Meet Alicia Harrington and Nicolette Peloquin, Co-Founders of The Prep Talk!
A friendship turned partnership. Learn more about how they help our community reach their goals!
For this week’s MTP interview exclusive we are featuring…
Alicia Harrington and Nicolette Peloquin, Co-Founders of The Prep Talk
1. What is The Prep Talk and what was the initial inspiration behind creating it? What made you two want to go into business together?
We met in 2018 when we were auditioning for the Patriots Cheerleaders. A mutual friend actually introduced us to each other prior to tryouts because she thought we would get along. That year we both made the team as rookies and since then have been inseparable. Being a part of the NEPC team for 2 seasons together brought us so close through all the experiences we shared.
When we both decided to “hang up our poms” in 2020, people were reaching out to us for advice for the upcoming NEPC audition and we loved it!
In 2021, we both realized how much of a need there was in the industry for coaching both men and women in other areas of the audition process then just dance. So we started The Prep Talk with the intention to focus on the whole package of the audition candidate. From what to wear and how to present yourself, to resume and application help and even interview preparation we knew there was a need for this. The Prep Talk is a personal branding and development company that brings the best you to life on paper and in person!
2. What influenced each of you to first get into the pro cheer and dance world? Tell us more about each of your backgrounds!
We both have somewhat similar backgrounds prior to becoming NFL cheerleaders! We both grew up cheerleading at an All-star level in MA and were fortunate enough to attend some of the best/highest level of competitions. Being young cheerleaders in New England, it was always a dream for us to be New England Patriots Cheerleaders. We looked up to the women representing the organization as role models when we were younger.
Nicolette cheered in college and shortly after pursued pageants and won Miss Rhode Island in 2017, which brought her so many amazing opportunities within the pageant world and in the community. The skills she utilized and learned as her time representing RI and at Miss America really translated into being a professional cheerleader which encouraged her to pursue her dream of becoming a Patriots Cheerleader!
Instead of cheering in college, Alicia decided to coach for a youth cheerleading program. This allowed her to stay connect within the cheerleading world while she was heavily invested in a doctorate of physical therapy program at her university. Her time coaching a sport she was passionate about, encouraged her to audition for the Patriots to be a role model for so many other young girls and give back to the community!
3. What was your experience like cheering in the NFL? Is that something you always dreamed of for yourselves? What kind of work ethic / preparation did it take for you both to get to that level?
Cheering in the NFL, and in our bias opinion, for the best team in the NFL, was truly a dream come true. We were fortunate enough our Rookie season to attend SBLIII and win!
We had some amazing opportunities with the organization traveling to represent the Patriots as well as a huge impact within the New England community.
We both auditioned for the New England Patriots Cheerleaders 3 times before we made the team. Auditioning for any Pro Cheer team is super competitive and takes a lot of dedication and drive.
Leading up to auditions we both worked hard on our physical fitness, mental health, personal brand and interview skills. I (Alicia) remember going out to lunch and dinners with my mom bringing flash cards making her ask me questions while we waited for our meals to come to the table. It was a part time job preparing for auditions, but we didn’t mind it because the skills you work on for auditions are skills you can utilize in everyday life and overall make you a better, more confident person.
4. What kind of impact have you seen The Prep Talk make in the lives of other dancers? How do you hope it continues to evolve over time?
In just 2 years we have worked with a countless amount of men and women all over the country! We have made an impact within the dance/cheer community by helping men and women find their confidence and showcase their true self. The beauty of working with us is that the skills you learn and practice carry over to everyday life as an individual and profession. As we continue to grow we would like to continue to build a positive and supportive community for aspiring and current professional dancers.
5. What is your best piece of advice for a dancer trying to achieve their dreams of getting on a team? Is that piece of advice any different than the advice you'd give for dancers who are trying to level up each year as they try to stay on their respective team?
From Nicolette: Other than putting your blinders on and not comparing yourself, be coachable and open to feedback. They’re not looking for people who are perfect at auditions, they want hard workers who are open to learning their ways!
From Alicia: The work is always worth it. Put in the work to prepare yourself for your audition, whether you make the team or not you’re gaining something from this process!
HUGE thank you to Alicia and Nicolette for taking time out of their busy schedule to share with the MTP fam! I hope you feel encouraged by their journey’s and realize that the extra prep / work is worth it to make your dream team!
To connect with them - see the below for more information!
Email: contactthepreptalk@gmail.com
Website: thepreptalk.com
IG: @thepreptalk_
If someone wants to work with us they can contact us via IG @thepreptalk_ or email contactthepreptalk@gmail.com. They can also go to the link in our IG bio to schedule a free 15 min consult!
There are 2 main ways to work with us!
Our Online Ecourses- This is a budget friendly options of courses we put together to guide clients in the right direction on topics such as Resume, Cover letter, Application Building, Interview Preparation, Media Training, Makeup Application. https://thepreptalk.retrieve.com/store/#/
1:1 Session- This is a more individualized approach working directly with us to help prep for auditions. This is our more popular option. https://calendly.com/thepreptalk