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

Alright, David thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

For years in my 20’s, I would drive around the west coast to audition at the open calls for many of the professional Equity theatres. I would wait outside Screenland Studios with 100’s of the other non equity actors and wait for my chance to offer my 2 monologues for this or that Shakespeare Festival. One time I even flew up to Berkeley for a 10 minute audition at Berkeley Rep. I would stop at nothing to find a life in the theatre. I auditioned for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival 5 times in 8 years, but the single more pivotal moment happened in 1999. I had driven to Berkeley to audition for the California Shakespeare Festival with my 2 monologues in tow and after giving them to the Artistic Director, he asked me to step outside and look at some specific sides (something from King Lear and something from the Tempest). This was my moment. It felt as though all the years had been leading up to this “callback” or sorts, so when I went back into the room I left everything on the table. Needless to say, I was given the always popular “great work, we’ll be in touch.”

It was the longest 6 hour drive home, but I felt exhilirated. When you’re in your 20’s you have a blind faith that can’t be taught, You either have it, or you don’t, but an artist in their 20’s is a rare bird. Their ability to take “no” and bounce back creates a framework for their whole lives. It’s tenacity mixed with the right amount of delusion.

I remember driving down Ventura Blvd in Studio City when the phone rang. “Hello is this David”
“Yes”
“This is Joe Vincent at Cal Shakes.”
…my heart started beating heavily…
“…I’d love it if you came up this summer and played Edgar in King Lear, Ferdinand in The Tempest and Launcelot in Merchant of Venice…”
… tears streamed down my face and I screamed “OH God Yes Yes!!!!”

It was my dream coming true, and when I got my first paycheck that summer for $256, I had become a professional actor. And I will never in my life forget that first check that had my name on it, knowing how many years it took to receive it.

My dinner from Whole Foods that night never tasted better.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Growing up in the film industry in a mostly post production family gave me the vision for understanding a life in the creative arts was a possibility.

I got my SAG card through background vouchers when I was 19yrs old and I worked in my first professional theatre when I was 24. In 2000, my Mom died of leukemia and it was the dividing line in the sand for me. For the next 3 years my ability to stay focused and ambitious wained, and other than working in restaurants I never booked a job. There was an acting class I was in at the time, where the teacher (who today is considered one of most sought after coaches in Los Angeles) would berate and belittle the actors in class. There became this unspoken “inner circle” of actors that this teacher “believed” in and they would get all the “positive attention.” Needless to say, I was not one of them, and would find myself crying after class most weeks. Looking back, this person’s style has allowed me to create a culture of warmth, acceptance and care in the classes I teach. So in a way, <i>I’m grateful for their inability to elevate their students rather than elevate themself as a “guru.”</i>

I grinded tooth and nail in my career, doing co-stars as often as I could and even getting a Southeast agent to build my resume. It’s the same grind that was instilled in me in my 20’s when I was doing free theatre in malls. It might be one of the things that’s missing from some younger actors–the deep need to do whatever it takes to work, to create, to fail and get back up.

Co-stars led to Guest Stars, which led to Recurring roles on many shows. Those free plays in malls led to playing on Tony Award winning stages across the country with Pulitzer Prize winning playwrights.

It’s been a career that my 10 year self would be proud of, and when I look into the eyes of my 2 year old son now, I know that I will be able to tell him from experience that “whatever you put your mind and heart into, you will get more than you even dreamed.”

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When the industry shut down due to the strike, our son was just born. At first I looked at it as an incredible opportunity since it allowed me to be 100% present for my son’s early months, which years from now I will only look back at with joy. As the months wained on with the strike, and there was no light at the end of the tunnel I was forced to reevaluate my options. At that point I began teaching at BGB Acting Studio and started Executive Coaching. These two industries allowed me to use everything I’ve learned over the years and offer it to those that need elevation in their careers. They have both allowed me to affect change…<i>not just in my audiences, but now in a classroom and boardroom.</i>

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One story that comes to mind is when I got hired as a company member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2008. This was a theatre that had been a north star for me for many years. That first season there was the culmination of 8 auditions over the course of 10 years. Had I given up 5 minutes before, I never would have had the opportunity to say “the dream came true.”

Contact Info:

• Website: www.itsdesantos.com
• Instagram: @iamdaviddesantos
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daviddesantos/
• Other: BGB: https://www.bramongarciabraun.com/bgb-teachers/david-desantos

Image Credits
Jonathan Davino – S.W.A.T pics