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

Justin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I definitely wish I had started sooner! I started later than most creatives, who usually start as a child. I didn’t start creating music until I was 19. I often imagine where I would be in my career if I had been pushed in this direction at 9-years-old. I know everyone has their own timeline, and the age I started is nothing to be ashamed of…but I still wonder sometimes. That’s why whenever someone tells me that their child is showing interest in anything creative, I strongly suggest they push those kids into lessons so they can explore those passions more.

Justin, 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?

Hello! My name is Justin Llamas, and I am a performer. As an actor, I am active on stage, on camera, as well as voiceover. As a recording artist, I have the pleasure of performing my own music, as well as rocking it out with many cover bands all over California. My performance career has led to some of the most amazing opportunities. I have had sold out performances in front of thousands of watchers. I have been flown across the country to perform on TV shows. I have lent my voice to children’s toys and fun stories. I have been scouted and courted by major labels, and complimented by a number of celebrities. I have been blessed, to say the least. It sounds like a lot when I list it out like this, but these are all things that have happened over a decade of hard, hard work. But even so, it’s a decade I’m proud of.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Something I grew up believing was that talented people only existed on television. I thought that a career in any creative arts was unobtainable, or that you had to start at an incredibly young age in order to be a professional when you reach adulthood. How wrong I was! People start late all the time, and talented people are all around us. You just have to commit, put in the hours, and work incredibly hard. Most people aren’t born talented. I would dare to say no one is born talented… But studying a skill, just like in any other profession, takes dedication.

I’m very fortunate to have had some great mentors teach me this. The first one that comes to mind is Janie Scott, an incredibly talented theater director and performer. She directed one of the first shows I was in, and she taught me that a career in performance was even possible. If she hadn’t engrained that truth into me, I don’t know where I’d be today, or if I would have continued following this passion of mine. Thanks, Janie!

Another person who mentored me is my late voice teacher, Nuhad Levasseur. For almost 10 years, she taught me vocal technique. The lessons she taught me, I still use today in every job I do. I owe her my sound. I owe her my career. Unfortunately, she passed away this year, but her lessons will live on forever. Love and miss you, Nuhad!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Social media is tricky! There is not one set of rules to success, and different things work for different people. Not only that, but social media is always changing. The algorithms, the trends, the users… Nothing stays the same for too long. Even the “experts” find themselves confused whenever the next big change hits the platforms.

My audience came from a number of ways. I used to sing covers on YouTube, and following popular songs or trends at the time helped boost my audience. I’ve had my videos shared by some celebrities too, which always helps. But following a trend or being shared will only get you so far if your talent is up to par with your competitors. So what I always recommend to anyone is to make sure you have the best possible quality, and your audience numbers will eventually follow. This means doing your best to post your best work and constantly building your skills. If you are sharing the best of the best, people will appreciate your high quality work, and will follow to see more.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.iamjustinllamas.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/iamjustinllamas
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/JustinLlamasOfficial
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/iamjustinllamas
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/JustinLlamas