Inspiring Conversations with Cristi Williams of Shading the Limelight

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristi Williams

Hi Cristi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story is one that I definitely never could have predicted. After teaching for many years in public education, my fourteen year old daughter decided to pursue a career in music. At the time, I thought it would simply be a wonderful hobby, and one that would keep her out of trouble. Well, long story short, in 2005 I found myself leaving the classroom as a public school teacher for a white utility van with a trailer attached. I exchanged my title of mom and teacher for band mom, chaperone, homeschool teacher, merch girl, and many others. Some hobby, right? I traveled the road with Hayley and her bandmates as they began the most exciting adventure of their lives known as Paramore.

As the excitement rose along with the fanbase, demands, and schedules, so did my realization of the struggling mindset of the entertainer. On the road with my daughter, I met a great deal of bands, young adults, and artists who would tell me their stories of “chasing the dream.” Time and time again, I would listen to these stories and noticed a common thread; the lack of emotional support combined with not knowing who they truly were, or where they were going. I realized there was a void in the entertainment industry, one of great weight. Who was taking care of these rising stars? Who was preparing them? Who was protecting them? There are so many unique challenges and pressures in the music industry, particularly for young artists and entertainers, that have serious implications to their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Who was training them on how to manage it all?
After several years of first hand learning and experiencing this lifestyle, I knew I had gained a unique perspective into this world that could help artists and entertainment professionals of all ages and backgrounds.
My philosophy is that you truly can enjoy the climb to success if you are given the right knowledge and preparation to handle the negative aspects that come along for the ride.
You can chase the dream AND be happy while doing it, you just need a little support… or a lot.

Emotional Intelligence was introduced in the 1980s, and since then we have been fighting an uphill battle towards destigmatizing therapy and mental health services. Since Emotional Intelligence was a brand new discipline of psychology at the time, we had not yet taught the general population about emotional regulation, autonomy, stress management, and balancing your personal and professional lives. Celebrities do not only need to know how to handle rejection, but also, more crucially, how to manage success. It is lonely at the top, and we must prepare our entertainers for that.

Crisis is inevitable in almost any field, but especially this world. Celebrities must know how to manage the storm and with what strategies prior to the storm hitting, because it is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I am a firm believer in life’s challenges and obstacles pushing us towards important learning moments, both professionally and personally. One of the most significant challenges I’ve faced in my personal life has been raising my daughter in the limelight. This world can be intense and unpredictable, and I was constantly navigating issues like maintaining stability amidst erratic schedules, adapting to homeschooling on the road, and protecting her privacy as well as our family’s in a field where exposure is unavoidable. One of my prominent concerns was shielding her from the toxicity and grueling demands that are so prevalent in entertainment, and the effects they bring to our young artists’ mental and emotional well being. After being exposed to these pressures, I became passionate about advocating for young performers and their mental well-being in an effort to create a safer, healthier environment for creatives. Professionally, one of my ongoing obstacles has been the resistance from many industry experts—labels, studios, management teams—who don’t yet recognize the value in preventative mental health care. They often say that they’ll reach out when there’s a problem, but I believe in the proven power of proactive support and resources. If we wait until a crisis hits, it is already too late. At that point, we are simply doing damage control, which is so much more invasive, high stakes, and difficult to manage. Preventative care could keep an artist grounded and resilient, reducing the risk of a crisis derailing their career and personal well-being. My goal is to change that mindset by advocating for a system that doesn’t just react to mental health issues, but rather actively works towards preventing them.

As you know, we’re big fans of Shading the Limelight. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
In early 2008, I founded Shading the Limelight offering mental health and wellness services and workshops, Soon after working with artists and bands in the music industry, I found myself on Disney Channel as well as Nickelodeon sets, assisting casts on team building, conflict resolution, and emotional regulation. I worked with several casts including Ant Farm, Austin and Ally, and Sonny with a Chance. My work involved integrating beneficial mental health practices as well as identifying the red flags before the need of intervention or crisis management, such as canceling shows, tours, or filming dates. To this day, I strongly advocate for preventative work, because it is not rocket science to prepare artists or entertainers for the high stress, demands, and general hacks for the industry. If the general public can predict and see the derailment of many public figures, how prepared are the managers, producers, publishers, and all on the creative team? Why do we wait for the downfall of public figures before providing help and resources? It’s time to discuss how to educate and support those in the creative and entertainment industries on preventative and proactive management. And yes, I was certain that if I started trailblazing the need for the integration of mental health and wellness, it would only positively impact my daughter as well as all who dreamed of sharing their talents and gifts with the world.

For over fifteen years, Shading the Limelight has pioneered the industry’s approach to preventive and proactive mental & emotional wellness. Our mission is to equip artists, entertainers, and industry professionals with the necessary resources, education, and skills to maintain emotional stability, prevent dysregulation & derailment, and manage the extreme highs and lows of the industry.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Podcasts:
Mayin Bialik’s Breakdown
Huberman Lab
Change Your Brain Everyday

Apps:
Calm
Headspace
Mindshift
MoodTools
Insight Timer

Books:
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself – Joe Dispenza
Flow – Mihaly Csikszentmikhalyi

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shadingthelimelight.com/
• Instagram: shadingthelimelight