Jeleesa Bailey didn’t set out to become a content creator. But in promoting her own work as a musician and actor, she discovered she had a knack for it.
“I have to promote myself as an actress and independent artist,” she said. “So I had content from my work. After that, my interests grew, and it made it easier for me to make videos about stuff I cared about.”
That passion for creative expression now fuels everything she does—from music and acting clips to talking about the video games she loves. And Backstage has become one of her key tools for building a portfolio, booking gigs, and making lasting connections.
A career that crosses genres
Bailey started out writing and performing music, and later expanded into acting and modeling. Along the way, she began picking up content creation work through Backstage—often while browsing listings for acting and modeling gigs.
One standout booking was a role as a children’s therapist for a commercial shoot with Hopebridge, an autism center in Chandler, Arizona, something she described as a breakthrough moment.
Another unexpected highlight: writing social media content for the Breaking News web series by The Collective.
“It was a great experience.”
More than just jobs
For Bailey, Backstage has been more than just a platform for bookings—it’s been a place to grow her professional network and gain credibility. Through one of her gigs, she connected with an agent and forged a creative friendship with rapper, actress, and director Deaundra Brown, who runs her own production company in Arizona.
She also keeps her Backstage profile updated to showcase her range and build trust with casting teams and collaborators.
“I use my profile to show my credibility.”
Advice from experience
Bailey has learned firsthand that content creation takes real consistency and effort.
“Now I see how hard it can be to put out content regularly.”
Her advice to aspiring creators? Keep it natural, lean into your acting skills, and make your setup count.
“Being able to show that you can be natural in front of a camera,” she said. “Acting skills are important as well. [And] having great lighting when you’re speaking your lines.”
To stand out in applications, she recommends a video intro that’s short, personal, and role-specific.
“Use a video introducing yourself—your name, location—and have something prepared to act out pertaining to the role.”
Ready to follow in Bailey’s footsteps?
Start building your creative career on Backstage today.
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