We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dan Olivo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dan , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

Dan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

You often hear stories of people growing up in a household that discouraged kids from pursuing dreams of becoming an artist for a living. The opposite was true for me growing up. It could just be that my parents were both actors who started their own theater company. The Italian Theatre of Arts in Los Angeles. I grew up surrounded by artists and watching my parents put on plays and even being in a few. They weren’t surprised as I got older that their influence rubbed off on me as I began dedicating my life to a career in acting and music. When they realized where I was heading, they completely supported every choice I made in pursuit of my dream.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am an entertainer who is born, raised, and is based in Los Angeles. I am an actor, jazz crooner, bandleader and music booking agent. As an actor, I began performing in various plays with my parents Rocco and Maria Olivo who in 1972 founded The Italian Theater of Arts in Los Angeles. Since then, I have worked as an actor in film, television, theater, and radio. As singer and bandleader, I have performed at various public and private venues all over Southern California and have been asked to perform on radio stations including The Fabulous 570 am and Martini in the Morning with Brad ‘Martini’ Chambers.

I studied acting with one of the most prestigious acting teachers Milton Katsales at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. My acting career includes playing the role of Leno LaBianca in Mary Harron’s (of ‘American Psycho’) latest film ‘Charlie Says’ and has worked opposite Zoey Deschanel on FOX’s ‘New Girl’ and ‘Breaking Bad’s’ RJ Mitte in the independent feature ‘Who’s Driving Doug’? I love singing songs made popular by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Harry Connick Jr. and Michael Buble’ from The Great American Songbook. My jazz band and I have performed at various events and venues all over Southern California including The Eagle Rock Music Festival, The Mistletoe and Martini Christmas Concert at The Universal Amphitheater (with Frank Sinatra Jr., Natalie Cole, Steve Tyrell, Bobby Caldwell and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy), Saboba Casino, The Bar Nineteen12 of The Beverly Hills Hotel, The Riviera Hotel, The Frank Sinatra House in Palm Springs, and The Rhythm Room in Downtown Los Angeles.

I have been able to turn my love of jazz and retro music into a business. I founded Nineteen52 Entertainment in 2018. A music booking agency specializing in vintage-inspired bands & musical acts that perform the Great American Songbook, Jazz, Swing, Dixieland, roaring 20’s, 30-40’s Big Band Era, Rat Pack era, Oldies, International & Top 40 Contemporary Pop. I am thrilled to announce the release of my debut album early next year. The album will be a collection of jazz standards and vintage popular songs produced and arranged by my friend and musical director Ian Robbins. Among the songs featured are the album’s title track ‘Day by Day’, Fats Domino’s ‘I’m Walkin’, Burt Bacharach’s ‘This Guy’s in Love with You’, Harry Connick’s ‘Come by Me and a duet with Rene’ Myara and Lyman Medeiros of the timeless classic ‘It’s Only a Paper Moon

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Anyone who tells you that a career in the performing arts is a smooth road and there aren’t any struggles probably hasn’t ever known someone venturing into such a profession. I learned early on that having talent is only the first ingredient needed to have success. Passion, persistence, patience and good old-fashioned hard work are the main components in building a career. It’s very easy to develop a lot of insecurities about one’s talent and doubts about “making it” when you struggle to get auditions and not book work from the auditions you do get. None of it has been easy. I have been told that I wasn’t talented enough, I have lost roles and opportunities that I desperately wanted and have been fired by band leaders, directors, and an agent or two in my career. Rejection can really get to you. The secret to overcoming rejection is simply not giving up. You will strike out more often than hit a home run and that’s ok. You will appreciate the times you struck out more when you start celebrating the homeruns.

While studying acting at The Beverly Hills Playhouse, my teacher Al Mancini left me a voicemail that I have held onto to this day. I had given him a CD of songs I recorded. A couple days later Al left me a message saying that he had heard all the tracks on the album. He told me he loved the album and that I had the goods and to never give up. He said, “I don’t care what they throw at you or how high the mountain is, do not give up”. I remember his words whenever I’m experiencing challenges or let downs. I welcome the struggles and challenges. It makes me better and appreciates the wins more.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

They say that every job or gig in the entertainment world leads to the next one. This is true. You meet other collaboratives; you exchange stories on successful and unsuccessful actions in getting work and often help each other with different opportunities. Example being .. Let me refer you to my agent and manager. Or I know the person booking bands at this venue. I’ll recommend they consider you. There is also the practice of reaching out to talent buyers, booking agents and event planners and introducing yourself.

They also say it’s who you know. I’ll just add it’s also who you decided to get to know. That’s how you start building a network. And as you build your network, it is important that you keep that relationship engaged.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.danolivo.com
• Instagram: @danieljosepholivo
• Facebook: @danieljosepholivo
• Linkedin: @danolivo
• Twitter: @danolivo
• Youtube: @danolivo