Meet Melodie Bobbitt

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melodie Bobbitt.

Hi Melodie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My love for pageantry began as a little girl when I excitedly enjoyed watching any nationally televised pageant. As a young child, I was more of a spectator as I only competed in one middle school and three high school pageants. It was in my sophomore year of college that I took more of a competitive plunge. I competed in the Miss Alabama America system for four years during which I learned invaluable lessons from family, friends, local directors and fellow contestants. There was tremendous growth in how well I knew myself and understood my impact on society. Community service was my favorite as I worked to bring music and music lessons to those who would not otherwise have the opportunity. I was asked to be a local director soon after I finished competing. Thus began my journey of serving as a director, mentor and friend to the winners I was blessed to have. For fourteen years I directed a local pageant, Miss Jefferson County, in Alabama, and then I moved to North Carolina where I started Autumn Eve Productions. My years of competing and directing prior to beginning my business were an amazing source of knowledge and guidance to provide the foundation needed to embark on my own.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Every story to me has triumphs along with bumps in the road that help us to learn and grow so that we can draw closer to our true potential. When I began Autumn Eve Productions, I knew no one in pageantry in the state of North Carolina. Needless to say, I had some work to do; so I started calling and visiting pretty much anyone who was willing to have a conversation with me. I even offered to bring coffee to a possible sponsor if she would meet with me (she agreed). Many of those I reached out to were extremely receptive and supportive and have continued as sponsors and friends each year. I would love for you to take time to visit our sponsor page on the website and check out each of them. These sponsors also gave, and continue to give, incredibly valuable advice, along with helping to get the word out to potential contestants to let them know of the opportunity through participating in events with Autumn Eve Productions.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a teacher to the core. Truly, that is the most concise summary of what I do, but here is a little more detail to let you see just how true that statement is. My work with Autumn Eve Productions is a part time passion that I enjoy immensely, mainly due to the teaching and guiding nature that naturally fits with being a director. My full time calling in life is as a private piano instructor. I have been teaching piano for twenty-nine years, beginning with my first piano student when I was only eighteen years old. Piano was a constant love and source of inspiration throughout my life starting when I was six years old taking my first piano lesson. I have three degrees in piano performance (bachelors, masters and doctorate) that provided me the opportunity to grow with my own skills which I was then able to apply to my teaching. Private piano teaching has been the bulk of what I do, but I have also taught precollege group music theory classes and camps and collegiate piano pedagogy and class piano courses. The favorite for me has always been in the private lesson setting and is what I continue to do today. Through instructing my private lesson students and directing with Autumn Eve Productions, I am given the chance to keep learning and growing and to take so many lessons away from my students and winners that I have the honor with which to work. We can truly gain a positive take away from everything.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
There have been and still are mentors, supporters and cheerleaders in every aspect of my life. I would not be where I am and who I am today without them. Throughout my time competing in pageants, I had amazing local directors who guided and molded me. Once I became a director, the local directors I was blessed to have in being their winner, plus other directors I had become close friends with, continued to support and cheer me on. I had so many questions being on the other side, and they were always available for a call. Many would come to help me during the events. Amazing friends and family were continuously there to encourage with my parents being the ultimate constant, willing to do anything they could to help. My friends in North Carolina have been extremely loyal to support and cheer during the entire year in planning for the production to working with the winners as they prepare for the state pageant. I take none of them for granted and am forever grateful for their support.

Pricing:

• Crown Sponsorship: $150
• Banner Sponsorship: $150
• Fitness/Gown Award Sponsorship: $100
• Community Service Award Sponsorship: $150

Contact Info:

• Website: www.autumneveproductions.com
• Instagram: autumneveproductions
• Facebook: Autumne Eve Productions

Image Credits
Pemberley Photographics