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

Alright, Ta’Von thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I first learned my craft the way anyone learns anything…I just did it. Was I good at it? Maybe. At the time, I just knew I really enjoyed story telling through the route of stage and film. I think I learned things at the right pace. When I got older, I took classes and courses on acting, directing and creative writing. I was also lucky enough to have people around me who were also involved in the arts that assisted me often. The most essential skills I learned was to absorb as much as you can from each experience as possible, to be kind to those working with you; people will never forget how you made them feel and lastly to do your craft because you love to do it and payment will find you. I love this one because it teaches you to be humble. Of course everyone wants to get paid but I also don’t think everyone deserves to be. I’ve watched so many novice actors who don’t rehearse, have no stage presence and are rude demand they be paid for skill they have not developed yet. Its unfortunate. As far as obstacles go, it just depended on what was available to me. Pursuing the arts and living in Baltimore can some be difficult to navigate. Many will tell you to move to another state if you really want to work professionally.

Ta’Von, 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 was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. As long as I can remember, I’ve always had a flare for the dark arts…yup theater. If it was dark, spooky, scary and fabulous I was into it! Thank you Elvira! I graduated from Coppin State University where I furthered my knowledge in stage, performance, and dialect. After graduating, I continued my quest for knowledge of stage and film through different teachings in Baltimore, Boston and Philadelphia.

At the age of twenty-four I wrote his first professional stage production “What We’re Taught” and followed with its sequel “What We’re Taught II.”. Both shows were not only well received in Baltimore but were blessed with the opportunity to do independent tours respectively. I am a firm believer that if you find a need…fill it! Baltimore is known for being scary but for the wrong reasons. There weren’t too many actors in Baltimore doing this horror or dark comedy. I decided to create my own theater company titled “Theater Coven Productions, LLC. Where I combine spooky and dark themes with: comedy, drama, fantasy and of course… creates horror. We are the only group that is LGBTQIA inclusive and all African American. Representation matters!

The thing I’m proudest of with my work is the fact that I’ve had the privilege to work with and grow with so many different types of people. Every project is a new learning experience and every creative is reached differently. I’ve been performer’s first paycheck, watched them learn how to develop a character, have a stronger stage presence, or learn how to outline a script properly. While at the same time, I’m still learning and honing my skills as well. I hope one day that I’m able to one day do something huge and grab all my talent from Baltimore.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I don’t really have a story but I think my resilience comes from knowing if I were to stop now, that two things are to be true: First, nobody is going to make me keep going because at the end of the day, no one will care about your special thing unless it effects them. The second is that if I stop…then everything I’ve done will be for nothing and wants that haunting them for the rest of their lives…not me!

I also feel that you have to push harder when you want to represent what you would like to see on stage or screen. If I falter, those stories do not get told, those type of faces aren’t represented and I really want to show Black people and those of the LGBTQIA community in horror.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I always tell the community and anyone that appreciates someone’s art or craft, “If you want to support an artist you have to support that artist!” I say this in the terms of going to see them at the their shows, sharing their post on social media, and buying from them. People are seen when people share their skills otherwise no one knows they exist.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tavonvinson.com/
• Instagram: Chaos_N_Laughter
• Facebook: Ta’Von Vinson
• Youtube: Theater Coven Productions