Life & Work with Vanessa Carr of Metro-Detroit

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Carr

Hi Vanessa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
EARLY LIFE

I first stepped on stage when I was three years old as a dancer. Ballet. You always start with ballet. It’s where you learn the fundamentals of dance. My dancing passion only grew and expanded to tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern and pointe. My sisters and I have been dancing together at the same studio for 25+ years. It’s a blessing that we still do. Dance Class has been like a second home for us and continues to be a wonderful community. Our love of dance started with my mom. She was a professional dancer based in Greektown back in the day, it put her through college. We are grateful that the love of the craft was passed on to us.

For me, the joy of dance is as much about movement and expression as it is about performing for an audience. My passion comes from feeling the music and telling the story, whether it’s pain, joy, wonder, redemption… With that, the part of the dance season that has always driven me is the opportunity to get in front of an audience at the end of the year and share that passion with others.

From dancing, my parents started me in piano lessons at five. Once again, a hobby that all three of us sisters partook in. I will say, it was always a struggle to sit down and actually practice. All three of us experienced that struggle. I believe it was partly because of the music we were learning, songs like Ode to Joy, Für Elise, Minuet in G, The Great Smoky Mountains… Songs we didn’t listen to growing up and weren’t too familiar with outside of our lessons. We eventually made the switch and started learning music that we felt moved by: soundtracks from our favorite movies, Celine Dion songs, piano-heavy pop tunes…

It wasn’t until I was 12 that I started singing- which is pretty late in “the biz.” I was excited to enroll in a theatre class when I arrived to junior high because it was the first time – outside of dance- that I could be a part of a stage production. I looked forward to theatre class every day. In fact, it was the only class I looked forward to. Our group was to put on a show at the end of the semester: SchoolHouse Rock. Many members of the class got their own solo song to sing. My song was toward the end, called “Interjections!” Which, if you don’t know… “show excitement or emotion. They’re generally set apart from a sentence by an exclamation point, Or by a comma when the feeling’s not as strong.” Or at least that’s what the song says.

Anyway, I was delighted to sing my solo. I had always sung around the house when no one was around, and this would be my first time singing for an audience. Our opening night (and only night) came and I sang my part. Following the show, I met up with my family and my mom – who is a pretty straight shooter- says “You can sing! Do you want to take lessons?” I said, “Sure!”
Shortly after, I started lessons, sang in voice recitals and became a cantor at my church.

HIGH SCHOOL

When I got to high school, I was excited for musical theatre. Throughout my high school career, I was a member of Chorale (which is a fancy name for choir) and a cast member in numerous productions. Prestigious roles like Woman #3 in Annie, the Red Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, and a beauty school dropout in Grease were some of my crowning achievements. To close out my high school theatre career, I was proud to play the part of a blueberry named Violet Beauregard in Willy Wonka.

When mock elections came around during my senior year, I won “Most Likely to Win An Oscar.” I was shocked and flattered, but at the same time, I was surprised I didn’t go home with a tiny trophy with “Most Likely to Win American Idol” etched into the nameplate instead.

I would say I had a pretty successful high school career. Beyond theatre and choir, I was a part of other groups, as well. I was a member of SSP (Sophomore Senior Program) where we mentored younger students, the Spanish Honors Society (which continued my love for language and fueled the inclusion of multilingual songs in my repertoire), and a four-year-long Cross Country career that ended with the honor of being captain of the varsity team.

COLLEGE YEARS

When I graduated from high school, I had no idea what I wanted to pursue. To my parents’ delight, I knew I wanted to go to college- I just didn’t know what I wanted to study. In 7th grade I took a career test and the results came back as “Dancer.” Big surprise. That was a big leap (no pun-intended), though. So, to start, I took pre-requisite classes in the hopes of figuring out what I wanted to do along the way. No luck. There wasn’t a part of me that really liked business or wanted to go into the medical field or law or anything like that. I ended up settling on a degree in Communication with a minor in business. Also, in spite of being someone who has never liked school, I totally excelled in those classes.

During the first years of my college experience, I had a one-of-a-kind job. Many people don’t know this, but for a period of time I was called “Princess Vanessa.” Yes, it’s true. Haha. I had the honor of making little princesses and princes’ dreams come true when I hosted birthdays and tea at Tea Party Castle in Shelby Township. We offered a magical experience for little girls and boys right in metro-Detroit. These parties were filled with singing, dancing, a hair salon experience, fairy dust, royal ball gowns, manners and etiquette lessons, a fashion show, a parade and dreams. It truly was a rewarding experience. You could see the magic in the eyes of every child that celebrated with us. As a performer, it was a great experience, too. It helped with stamina, improv, and overall performance.

BREAKING INTO THE SCENE & EXPERIENCE

In 2013 there was a contest that came to Detroit called “National Singing Star.” I auditioned in the middle of Oakland Mall on a random day. I brought my mom – as I often do- and sang a song that I thought everyone wanted to hear. A familiar song. A pop song. Up until this point, I pretty much only sang Broadway showtunes. It was my favorite kind of music and what I was good at. However, not everyone is familiar with musicals. So I sang a song by Jewel called, “Foolish Games.” When I got off the platform (where Santa sits when he visits, no doubt), I was greeted by one of the producers of the contest (as well as future mentor and friend), Debi Lewin. She said, “this isn’t what you usually sing, is it?” She was a Broadway baby and could spot one from a mile away. She told me to do what I do best: Do Broadway. I later found out Debi was a Broadway manager and talent agent, among many other things.

I chose to sing pop from experience. I have done other small contests and events in the area and it was apparent that Broadway didn’t always resonate as I would have hoped. Anyway, I made it to the next round and decided to sing a Broadway tune. Then I made it to the next round and the next. This contest was partnered with Beaumont and Children’s Miracle Network and I managed to raise nearly $1,000 along the way, which I was proud of. I made it to the finals. That was exciting. This was the first time anyone, beyond my family and recital attendees, really heard me sing. Friends and family came to see me. Not only this, Martha Reeves was one of three judges! Another judge was a Barry Manilow impersonator (Frank Sternett).

The song I performed was from a musical called Sunset Boulevard: “As If We Never Said Goodbye.” An amazing song and a great metaphor for how I felt returning to Broadway music at that time. I was awarded first runner up in the competition. It felt good. I felt validated. It felt like the first real thing that I won because of my vocal talent. Part of the prize was getting to perform with Martha Reeves… which I will never forget. I was written up in a number of local papers, too.

Following the show, I was approached by “Barry Manilow,” who would give me my first taste of showbiz. He invited me to join him on his Michigan Christmas tour. I was absolutely delighted. I opened for him at places like Gino’s Surf and world-renowned Frankenmuth’s Bavarian Inn for “A Barry Merry Christmas.” These are memories I will never forget. From there, other opportunities arose. Most notably the chance to be a member of the Detroit Pistons House Band. Having an opportunity like this when I was just starting out was a dream come true. Outside of performing for fans at The Palace of Auburn Hills, we did weddings, restaurants, private events, etc. We had opportunities to travel to places like Aspen for New Years Eve and play for the Kennedys.

For a span of time, I was also a part of local theatre productions. I had the absolute pleasure of playing Fantine in Les Misérables, Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Cassandra in Cats, and Chiffon in Little Shop of Horrors. I was also a part of Phantom of the Opera adaptations. Roles like these really solidified my affection for the stage and theater.

I graduated from Oakland University in 2015 having no idea what I was going to do next. I attended networking events where I was eventually hired by a real estate investor to help with her many endeavors. She was great, driven. She knew exactly what she wanted – which was fun to witness as someone who was just beginning. From there, I entered a competition to become a social media brand ambassador for a credit union. It was a long but fun process that ended me in the top three finalists. While another contestant was ultimately chosen, it was a great learning experience.

In 2016, another opportunity came up to entertain the guests of a charity gala event. The Troy Community Coalition was having their yearly Celebrity Dinner Night and I was happy to offer my talents to the event and engage with my community. It was there that I met local celebrities like Former Oakland County Executive, L. Brooks Patterson, American Sports Commentator, Matt Dery, and the owner of the soon-to-be brand new ballpark (Jimmy John’s Field) in Utica, MI: Andy Appleby.

Later in 2016, I ran with the idea of brand ambassador and turned my efforts toward YouTube. I made weekly videos promoting the inaugural season of Jimmy John’s Field. Opening day at the ballpark was one of the biggest events in Macomb County history. Summers haven’t been the same since! I interviewed players, fans, and highlighted all the fun at the ballpark. In 2017, I was officially hired as the in-game host/Manager of marketing, promotions, and entertainment of the league. My focus eventually turned to video promotions and hiring of talent to entertain spectators at the ballpark. It was a one-of-a-kind experience that I’ve learned so much from.

Following that season, I was hired to work at headquarters for the credit union that I competed for back in 2015. It’s crazy how things come back around. My dad calls me “serendipity.” During this time, I was also a part time entertainer. When I was not at the office, I was doing private shows, festivals, Christmas parties, weddings, funerals, commercials, voiceovers, album recordings, etc. I also picked up a weekly gig at a local restaurant in Clinton Township called Luciano’s. I have been a part of a duo there since 2018. During these years, I sang the national anthem multiple times for the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, at races in the area, golf outings, political events, galas, and for my favorite event of all: the Detroit Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. Another out-of-the-box performance experience that I take great pride in is the production of my very own Christmas special: Christmas with The Carrs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-Y9QviRNTU). I produced, filmed, edited, and performed in a special that highlighted my family and our holiday traditions. It’s still on YouTube!

I learned so much in the office: things about promotions, design, marketing systems. However, I started to get the itch. I was never made for the office. I never wanted to work in an office. I wanted to leave and start performing full-time in 2020. Of course, that’s when the world shut down. The pandemic delayed my career transition until October of 2021. After a year and a half of patience, I took the leap in the fall of 2021. I left the security of my corporate position to do what I am best at, what I excel at.

There was a big change in roles going from employee to business owner. I jumped into the role of entrepreneur, and with that many titles: CEO, CMO, CFO, COO, administrative assistant, IT support, customer service, researcher, ENTERTAINER – you name it. However, when you know your craft and you’re passionate about it, it’s easy. Well, not easy. But you get it. I am very happy I made the switch. I truly feel grateful to have the career that I do and share my passion with others.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There are always ups and downs, no matter the path you take. I think the difference in “showbiz” is we tend to feel this more often. We receive 100 “Nos” for every one “Yes.” That’s just how it goes. I think I am used to it at this point. I was talking about this recently with a family member, actually. While it is considered a tough career path with a lot of setbacks, it just makes the “Yeses” that more exciting. You learn about yourself along the way, too. You become a better performer and businesswoman. You become a better person. So when the next opportunity comes up, you’re more prepared.

I auditioned to get into the Oakland University’s theatre program twice, American Idol twice, America’s Got Talent twice and The Voice once. I wasn’t accepted by any of these. Was I sad at the time? A little. Now? I wear it like a badge of honor. I have had the joy of making an impact wherever I am. I know my worth and my audiences know, too. I would say to keep moving forward. The bumps build character and continue to. Patience is key.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
While the voice is what propels my performances… Dance, storytelling and general audience engagement is just as much a part of what makes up my shows. When people ask what I do, I say “I’m an entertainer.” My goal is to deliver a first-class entertainment EXPERIENCE for the audience. It’s all about them. Part of that is carefully crafting the setlist with them in mind. I perform a variety of genres: Broadway (of course), but also jazz, opera, rock, Motown, international favorites, and more. I like to keep performances fresh for returning guests. I want my audience members to feel something- shift something inside of them. When I look out into the audience and see someone with tears in their eyes when I sing a ballad or someone else feeling moved enough to get up and dance, it fills my heart. It’s why we’re there! Often, when I meet and greet audience members after a show, someone will say, “you gave me goosebumps!” or “you brought back such memories” or “you don’t just sing, you entertain!”, then I know I’ve done my job.

As a full-time performer, I do roughly 300 performances a year. I entertain at every type of event from corporate gatherings, cocktail hours, bar/bat mitzvahs, dining entertainment, weddings, funerals, anthem and showroom performances, holiday events, Italian-based celebrations and community events like festivals, concert series, tree lightings and more.

However, the actual performance part of my profession is only 20% of what I do. When I am not on stage, the other 80% of my work is the business end: follow-up, graphic design, promotion, newsletter creation, business meetings, accounting, networking, strategy, learning new music, etc. Like any business. Luckily, the years I spent in marketing positions have provided me with skills that I use regularly “behind the scenes”.

In the last few years alone, I have opened for Las Vegas Showman, Frankie Scinta at the Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, performed for patrons of The Roxy in Rochester Hills, opened for The Jacksons at Detroit Music Weekend, launched a non-profit that helps Veterans, children and animals in need.

My latest project and career highlight is a music video I premiered in May of 2024. As a lover of Detroit, I stepped into the studio a few years back to record my rendition of the classic Berry Gordy anthem: “Hello Detroit.” This song was initially made popular by Sammy Davis Jr. in the 80s and I have always loved it. My mom was actually featured in the WDIV’s “Hello Detroit” commercial during the 80s. After I recorded the track, I took it to the streets! Jim Schmelzer (genius photographer and videographer) and I went to over 50 locations in downtown Detroit. We captured places like Belle Isle, Campus Martius, the DIA, Motown, Greektown, Mexican town, the Joe Louis Fist, etc. In May, I finally premiered the passion project at Aretha’s Jazz Café inside the Music Hall in downtown Detroit. This is a project I put my heart and soul into. I am so proud of it and excited to share it with others. The music video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng39XQWwtKI) is currently on YouTube and it is very impactful to see the beauty, energy, and spirit that is Detroit. The premiere was a concert event featuring myself accompanied by a group of fabulous musicians, which includes my wonderful music director and President of the Michigan Jazz Festival: Craig Strain. Since then, we have taken “Hello Detroit” on the road! The “Hello Detroit Tour” continues next month and we look forward to bringing the show to more audiences throughout 2025. Looking ahead this year, many fun and exciting things are coming up including the completion of my album for a possible release later this year.

I feel very fortunate to have connected with all the wonderful people that I’ve met along the way, both mentors and supporters. I am so deeply humbled and grateful for the people who have believed in my talent and have taken a chance on me. Without the support of all these wonderful individuals, I wouldn’t be where I am now. They’ve turned dreams into reality.

How do you think about luck?
I mentioned that my dad calls me “Serendipity.” I believe I have had luck on my side for many moments in my life. However, I believe it is largely in part to me making those moments happen. My favorite movie of all time is Titanic- original, right? One of the characters says, “I make my own luck.” And that’s what I think. However, don’t go watching the movie looking for that quote because the villain is the one that says the line. Haha.

Anyway, there are a few “lucky” (or more ironic) instances in my career that come to mind…

While I competed for that ambassador role at the credit union and didn’t get it, I ended up being offered a similar, more permanent position with more perks in that organization the following year.

After I met the baseball park CEO, Andy Appleby, at the non-profit gala where I performed, I spent the following summer making videos to promote the field. By the next season, I was hired by the league.

How about taking a chance back in 2012 and auditioning for a contest in the mall only to lose but be offered an opening spot in a “Barry Manilow” Christmas tour?

Another competition I did during that time was called WDIV Super Singer Contest. The winner got to sing at the Ford Fireworks show and sing the national anthem for the Detroit Turkey Trot before the parade on Thanksgiving morning. I auditioned twice, got nowhere twice and was finally called a couple years later to step in when they stopped doing the contest. I’ve been their anthem singer ever since.

Back to the ballpark, remember when I was hiring talent to perform for fans? Well, now I am the talent! I get to entertain baseball fans every summer for ballpark theme nights. On a side note, I also met my husband at the ballpark! He was a baseball player at the time and is now a Physician Assistant. We got married in October of 2023!

Lastly, one of my early anthem experiences was singing before a basketball game at my alma mater: OU. Following the anthem, I was walking off the court and was stopped by a tall, friendly man who shared his insight on the anthem. I made my way back to my seat and my dad said, “Do you know who that was? That’s Frank Beckmann!” Shortly after our initial meeting, I had the pleasure of singing the Star Spangled Banner on its 200th Anniversary on the Frank Beckmann Show. We remained friends for years until his passing in 2022.

Another example? This is a fun one. A personal anecdote. LIVE! With Kelly and Mark has had a trivia contest for years that allows the viewer to enter daily for the chance to be called and answer a question on air in the hopes of winning an all expenses paid vacation. Well, my family entered everyday and they called us quite often. Over the years, we’ve won five trips from this morning show. When friends and family found out they would say, “You’re so lucky!” Well yes, but we also entered the contest every day. We made our own luck.

I guess the lesson is to put yourself out there. Just do. Keep doing. Eventually the “luck” will come back to you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.VanessaCarrMusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessacarrmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VanessaCarrMusic
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-carr-510a1a90/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VanessaCarrMusic
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng39XQWwtKI

Image Credits
United Shore Professional Baseball League
The Parade Company/ Adrian Bradley
Jim Schmelzer
Chantia Bobo Harden