We recently connected with Kyle Glenn and have shared our conversation below.

Kyle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I’ve always felt like I was going to be a performer since I was a little kid. I would always imitate actors like Jim Carrey, Chris Farley, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as singers like Fred Durst, Kurt Cobain, Jonathan Davis, and Michael Jackson. I got myself into guitar and drums when I was young and sang in choir… But I never did anything artistically as an adult until when I started modeling in 2013/14. This really changed the trajectory of my life and my work. I started acting classes, improv, and stand-up comedy, and then I had run off. By the end of summer in 2015, I packed up all my stuff, gave up a professional volleyball career, and moved by myself to NYC (without a job). I can’t really tell you how much I must thank all of those customers from bartending in 2012, telling me, “you should be a model.” haha. Life is crazy, for real.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I grew up in Appleton, WI (I’m sure it’s your fist time hearing it) with a love for entertainment, making people laugh, and playing sports. I can say that I always really loved imitating actors like Jim Carrey, Chris Farley, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and I think that’s kind of what shaped my personality and the comedy I love and my sense of humor. I loved imitating singers like Michael Jackson, Kurt Cobain, Fred Durst, and Jonathan Davis. I wanted to be in the spotlight, doing something creative that makes your heart sing.

That didn’t come to me for a long time until 2013 when I started to model. I walked into an agency called “Jennifer’s Talent” in downtown Milwaukee after being told several times by people I was serving as a bartender, that I should “me a model.” Well, I walked into that agency with photos of me shooting pool, throwing a football, and hanging out in some kind of game room… let’s just say, it didn’t go too well, but I could have gone worse. They laughed it off, respectfully, and told me to go find a professional photographer and to bring back some photos. So I did. It all went pretty well and very shortly after, I started working with them. I had never been on a set other than the stuff I was doing with my new photographer, but they started sending me on commercial auditions.. I loved it. The feeling of performing, making shit up, and the excitement about the unknown and whether you’d be chosen or not, was incredible. I still love that feeling every single time I get an audition. The feeling of opportunity, wonder, nerves, what you’ll be doing, and how you will perform is quite the addictive feeling, if I do say.

Shortly after my first agency representation, I thought it wise to start taking improv classes- so I did. I got myself into short-form improv at Comedy Sports in downtown Milwaukee (love you guys). After that, I did some stand-up, I booked my first commercial, and then I took off to NYC.

Seven years later is where we meet, right now.

I am currently auditioning during this very very slow pilot season. I have performed in CBS’ “Bull,” Amazon’s “Angelfish,” and several other smaller productions, as well as theater productions in both Philadelphia and New York.

My work on screen, I think, can be characterized as grounded, honest, and insightful. I love my comedy work, but I would love to be doing more of that in 2023.

In addition to my acting work, I produce a lot of modeling shoots that I am both modeling in and shooting. I frickin love modeling and I wouldn’t give anything up for it- it such a creative outlet and I love to feel free on set, and to create images that I will always remember.

I’ve been shooting professional photography for the last two years. My work ranges in mediums from street photography to fine art, fashion and editorial, and documentary work. I love capturing people and moments of time that will be etched in history. My key goal to capturing any of my photography work, is to pull out the most honest and true moment, whether highly produced or completely natural. You can find my photography work in The New York Times, Mob Journal, RoidX Magazine, and others.

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

Oh god, I’m literally going through this right now… I can’t tell you how hard its been the last two and a half months without a single audition (probably the slowest time of my entire seven year career). I’ve lost myself. I’ve tried to produce so much work without even thinking about the fact that I wasn’t even auditioning, yet alone working, while I’m helping my peers with their auditions and their bookings, etc etc. I’ve been working my ass off to get somewhere, when all the world and the universe was telling me, was to slow down and keep yourself in check.

This all sounds very vain and like a sad artist wha wha wha cry, but it’s not, because of how I’ve come out on the other side.

I’ve come back to the feeling of being very vulerable again, in life. Realizing I am not perfect, I am not THE BEST at everything (including acting), and that I will truly have to forge my own path in this business and in this lifestyle. Because it is certainly a lifestyle…

This business is so crazy because it completely consumes and controls your life, and you can really get lost in it. I allowed that to happen to myself recently. I forgot about living every moment. I forgot and got out of touch with all of the little things that complete my day; my relationships; the people around me; the opportunities that are always coming or that I’ve had. I was totally consumed.

And with that, I can tell you that I’ve come out stronger, I’ve let things go and I’ve put in the work to remember who is around me and who I am, so that I can continue on in this business, knowing that whatever is right for me, will come for me. And no matter how many times I hear no (which I hear constantly), I can and I will always be myself at the end of the day, and that’s a huge win.

I will only continue to keep growing in the right direction.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I love this question because I’m probably going to answer it in a way that’s not a typical, but this is what it makes me think.

I received a message from a friend yesterday that was a video on instagram talking about how they key to success and happiness and your journey, was to be chasing the freedom of an artist and as a creative. Not the money. Not the fame. Not the material aspects.

It really dawned on me, especially in the time of career turmoil, how true that is when it comes to my creative journey, for all of the things I do. I just want the freedom to create, whenever, whenever.

I think it’s through this creative journey that you find your true freedom, And that’s what I want.

I want to be great and professional at everything I do (yes, of course), but I want to be able to create freely whenever I want and wherever I want, while holding myself to that standard.

To answer more directly, I have a million different career and personal goals related to the THINGS THAT I DO.

But the creative journey’s mission, is to be completely free.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.whoskyleglenn.com
• Instagram: @whoskylgelnn
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4teAokkC5ZgEFCoOeb9YvQ

Image Credits
@Cavierart Cavier Coleman @elysmcm Elys Berroteran @noelladiaz Noella Diaz @toritorsion Tori Howard @Pascal_b Pascal Bernier @mishacalvert Misha Calvert