We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Micky Shiloah. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Micky below.

Micky , looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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?

I’ve actually had a few firsts – I started acting as a little kid and my mom used to take me, and my sister, on auditions in Manhattan. We booked some jobs together and I think the first paying one was a commercial for Braun. I also booked a small spot on Sesame Street and a couple of off-broadway shows, including one at Radio City Music Hall, but I was too young to really understand what it all meant.

When I was 18, I got myself back into acting and booked my first national commercial for Pizza Hut. I remember being SO excited about booking it, getting to eat tons of pizza, and getting paid – although, it honestly didn’t mean that much to me at the time because I did not have one bill to pay myself!

It wasn’t until I moved to LA that I really started feeling the impact more. My first year was a huge struggle, but then I booked a music video for Miranda Cosgrove’s “Dancing Crazy” and that gave me the boost I needed to keep going. It wasn’t necessarily a high-paying gig, but it was something and I was at such a low point at the time, so it reaffirmed my reason for making the big move to LA and pursuing this.

Most recently, my first brand deal on social media was super exciting to me. I was so used to booking jobs through an agent or manager, just being the actor and not part of the full creative, and just doing my part and getting paid. This time, the brand came to me because of my content and they wanted to partner up. It was for the coffee brand Lavazza. I was SO nervous because it was my first brand deal and I was in full creative control – plus, this would be posted to my page for my followers to see – but by the end of it, I was so happy with how it turned out, I got to use my characters, and that got the ball rolling for me to make money as my own brand.

Micky , 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 am an actor and a content creator, as well as a video editor.

I started acting in New York at a young age doing commercials, off-Broadway, Radio City Music Hall, Sesame Street. I then got back into it after college, and was doing commercial and print. After going to a cattle call audition in Manhattan, I was flown out to LA twice to test for Nickelodeon’s Big Time Rush. This gave me the push to move to LA to really pursue a career in TV/Film. I did the audition game for a long time and booked shows like Westworld, NCIS: Los Angeles, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, a recurring role on ABC’s Mistresses, Joe Dirt 2, as well as one of the starring roles in the indie film The Party is Over. I was also lucky enough to do a lot of commercial work, quite a few music videos, and voice over work, including narrating several HarperCollins audiobooks.

During this time, I began editing my own little side projects, or projects for other people. I had a knack for it and I started getting paid video/audio editing gigs, and that grew into a big part of what I do.

In 2022, I posted the first sketch, what would turn into my Anthony & Diane series, on TikTok – and it (to my surprise) took off. I was able to grow a following, people commented asking for more, and eventually, I put the series on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube and was able to cultivate an amazing following on those platforms, as well. I play all of the characters, incorporate humor and sketch comedy, as well as drama, and I have also used it to incorporate my songs/songwriting and music production.

This has led to many amazing opportunities to work with brands and various companies to produce and edit social content, reels, branded ads, and various types of videos and content.

I am grateful and happy to be in a place where I have full creative control, don’t have to wait for a “yes” from the industry, and I can use my talents and skills for my own independent business.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

My advice is to be authentic and do the thing you are pulled to do. For example, if you’re an actor and dream about being on a sitcom – make the sitcom. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate, you don’t need a budget – just write your dream show and put it out there on YouTube or on social media.

For years, starting in 2014, before TikTok existed or there were videos on Instagram, I had wanted to make a show that centers around a Jewish, New York family, where I play all (or most) of the characters. I hesitated for years because I didn’t know how I could get it done. But I was consistently creating characters and performing live with my improv troupe The MaD JaCKRaTS (LPNSImprov at LPN Studios), and briefly studied at The Groundlings.

Eventually, I kind of forgot about the show idea – and I had an aversion to TikTok, probably because of pride. But during this time I would put a project on YouTube ever so often – a music video or some sort of sketch – and it didn’t really do any numbers. In 2021, I put out a music video for my song, “I’m Gay”, and my youngest brother Benjamin (@rawtonebeats) told me I should put clips of it on TikTok. I was hesitant, but then I did and it gained a bit of traction and I found myself with a few thousand followers. That inspired me to put little skits up and see what happens. Nothing really took – until one night I had an idea of putting this New York couple on a first date in an Italian restaurant. I wanted them to be SUPER New York and fiery. I wrote the sketch, played all the characters, and spent some time editing it – and once I had a final edit, I remember thinking – I feel like this is good.

I posted it and almost immediately, it took off. It was only supposed to be a one-off type of thing, but people kept asking for more. I quickly thought I would title the series Anthony & Diane. I was nervous, and didn’t quite know what to do or how to go about it, but the next few videos were a “meeting the family” situation – and the main character Diane’s family was born. I was so surprised and excited that people were loving these characters and wanted to see the story evolve. Eventually, we met Anthony’s family, and it’s been going on ever since.

I didn’t realize it until a few months in, but this series on social media is almost exactly what I dreamed about doing back in 2014. It was sort of this lightbulb moment of realizing I was able to find an audience because I did something that I wanted to do, something that I found joy in, and something that was authentic to me.

Do the thing!!

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

If you love an artist, a creative, an actor, social media influencer, whatever it may be – likes, follows, subscriptions, comments, shares – all of that is SO helpful. Speaking specifically for social media – I used to be someone who would just scroll on by and not really give likes or comments – even on videos I watched fully and enjoyed. Now, I always do because I understand that it helps. When I see other creators post a branded ad, I will always at the very least, give a like, because I know what it’s like to put an ad out for a brand and get disappointing results.

My biggest advice for supporting social media creatives is to engage with their content (there’s obviously no obligation, especially if you really don’t like something), but likes, comments, shares are all free and take just a second.

If you love a musical artist – stream or buy their music. If you love an actor – watch their shows, see their movies.

So much is reliant upon audience engagement – whether it’s on a gigantic, box office level, Billboard music charts, or one of your favorite creators on social media.

If you enjoy something you see – give it some love! :)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mickyshiloah.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/mickyshiloah (@mickyshiloah)
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/mickyshiloah
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mickyshiloah
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@MickyShiloah
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/micky-shiloah
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1QfNzaNRS1Qb4INV2vKpYb

Image Credits

Tony Minas
Stephanie Girard