Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Krystina Bailey Brawer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Krystina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
I came up with the idea for my book, “Actors! What You Need to Know Before Moving to LA,” because, as an actor I didn’t have a blueprint to follow for my creative process. The more I immersed myself in the knowledge of what it took to be an actor in Los Angeles, the more I found people reaching out to me about my success. Somehow I became that “expert” that I wish I once had for myself.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, I knew it was time to write my book. It took about a year to write, rewrite, edit, and proofread the manuscript. I wanted to make sure my points were clear and valid and revealed what I did to get to where I’ve gotten in my career. I wanted to declare that it’s not always an easy path to follow, but if you persist, work hard, and never give up, you will receive your opportunities.
The reality is that there is no one path to success as an actor because everyone’s journey is unique. That being said, my book does offer actors advice, tips and tricks, and encouragement to navigate actors careers.
Krystina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
For those who don’t know me, my name is Krystina Bailey Brawer, and I’m an actor and author. I fell in love with performing at the tender age of seven, when I began acting in church plays. My love of storytelling continued into young adulthood, when I decided to major in theater in college. After graduating, I had to figure out how to turn this dream of mine into a career. I began reading articles and watching videos, trying to understand how my predecessors had done it. I tried things that worked and others that didn’t. I decided to move to Los Angeles and quickly learned that the term “overnight success” only applied to a handful of people. When I did excel in my career, I would share the news with my peers. When I failed in my endeavors, I would also share that. I think that is what makes me so successful; my transparency. I’m not afraid to be honest about my failures and shortcomings as well as my achievements. There’s something about that honesty that people love. I’m the real deal.
I have been on television shows such as “The L Word: Generation Q” on Showtime, “Blue Bloods” on CBS, and Jordan Peele’s “Weird City” on YouTube Premium. I’ve shot major advertising campaigns for “Ancestry” and “Mineral Air” makeup. I’ve walked major red carpets for shows and charity events such as the “Face Forward Gala” and “Don’t Make Me Go” Los Angeles premiere. I’ve been featured in seven independent films, one of which I co-produced in 2018, which won the “Award of Recognition” in the “Accolade Global Film Competition” for “ Web Tube Length Video,” and, in the same year, won a “Special Mention” award for the “One-Reeler Short Film Competition.” In 2017, I was nominated for “Best Playwright for a Short Subject” in the Midtown International Theater Festival for the first play I wrote, “Showtime.”
One of the things I’m most proud of is the success of my book “Actors! What You Need to Know Before Moving to LA.” What started off as a need turned into a desire for so many people like myself. I want my readers to know that you can follow your dreams and reap the benefits of doing so. Pick up a copy of my 5×8 book to learn more about what you can do to get ahead in your acting career!
How did you build your audience on social media?
I built my audience on social media by posting a lot. Like, a lot! A lot! Honestly, that’s part of how I got my book to reach number one in the New Release division in the Performing Arts category on Amazon in its first week of selling. I got people excited for the launch of the book, and timed that to coincide with the airing of my episode on “The L Word: Generation Q” on Showtime.
I also do a lot of Instagram stories when I’m at events or just being social. I’ve recently gotten into the Reels feature on Instagram that puts a collection of photos and footage into a mini video. It makes for a nice scrapbook when I’m on a vacation and want to post several photos at once. I’m also active on Facebook because that’s where a lot of my family and friends are, folks who have known me since I was young and want to stay up to date on what I’m doing.
Adding hashtags is also a great way to build your social media audience: it draws new eyes to your page to people who may have similar interests to you.
As for advice for those just starting to build their social media presence: be consistent. Come up with a routine of what and when you’ll post each month and stick with it. Even if you get busy with other events in your life, you never know who may be thinking of you for a new project! And believe it or not, some people look forward to your posts, so keep them coming!
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
I’d like to give a shout out to my acting coach Ransford Doherty. I met Ransford back in 2019, right before the pandemic, while he was teaching his “Diving Board Questions” technique at the Screen Actors Guild Conservatory Program. He introduced me to a new style of acting that has advanced my preparation, confidence, and skill set. I’ve finally found an approach to acting that allows me to understand the text, so that I can memorize it better. As a result, my audience is getting a more grounded performance. He just released a new book that’s out now on Amazon called “Dear Starving Artist, Get Something to Eat.” It’s a great read! Go get your copy today!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.actorswhatyouneed.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystinabaileybrawer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KrystinaBaileytheActress/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystina-bailey-brawer-35b2b067/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/krystinashanel?lang=uk
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHvQVXgS8InwDuvjfw5zk1A
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5102835/ https://www.amazon.com/Actors-What-Need-Before-Moving/dp/1088065171/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1667366435&sr=8-1
Image Credits
Zachariah Schmitt, Sonya Bologna, and Doree Seay