We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dujuan Austin Jr a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dujuan, thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
Happy is a temporary emotion so I wouldn’t say I’m happy as an artist. Artist are normal people with extraordinary gifts . Some days are wonderful and some days feel horrible. But everyday above the ground , I consider it as a good day. I have had over 40 jobs that I’ve started and quit due to not being able to give my entire self. On a regular job is when I realized I have the most ideas ! Having a regular job is when I’ve realized I’m most unhappy. So the goal is to figure out how to make your art your “regular” job. If you stay consistent something will happen!
Dujuan, 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?
I’ve always wanted to be an entertainer. Since my very early days as a kid I would entertain my family by dancing and being funny. I loved the reaction and attention although I was a very shy child, as an adult I’m still shy. My dad is an artist so the first art I ever was presented with was a painting. I watched him draw and paint EVERY single day!! He showed me greatness early! That was my first intro to art. After he gave me skills of drawing and painting, that’s when I developed a love for drums. My father has been a drummer his entire life and that’s a gift that my grandfather gave to him, MUSIC. As well as my granny “Denise Austin” who was a singer. My grandfather, Timothy Austin, played for so many famous groups, before he passed his last regular gig was being “Buddy Guys” drummer. He held that position for years. Grandaddy passed music to my dad and he passed it to me. I played in band in highschool as well as every year being apart of the ART club in high school. I had more that I needed to express and that’s how acting became the profession! I was always good at mimicking and impersonating but the older I got, it became quiet impressive to people. That lead to training, and training lead to auditions. I got a lot of no’s before a big yes! It’s apart of the path. Stick with it. I stuck with it and I still do in these trying times of being an artist. Side note , another art I enjoy is cooking, my mother “Sheree Williams” gave me that gift. Consistency and persistence! Remember that. Life is not about shortcuts. You have to put the work in to get the results and things you desire. I’ve worked really hard to get to where I am and do the things I’ve done in my career and I’m just getting started.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Yes there is a particular goal that’s driving me and that’s to feed my children and give them a life that I didn’t have and that they deserve all while making great art! I also want to buy my mom a house and want to buy my dad his dream car. Lastly, I need to get my best friend that was murdered a tombstone for his gravesite. He didn’t deserve to be snatched from this earth by a rotten hearted soul who had a gun but he does deserve to be remembered for his good on this earth. P.S. that just broke my heart all over again writing that. Rest in peace to my brother and best friend “Hosie Wilson” I miss you and will forever hold you in my spirit.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Well as we all know SAG and WGA are striking ! The fist since the 1960’s. Although this strike is needed heavily, it’s still hurting tons of artists. With that being said the strike has forced major pivots. There were auditions for TV and film every week before the strike and now that’s cut off and as a hungry actor, I have no choice but to pivot back to the stage and do some plays and commercials. It’s not the worst pivot or even a bad pivot at all. But during these times in entertainment, that was my pivot, getting back to the stage. And I will be on the stage SEPTEMBER 16, 2023 in Chicago again, in Richard Gallions “When Silence Screams”. Hit me up , I got the tickets.
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