Today we’d like to introduce you to Paisley Baker
Hi Paisley, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When I moved to Los Angeles in 2000 the creative landscape was alive and thriving, and possibilities seemed endless. Still, as a Theater Major from Texas breaking into the industry was daunting. Thankfully, my University of North Texas alumni connections helped me get a feel for the city, and alumni Reese Van Allen helped me land my first industry job as a PA on a Disney kid show, which was called The Jersey. I fixed a copy machine in front of the exact right person, I guess. I’ll spare you the details, but here’s a pro-tip: fixing something that’s broken shows initiative.
The show I worked on filmed 5 days a week in Culver City at a private studio with everything from the writers room to the art department and accounting all in house. It marked my first commute in LA traffic to and from the Valley, my first 12 hour day on a Union show that kept me running non-stop, and my first time using a key map to navigate PA runs all over Greater Los Angeles, which in turn helped me truly learn the actual landscape. At one point I was even assigned to drive David Carradine to and from set, and hearing his stories and learning his short cuts truly made me feel I was getting a glimpse behind the curtain of the greater community of creatives that are the life blood of the business. It was a magical time – stressful, to be sure, but truly a gift.
That first job also provided amazing insight into how important relationships are in this ever evolving business. Several Chapman University students worked on The Jersey with me and I helped coordinate and cast their Senior Thesis Projects while pulling production hours at the same time. Connecting through work has always been the best approach to building community in my book. One of them is now a studio head at a major network and the other cuts movie trailers – both have stayed friends. And as it turns out, our industry was on the cusp of establishing mega hits in Non-Scripted Reality like Survivor, Big Brother, and a show that’s now close to my heart – The Amazing Race. After The Jersey wrapped it’s final season, both of my line producer bosses took work on Season 1 of The Amazing Race. This also meant that the people who helped shape my first experience working in LA were on stage with a brand new hit series winning an Emmy the very next year. Knowing them and seeing their journey up close put Reality TV on my radar as the next best move for continued growth. That’s when I started Executive Assisting at companies like Mindless Entertainment (now 51 Minds) and Scout Productions, which launched Queer Eye. Being in house with Production and being involved in development in any small way (think prepping pitch binders and confirming meetings) really put everything in perspective for me. When I saw all the work that goes into developing and launching a series, and experienced the hours an Executive works to create jobs and opportunity in this business, I realized how important it was to never stop grinding and never lose sight of how amazing it is to work in entertainment.
Working as an assistant, especially for an amazing Oscar and Emmy winning company like Scout, is a privilege. Still, I remember feeling that my contribution could be greater if I could figure out a way to work a more creative job. That’s when I met Doron Ofir, who happened to be casting a project for Scout. He also happened to have a friend of mine, Ryan Hayden, working on his team who then recommended that I join Doron’s team. Ryan is now a successful agent in Los Angeles, so one could argue he’s got a knack for connecting people with jobs! He’s also another example of how important people and community can be to anyone’s overall success. In fact, many of my earliest jobs happened because I had solid recommendations through my community of friends, and I am so grateful for that community.
And that’s truly how I feel about my time working with Doron Ofir Casting – grateful. During my time with the DOC I met so many incredible people and Doron’s company delivered cast for Jersey Shore, A Shot At Love with Tila Tequila, Design Star, Nashville Star, Millionaire Matchmaker, and established Ru Paul’s Drag Race. Reality TV felt like this epic detour, but one I was, again, privileged to make. Cast handling the Queens on set for Ru Paul’s Drag Race season 1 might be a top five memory for my career so far! And working my way up to Executive in Charge of Doron’s company also gave me the confidence and insight needed to launch my own business. After several years with Doron, in 2012 I felt it was finally time to remove the safety net and go freelance as an independent Casting Director, focusing as well on development and consulting. It meant establishing a brand, which was just becoming a buzz word at the time. It also meant expanding my resume to include scripted, commercial, and short form digital content casting. In hindsight, it was a very scary time full of growth and invaluable lessons; most important one being never hide your mistakes or struggles, or forget that you’re a part of a much bigger story. This truly is a very “small town”, and I admire people most who dare to be their most authentic, most creative selves – it’s what I had to do too.
After years of quietly building my Casting Director credits while helping clients navigate through development deals and the development process for their own projects, I made Coat Check Creative official. As the “front desk girl” at so many companies I realized how vulnerable we all are in this business. So many of us feel that our last job could be our last job, so I established Coat Check Creative as a safe space for creatives that want to thrive in a business with no road map. Besides casting projects, Coat Check Creative helps fill the information gap between an artist wanting a job and getting a job, between looking for work and being “booked and busy”. In my own career, I found that volunteering on projects helped build inroads and fostered the community and network needed to find the next best thing on my career roadmap. Along with casting I also consult with clients who may be just starting out, as well as more established clients looking to shake the dust off and refresh their personal brands. I’ve always held onto my deep love for this business and am now a proud member of the Television Academy and the Casting Society of America. I’m also a regular panelist on Rose Rosen’s Casting Confidential podcast, which can be found anywhere you listen, as a way to give back to a community that has given so, so much to me.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. Believing in yourself enough to change direction or chart a new course can be a real challenge because being bold like that comes with a great deal of uncertainty. When I started out, jobs seemed to appear at the exact right moment I needed them. Since then, we’ve had major tectonic shifts in entertainment making jobs seem scarce. Those shifts, especially in tech, meant learning a new way of doing business with a focus on diversifying my resume and skill set to stay nimble. If you’re like me, in the freelance space, those shifts can bring a great deal of financial uncertainty with them. I’ve also struggled through the loss of a parent, been totaled three times in major car accidents, and my car was stolen in 2024! Anyone who has ever lost a loved one, or suffered through the trauma of a car accident or theft knows you have to dig deep and make space for healing; that can be hard to do when you work in a demanding business. Yes, I have definitely seen my share of struggles, but that’s also why friendships and community are so important. I’ve found that improving my communication skills and seeking out advice from mentors helps a great deal when the unexpected happens.
We’ve been impressed with Coat Check Creative, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Coat Check Creative was initially established in 2012 with the goal of creating a safe space for creative projects and people. This is a transactional business with people largely separated into peer groups. Working the front desk at production companies and greeting people in their most vulnerable moments (think job interviews and pitch meetings) made me realize I wanted to be the first face people sought out when starting a new project. While Coat Check Creative specializes in casting Reality non-fiction, commercial, and short form digital formats, some of my proudest moments have been locking cast for film and scripted TV. Besides casting projects, Coat Check Creative helps fill the information gap between an artist wanting a job and getting a job, between looking for work and being “booked and busy”. Consultations range from evaluating what someone looks like online or prepping for an interview or pitch, to discussing a client’s overall career goals and helping them strategize how best to get started.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I don’t think many people know I sang in Carnegie Hall my senior year of High School or performed Shakespeare in Brno, Czech Republic my senior year of college. I was a Theater Major and I can spot another one from a mile away, but our business is demanding. As a business owner there’s very little opportunity to let my Theater freak flag fly – that’s what the Wicked sing-a-longs are for!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://coatcheckcreative.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coatcheck3/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoatCheckCreative/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paisleybaker3/
- Twitter: https://x.com/CoatCheck3/status/1878669732615962733?mx=2
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0048810/
Image Credits
My professional photo with the computer and coffee mug was taken by Monica Linda of Girl Squad Media.
