Viveca Chow

Viveca Chow is a Performer and NYC Lifestyle Expert who rewrote Hong Kong’s history. She was the first Hong Kong born and raised Broadway musical performer, achieving her lifelong dream at the age of 22.

Viveca’s storytelling skills have translated beyond the stage and screen. With more than 100 million views and counting alongside a combined audience of 246k followers, she has merged her Performer identity with her Social Media platforms. She now also creates bite-sized videos to change small local businesses’ lives, amplify Chinatown and empower New Yorkers to live their life to the fullest in their own city.

Viveca’s most recent prestigious theatre credits include Miss Saigon (Broadway Revival) and Farewell My Concubine (with Jason Robert Brown). Other television and film credits include: The Country Club (starring Elaine Hendrix), Exception(al) (directed by Michelle Bossy), The Other Two (Max), Dear Edward (Apple TV+) and Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (Netflix). She also was chosen out of 20,000 actors to be a part of one of the most competitive industry showcases in the world, the 2022 Disney Television Discovers: Talent Showcase.

Viveca is passionate about cultivating a community rooted in creativity, positivity and adventure.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

The exciting thing is that my typical day always looks a little different! As a performer, I am a storyteller at heart, so everything I do ties back to that no matter what medium it is through. It ranges from auditioning to researching to creating. When I have a lot to accomplish, my productivity comes from writing down a to-do list so I don’t get overwhelmed. Checking the little goals off throughout the day feel so good.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Scripts, storyboards and shot lists! Since I thrive on visuals, I have to be able to envision it on paper before I execute it. Putting everything on paper makes it more tangible and realistic, holding me accountable to bring the idea to life.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I love the buzz surrounding just being who you are and staying true to yourself. With the online space being so accessible, it’s so liberating to be able to see what others feel empowered to share. People take their experiences and stories online, and in turn this makes so many others feel seen and heard.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

I try not to let myself get distracted. If I’m working, I personally don’t play music or turn on my TV on in the background. I have to be able to hone into my thoughts and articulate them!

What advice would you give your younger self?

I love this question so much. I would tell my younger self that: A flower doesn’t compete to the flower next to it, it just blooms.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.

I truly believe that there are parallel lives and universes. I am convinced that the way to access those other versions of yourself is through your dreams. Otherwise tell me why my dreams are SO vivid and realistic?! No one believes me!

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

One thing that recharges me throughout the day is giving my dog or my boyfriend a 30 second hug. It’s been scientifically proven that oxytocin (the love hormone) releases with contact over 30 seconds and leads to mood boosting! So if you are able to do so, definitely make this a habit.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

I clean, take a hot shower and light a candle. I find that your environment has to do a lot with how you’re feeling inside and when I’m overwhelmed, I find that my apartment is usually messy. Scent therapy is also really helpful. I love citrus scents, they always make me feel more optimistic. Hot showers activate deep breathing and breathing in steam is just glorious. The reason I do these things is because your external environment can help me ground myself.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

I always approach networking in the same way how I would make a friend. There were so many times when I was younger that I would make the mistake of going into full ‘pitch’ mode when meeting potential collaborators. Now, instead of telling them what I’m looking for or my work-related goals or focusing on how they can help me, I ask about their interests, hobbies and lifestyle. I really try to get to know them first. I feel like if you have mutual fondness of each other as human beings, a healthy work relationship will always follow in the best way possible.

What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

Oooh boy. One failure in my career is not knowing how to say NO! When I first started out, I had unbearable people pleasing tendencies. This manifested into my auditions as well. I was so scared of disappointing my agents if I wanted to pass on something because I didn’t feel comfortable going to that audition. The breaking point came when I showed up to a tap audition with a choreographer that was famous for having the hardest choreography out of all the Broadway shows. I had very minimal tapping experience but I still showed up. I shouldn’t have gone at all because of course in the end, I made a fool out of myself. So now I say no if I can’t put my best foot forward.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Make your expertise into a downloadable bite sized course. It could even be a PDF you sell on Etsy or Amazon. Your knowledge is power and passive income is wonderful. If you don’t feel “qualified” enough, a dear friend once told me–you will always know more than someone out there.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

Notion is what I will swear by until the day I die. I love how integrative it is. I can upload files and contracts, hyperlink certain things, take notes and categorize everything by project. Everything is in one place.

What is the best $100 you recently spent?

Best $100 I recently spent was a matching robe set with my dog. Why? Because we should always invest in anything that makes us smile if we are able to do so! Professionally, I invested in a PR coach. This was a lot more than $100, but best investment I’ve made all year. I love acquiring new skills that help me level up in my professional career.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?

I will say “Pitchin’ and Sippin’ with Lexie Smith” is one of the best podcasts out there if you’re looking for any PR advice for your personal brand or business. Seriously such a valuable and FREE resource!

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

I am currently watching The Morning Show. I love watching TV shows that have something to say about the world and dissect humanity in an intricate way. Paired with brilliant acting, writing and cinematography, this is definitely one of my favourites so far.

Key learnings:

• It feels so freeing to be able to vulnerably and transparently share your life journey.
• Everything is learning process. One thing will always lead to another and everyone starts from 0.
• Finding ways to make everything work for you is really important in growth.
• To be able to accomplish something, rest and your connection to the world around you is just as important.