We recently connected with Oscar Alexander Javier and have shared our conversation below.

Oscar Alexander , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

It was a Friday night and it was the end of the fall semester. I had just done my finals presentation earlier and now I was headed to work. I worked from 3 PM to 1 in the morning as a barback/busser. I was so tired I fell asleep on both trains I needed to take home and missed my stops. I finally made it home around 3 AM. I remember thinking to myself how much more time I’d have and how much easier life could be if I just stuck to a job and climbed the corporate ladder. Instead of working full time, studying, and pursuing acting I could just be working full time and make a decent living. Those kinds of thoughts come up all the time and every time I get to the same conclusion. Happiness. Simply put, I wouldn’t be happy. Sure I could make decent money and alleviate financial worries, but it’s all empty to me. I’d spend the rest of my life trying to fill that emptiness with anything I could find. That version of me isn’t nearly as happy as the current me. I might be running on one hour of sleep but at least I’m pursuing the things that I love. There is no better feeling than performing and entertaining an audience. Bringing them an experience where they forget the rest of the world for an hour or two. Whether that be acting in a theater or making music in a small jazz venue. I can guarantee most ,if not all artists/creatives have had stories and thoughts just like this. It feels almost like a rite of passage. If you’ve found yourself asking the question “Is this worth it?”, just know you’re not alone and most likely on the right track!

Oscar Alexander , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I got introduced into this creative world at a young age through a relic of a game now. Band Hero. My dad bought us a Band Hero set for Christmas. Since I was the youngest sibling I got last pick for which instrument I wanted and got stuck with the drum set. From that moment I fell in love with music. Eventually my parents bought me a real drum set. It seems silly but my first ever performance was in 5th grade at the school talent show. I played my first ever song, Eye of the Tiger. I ended up winning third place! A trophy I still have with me today. As I grew my love for music grew as well. I spent my teen and high school years focusing on honing my skills, joining marching bands, jazz bands, latin bands, and every other music elective possible at my school. The seed for my love of acting was planted during a school musical. I was playing for the musical pit of my school’s production of Mamma Mia! As I watched their rehearsals I become more and more interested. I then began skipping class just to sit in during the theater classes and even do assignments. I eventually graduated high school and went on to pursue a Bachelor’s in Music Performance with a concentration in Jazz. The Pandemic in 2020 altered the course of a lot of people’s lives, including myself. With virtual classes, I couldn’t justify to myself paying tuition to staring at a screen. I didn’t return after the first semester. I spent the next two years working jobs until I could find solid ground. I eventually signed up for a 3 week stunt workshop in Seattle, Washington in 2022. That experience reignited my curiosity about acting. After coming back home I applied and auditioned to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, a decision I will forever be grateful for. I was accepted and began my journey of becoming an Actor! If I could impart any advice to anyone, it would be to keep believing and trusting in yourself. No matter how far it feels you’ve strayed.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most recent show I was a part of was called “Waiting for Lefty”. I was on stage playing live music throughout the play. The house was packed on opening night and a lot of people enjoyed the show. That wasn’t the most rewarding part though. An older gentleman walked up to me after the show and started talking to me about the way I was playing the drums. He proceeded to tell me that the way I played in a certain part of the story reminded him of when he used to play drums in his younger years. His face lit up as we talked about it and exchanged ideas and stories of our time playing. Moments like that. Those moments are the most rewarding aspect of being a creative.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

My biggest issue with the current support artists and creatives receive is in the education system. In my experience whenever there are budgeting cuts or any redistribution of money in the Board of Education, the Performing Arts are given the very very short end of the stick. I think as a society we have to put as much focus into these creative mediums as we do in high school sports. Maybe the discipline of learning an instrument, learning to sing, or learning to act isn’t as physically demanding as football, soccer, etc. but that doesn’t make it any less valuable as a skill or hobby. I think if public schools were just as invested in the Arts as they are in Sports, school will become an overall healthier and welcoming environment for students and aspiring creatives!jk

Contact Info:

• Instagram: oscaralexanderjavier

Image Credits

Bronwen Sharp
Bianca Victoria