Meet Kristina Guede | CEO – Creative Director – Performing Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristina Guede and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristina, how do you think about risk?
Oooh fun question! Starting our business, The Off Centered Project, was a risk for my partner, Tony, and I. We both quit our jobs and dove in head first. So I would say we started with risk. Though, in the arts, I feel like every decision we make is a risk. That could also be the imposter syndrome in my artist brain talking. lol.

We create the majority of our costumes and props in house so risk comes into play with every cut, weld, or line of glue, etc., we decide to place. Will our clients love it? Will it turn out how we envisioned? With event planning often the question is, can we get it done in time? Will it move right on our performing artists?

Not only does risk play a factor with our designs, we are circus performers, dancers, acrobats and more. What we DO is a risk. Every time I climb on my partners shoulders, stand up on stilts. every time an aerialist reaches for their apparatus, anytime an acrobat preps for a flip, each stretch is a risk, if done improperly. Your body and mind have to be in tune with one another. So risk is a word that is apart of our everyday lives here at TheOCP.

I have probably dealt with risk differently at various stages in my life. The more time I spend in the industry the more I learn we can’t stress about the unknown, to trust the vision and oneself, and it will turn out the way it’s supposed to. It took years to get there but it helps the stress levels. Risk is apart of life and we aren’t pushing our limits if we don’t take it from time to time.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We are The Off Centered Project. We create bespoke entertainment designs for events of all sizes. We are based in Atlanta but often provide our services across the southeast. We started out as just a duo, my partner Tony and I. We hopped and skipped about to event after event trying to build a name for ourselves. Eventually we added to our roster and started booking other artists. Then the designs came where we got to be more creative and we really started to put our own twists on things. We begin with a theme/color scheme/or message and send off entertainment and costume selections to our clients. From there we book our artists, and create the items that need to be made for the event. Day of, our makeup team transforms our artists into magical beings. We adorn the costumes and you will find acts such as aerialists, acrobats, stilt walkers, fire artists, showgirls, dancers, hoopers, jugglers cyr wheels, strolling tables, living decor, and more bringing events alive!

We put in a ton of work behind the scenes in order to set us apart from others. We create most of our costumes and props from scratch, we have a close knit team that is the epitome of professional, and we love what we do. Our admin team is our performance team, is our design team, etc. We are all hands on deck. Our team has worked in many facets of our industry for many years. For some, this is how we plan to retire and keep creating after our bodies tell us we can’t perform anymore. haha. Our goal is to provide a healthy environment where artist’s can thrive. One day we hope to have signed artists exclusively with TheOCP offering benefits such as healthcare and beyond.

What lessons have I learned along the way? To hold tight to your morals and values. Speaking up and explaining things to clients that don’t fully understand your brand is ok and is actually beneficial to not set yourself up for failure. Ask for help and allow people to help you finish projects. Don’t stay up all night working on things, it does no one any good. LOL. Being reliable is half of your success, as is having open communications. Treating people with respect goes along way. Do what you say, say what you mean. Be on time. Those lessons are why I’m no longer a “starving artist”.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Food is one of my favorite things so I would take them to places like Deer and the Dove, Miller Union, Buttermilk Cafe, Grant Park Market, and Nuevo Laredo Cantina. We’d walk the Beltline. Hike Sweetwater Creek State Park. If they’ve never been to Atlanta we would likely go to the Georgia Aquarium as we provide entertainment there and we adore them. While we were there we’d likely walk through Centennial Olympic Park for a moment of fresh air. The Atlanta Botanical Gardens is a must. It’s a very spacial place within the city. Then I would look for some local events to check out, shows to see, local markets to visit, etc. For drinks it’s EAV for me. Flat Iron is a staple, as is Bookhouse (not in EAV). We recently went to Your Third Spot and had a blast, that would be an option. SCAD Fashion Museum is always dreamy too.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I started my life in dance and ended up with a serious love and passion for ballet specifically. My teachers played a big part of my creative drive growing up and still do. I have had amazing coaches throughout the years that have inspired me and guided me along my path. Rebecca Von Rathonyi, Julie Lee Hoffman, Erich Yetter, Carol Szkutek and Elizabeth Davidovich, just to name a few along with the countless of circus performers I’ve trained with through the years.

I also must give a shoutout to Le Fashion Lab, owned by Nicola Watson. I am a fit model for her fashion design school and the tips and tricks I have received from Nicola and Marva while modeling on-site have been invaluable to me and my sewing. I always keep my ears open and absorb the knowledge the teachers drop there. Their students are very lucky. I hope to take their courses one day.

Mom and my late Grandmother will always get a shoutout. I was homeschooled in high school to dance extra. My mom was a single mom who took me to my Grams’ house before work, where my ballet teachers would pick me up, and they always encouraged me to keep going. They never missed a single performance and my mom is still actively involved with what we do. My mom taught me to sew and helps me on the phone when I get stuck on a project. haha. She even helps me sew for events when she comes to visit. I don’t know how far I would have gotten without their encouragement.

And then there is Tony. He is my business, performance, and life partner. He is here for every up and down, every late night and early morning, every event setup and tear down. He’s there through the triumphs and the turbulence. He is my rock and I am beyond grateful I get to share my life, and passions, with him day in and day out.

Website: www.TheOffCenteredProject.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/TheOffCenteredProject

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheOffCenteredProject

Other: www.instagram.com/TattooedShowgirl

Image Credits
Christy Parry Photography (majority) Hugger Mugger Media (swing dance lift in red/white) Anna and Spencer Photography (gold/black champagne skirt)