1. For readers who may be discovering you for the first time, can you introduce yourself and share what first inspired you to pursue acting and performing?
Wa-bam! Ok, now that I have your attention. I got into acting and performing because I craved the spotlight. No real surprise there to those who’ve met me. Where others may get great feelings of affection, attention, belonging just from being their true authentic self and being loved for it, I had a hard time finding the same, or at least recognizing it. The theater was one place where I felt encouraged and appreciated. I needed to be taken under the wing of someone who could guide me and make me feel great about myself and my abilities. Theater directors mostly did that for me. While self-love is still something I work on today, feeling understood and enjoyed by my peers as I performed on stage gave me that initial bug I knew I couldn’t live without.
My first true role was as a young George M. Cohan in my middle school’s play of George M. I was wildly nervous from audition, to casting announcement, to final show but that experience put me on a path I didn’t want to stray from.
2. You have experience in theater, improv, television, film, and commercials. How has each of these different mediums helped shape you as a performer?
Everything I do has helped build upon itself. When I was younger, I’d do a heavy drama and my body would crave a light farce. I felt like it would just go back and forth and didn’t know there was more to life than just the yearly whiplash of emotions. Now, I have learned to perform in kids parties, improv, stand-up, dramas, comedies, in a multitude of mediums. I can use and build upon my skills. Something theater professors and teachers would impart in us is, “Get out there and experience life”. Never has that been truer the older I get. I’m able to leave performing and come back with a richer understanding of what they meant.
3. You made national headlines as Los Angeles’s most stylish Uber and Lyft driver and have appeared on Good Morning America. What was that experience like, and how did it impact your career?
For years, being the Dapper Dryver had become a nickname and calling card. I would be hired to drive people to and from as a makeshift taxi driver. I would also use that fun experience as a way to impart a fun memory into people’s brains. “Oh, he’s the fancy tuxedo driver guy”. It helped be memorable in interviews, ice breakers, and auditions. People would reach out to me to collaborate on projects. It all can help. The Good Morning America stint was an awesome and humbling experience. My car was the only thing that made the final cut off the editing room floor -Famous car! …but the interview with free pizza, coffee, and spa treatments were fun! The executive producer of that Academy Awards segment for ABC News gave Mark Teschner, the famous casting director my headshot and he put me on General Hospital. A major kindness, I’m still grateful.
4. From Victorious to national commercials for brands like Wonderful Pistachios, Dave, and EZ Cater, which project has been the most memorable for you and why?
They’ve all been memorable. Sometimes for the fun. Sometimes for the stresses. But always for the good. Working with Ariana Grande and the whole cast of Victorious was a delight. During one scene on set, I made the choice that my character would laugh hysterically, in silence. The other actors could not stop looking over and laughing. The director had to get involved and lightly scold them into “being professional”. Ariana, then came over and told me I was a really good actor. I was floored, scared of not knowing what to say other than “Thanks”, and grateful to her for her kindness. I intended on my choice being so strong it would infect the others into laughing. I took their laughter as a major compliment to begin with since it was my choice. I am nonetheless grateful for Ms. Grande for her kind words.
5. Improv seems to play a major role in your career. How has improvisation influenced your confidence, creativity, and approach to acting?
I love improv! It’s a form of play. It builds confidence, social intelligence, the ability to handle pressure, resilience, quick thinking, and it teaches you to gamify and find the fun in social situations. It’s a form of social play that has real-world applications in everyday life as well as, and of course with performance. When led with kindness, it’s community-building, inclusive, joyous, and hilarious or deep, or both!
With great instructors, improv has helped with character creation, writing, listening “like a paranoid” (Bill Chott), “finding the fun” and asking “what is this scene really about?” (Jay Sukow”)
6. As a host at the world-famous Magic Castle, you’ve entertained both celebrities and magic enthusiasts. What are some of your favorite memories from that experience
I got to basically put on a show multiple times a night for everyone who walked through those doors. I had my own stand-up routine informing audiences of the house rules and emergency procedures while introducing the audience to the magician in a fun way. People would be coming up to me afterwards asking for “my premium grade high-fives”. I was thrilled to give those “[Premiums]!” after the show!
Working Kevin Feige’s 50th birthday at the Castle was a highlight. He had many celebrity friends and colleagues. I got to meet several of the Marvel movie directors. Director of Ant-Man, Peyton Reed, was delightful. As was Ke Huy Quan, who had just won his Oscar days before the event.
It’s cool and all, meeting celebrities, but it’s not so important as the meaningful impacts I’ve made and have shared with so many of the wonderful members, guests, and colleagues during my 2.5 years there.
7. Beyond entertainment, you’re passionate about protecting the environment, helping animals, and giving back to your community. Why are those causes so important to you?
Simply, I wouldn’t want to be eaten. Numerous studies have come out on animal intelligence, yet we don’t need to read a study to see firsthand how emotional and social pets and animals can be. Pain hurts. Fear hurts. I don’t like it. I put myself in their shoes, I’m certain they don’t like it either, whether they wear shoes or not. It is far easier today to take steps to minimize the harm I cause sentient creatures with regard to my individual food choices, sources, and activities than it has been just a few years ago, so I try. I recognize sentience is a spectrum and heavily debated. I can get into where I draw my lines another time.
Along the same line I recently donated a box of a dozen shoes to the downtown LA women’s shelter. One company I had been working with was looking to get rid of the shoes since they weren’t selling. I was able to take the unsold shoes there. They were pretty wedges. I hope women who fit those sizes and liked them were able to feel dignified and proud to wear them. I’ve luckily never been homeless but I imagine it’s hard to feel confident and at your best when you don’t have access or resources to uplift yourself. If I had more, I’d donate again.
8. Every creative journey comes with challenges. What has been one of the biggest obstacles you’ve faced in your career, and what helped you push through it?
The biggest obstacles I face as a performer are self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and drive. I am easily persuaded by what’s convenient and safe in the short-term. I’ve had to reinvent myself numerous times, as an actor, performer, and independent contractor. Thinking less and doing more has been a balance of safety and pro-activity. Balancing work-life, finances, mental health, creativity, physical health, and relationships is not always easy. Being between jobs is freeing and also hard.
9. What advice would you give to aspiring actors and performers who are trying to break into the entertainment industry while staying true to themselves?
Well first, I’d say, If performing is something fun for you on the side, perfect. If it’s something you want to commit to, figure out how not to burn yourself out while working your butt off. You’ll find so many people are not just acting and performing but doing the equally hard work of managing their social appearance and business. Learn to talk about yourself in a way that sounds fun, exciting, and always moving forward. Auditioning? Talk about it. Writing? Talk about it. Just don’t give it all away until it’s done or the passion will fade as if you already did the thing before it’s done- a lethal sentence to project creation. I say “talk about it” for marketing yourself to others who may want to collaborate with you. Not for “hey, look at me”. I mean you can do both, if the project is done and you’re using it to get a job or bring people into your next thing. Also, helping others helps yourself. This one has been therapeutic, socially rewarding, but may require more energy. Like with anything we do. We are creatures of habit. The more time we spend on something the easier it will be to keep doing it.
10. Looking ahead, what exciting projects, goals, or dreams are you currently working toward, and where can fans keep up with everything you have coming next?
I have been pinned for a brand new play involving magic, spirits, and the theater. Possibly in time for this Halloween. A brilliantly crafted piece but I don’t think I’m allowed to say more on it than that yet.
Stay tuned and up to date on this and more, with me @aaronstallofficial on Instagram
Thanks for the great questions, and to you all for reading!
