We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Auset Whatley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Auset, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
I’m a risky person by nature . I love taking risks actually ! With no risks there are no rewards. Being an artist or a creative in any aspect comes with its inherited risks. You are putting yourself out there for the whole world to see in such a vulnerable way , and it could all backfire on you!The biggest risk I’ve taken would have to be packing up and moving to Los Angeles in the first place . I had no connections, no relationships , no nothing . Just a prayer & some serious determination !
In my mind , picking up and moving to an environment where I’m surrounded by nothing but other creatives , other actors/actresses , models , ect could only project me foward in the direction I wanted to go.
We don’t think about this a lot, but when we surround ourselves around other like minded individuals who are on the same path , it can have such a positive impact on our success ; and that’s exactly what I wanted to do.
I packed 3/4 suitcases , hopped on the next thing smoking, and made my way to LA! It’s been a great learning experience so far despite the lows . I have already had some great success , and I am eager to see what God has in store for me next !
Auset, 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?
Since I was a little girl, I always saw myself in front of the camera in some kind of way, shape or form. I’m a natural goof-ball who really enjoys making others smile and laugh. Early on some of my biggest inspirations for even wanting to live out my dreams were Kyla Pratt, Keke Palmer, and Raven Symone . They not only made it look easy, but they looked like me, so in my mind, I told myself that if they can do it so can I.
Although it LOOKED easy on TV, the amount of work, both professionally and personally, is just the opposite of that. Nothing in this industry comes by chance or luck. It’s a constant strive towards greatness for me. From the last minute and late night auditions, to the call -backs and bookings. It all comes with a little price.
I can be my own biggest critic and very tough on myself, however I will say that I am most proud of myself for even being courageous enough to pursue such ” non-guarantee” job and not giving up. No matter how many jobs I book, it will never amount to how proud I am of MYSELF for taking this leap of faith and doing what makes me happy!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist for me is inspiring others to do the same. It’s not always easy for many people to be comfortable in their own skin, to be bold, brave and vulnerable . It’s not! So when I receive those messages or hear those words “you inspire me” , it truly makes all the difference in the world for me and why I do what I do in the first place. I was put on this earth to serve and share with others, and this lets me know I am on the right track.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Oh man, I could go on for days about this topic, but I’ll keep it short! I’m all about doing my best to keep it as real as possible as it pertains to my journey as a creative, how I got to where I am and so on. With that being said, there have been multiple times where I’ve had to “go back to the drawing board” or start over because something in my business/ brand simply was not working.
I distinctly remember a point in time where I quit my regular 9-5 job , started an actual business , and began focusing solely on my modeling and acting career. For a time it was great! I had that time freedom I wanted , I didn’t have to answer to anybody, I was making my own money. I was on top of the world in my eyes!
However, once I actually moved out to LA, I had to unfortunately let go of the business I had built, and start back from square one and get a part – time job. Was I happy about it? Certainly not. Was it humbling? Most definitely . But you know what? I gained a lot of experience , I learned so much about myself, made some valuable relationships, and learned the value I brought to the table in any setting. A valuable lesson through it all nonetheless, which I would most certainly do all over again, knowing what I know now. I told you I’m a little risky lol.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ausetwhatleyportfolio.com/
- Instagram: instagram.com/ausetwhatley
Image Credits
Rae Alcorta (@ultraephoto)