumes and patterns for me while my dad will take time out of his day to make sure to stop by my home and water my flowers so that they don’t die because I’m too busy working. Having their unconditional love and support means the world to me.
Brenda Stumpf, the underwater photographer whose shoot in Mexico put me on a different life path is still a great friend of mine and I delight in working with her on all of our current underwater projects and adventures.
The performers and crew at Sheroes Entertainment who put their hearts in to every family that they meet to help grow a brighter tomorrow.
My mentors and friends who are always willing to pick up the phone or grab a late-night coffee to lend an ear or a solid piece of advice.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sheroesentertainment.com
- Phone: 805 328 4911
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/mermaids_sheroes_entertainment
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheroesEntertainment
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SheroesEnt
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/c/Sheroesentertainment?gvnc=1
Image Credit:
Brenda Stumpf
Chanty
Mayah Boedeker
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