Cynthia Foote

An Interview With...

Cynthia Foote

Wardrobe Attendant
Avon Representative
Nevada, USA

What is your occupation and what do you do?

I am in charge of nine dancers out of the 47 in The Celine Dion Show. I help wash, steam, iron, and sew all the dancers' costumes in the show. Once the show starts, I help the nine dancers with fast changes they have during the show.

I also run my own Avon business. I sold over $10,000 in sales during my first year with Avon so now I am in the President's Club. I get more money and extra benefits.

What were your favorite subjects in school?

Art, dance and music. I have always loved to dance, draw, write in my journal, and play the recorder even though I am not that great at it. :) Those were the creative subjects in school. My dance teacher, Mrs. Bachelor, was great. She encouraged me to always do what makes you happy. My favorite memory is when I joined Ringling Bros. Circus. I was taught the Spanish Web which is an aerial act. I also got to ride the elephants. It was a blast!

What were your least favorite or most difficult subjects?

History! :) My dad would help me with homework. He got his BA in history so he always knew everything.

What job experience did you have prior to getting this job?

Here in Vegas it is all about who you know. After nine months of getting to know people with the right connections I landed one of the best paying jobs on the Las Vegas Strip. My background of doing wardrobe in shows for the past ten years helped. So did my level of patience and my easygoing attitude. In this business you have to have organizational skills, leadership qualities, and a fun personality.

Why did you decide to start your own business as an Avon representative?

With Avon, I saw an opportunity to start my own business for very little investment. So I can have something to fall back on when I retire from wardrobe. I love my Avon business. I set my own hours. I am the boss. It is easy to run my business. It practically runs itself. Patience, persistence, and focusing on your goals are the keys to make it a success. I recruit people to start their own Avon business as well. Anyone can start for $10. People can even start as young as 16!

What do you like best about your jobs?

I enjoy having fun. Both jobs really aren't like working. They are having fun with people. I have always enjoyed the entertainment world.

What did you want to become when you were a child?

A Dancer. I had a career as a dancer for a while. I worked at Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, and was in concerts with my college. I have done a little bit of everything from ballet to jazz to modern. However, my long-range plans didn't involve living on a dancer's salary with my parents for the rest of my life. I go out as much as I can and go dancing at clubs so I don't lose the love for it.

I had always known how to sew. My mom taught me when I was young. My college had a class that we had to help with an aspect of the theater. So I worked in the costume shop. So when the opportunity came for me to work for a touring company as a wardrobe supervisor I was ready to leave the dancing world.

What is your education background?

I have a BA in Dance from Cal State Fullerton. I wanted to go to Loyola Marymount because I felt their dance program was superior but the tuition was out of control expensive. Cal State Fullerton's program was average for average price.

When you were working towards your career in dance, what did you think you would like to do with that degree when you completed it? Has that education helped you in your career? If so, how?

I thought as long as I am dancing somewhere I will be happy. But then my love for money out weighed my love to dance and I started a career in wardrobe. So my education did help because I ended up becoming very handy around a sewing machine.

Have you met very many celebrities through your work?

Yes, Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka from Laverne and Shirley. Gladys Knight (who is super nice) and her brother Bubba Knight, from Gladys Knight and The Pips. They are both the sweetest people. Celine Dion is great! She is one of the most down to earth funniest people I have ever met. She treats all of us like her family!

Do you have any advice for students interested in careers in the entertainment industry?

If you have a passion for anything in the entertainment field try to picture what you want out of life. Do you want a house, an apartment and a family? Depending on how much you want from life, consider what your interested field of desire is and remember that the more skills and talents you have the more opportunities will unfold for you.

Do you have a favorite quote?

No, just a little story:

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer and he started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old man. He was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie.

He gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer.

Again, he smiled at him. The boy was delighted!

They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old man, and gave him a hug. He gave him his biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?"

"He replied, "I had lunch with God."

But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? He's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked, "Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?"

He replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God."

However, before his son responded, he added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally!

My friend sent me the story, I don't know who wrote it. I enjoyed reading it because it made me happy. It makes me realize not to take anyone for granted. It also makes me enjoy life to the fullest!

- 17 April 2004

Last Updated:
17 April 2004