We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tereva Crum. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tereva below.
Tereva, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
With the exception of the past two years, I have spent my entire adulthood making incredibly responsible, practical decisions that always placed my own needs on the outskirts of my existence. During that time, I became consumed with making the ‘right’ decisions. Before I had my first child, I was in graduate school pursuing my Master’s in Social Work. I paused my pursuits so that I could focus on motherhood, and one baby ultimately led to two wonderful little humans, whom I am OBSESSED with. Although my creative spirit spilled unapologetically into motherhood, I didn’t feel like an artist, not a real one at least. I created lullabies and jingles for my babies. I wrote stories and poetry for them. I became, one of the world’s most skilled and entertaining readers of children’s books that I’ve ever come across, I’m just saying. And yet, I felt like a fraud because I wasn’t able to devote the time and energy that I felt was necessary to have the ‘honor’ of calling myself an artist. It wasn’t until I trained at Stella Adler’s Black Arts Intensive, that I realized, that being an artist wasn’t something that I DID; being an artist is who I AM. Just as my Blackness, my woman-ness, my identity as a mother, is so inextricably tied to me, so is my artistry. I think as artists, we become so fearful of being restricted, that we ironically, limit the possibilities that we have to work, to flex our creative muscle, to expand our potential and daringness.
As artists, especially artists who often feel at the mercy of casting departments, specific breakdowns, etc. , the thought of pursuing a “regular job or career” is a nagging, constant fear. With experience and full on ‘adulting’, I’m changing that thought for myself, and I’m leaning into all of the possibilities. While I am still spending much of my time auditioning as an actor, and creating and producing my blog and podcast, I am also in the process of becoming a Certified Dyslexia Specialist. Mr. Ruben Santiago Hudson, an artist and teacher who I had the extreme honor of working with, said during one of my first classes with him, that “No one can deny you the opportunity to work.” I can be both, Dyslexia Specialist, and mother, and actor, and writer, and artist. I can work on my craft and be a traditional professional, who uses my craft to better my skills, for as long as I need and as long as the pairing feels good and right for me. We can be both creative and traditional professional; the duality only enhances our ability and perspective.
Am I happier as an artist and creative? I can’t exactly answer that, but I can say that I am happier being fully me and bringing all of me to every situation and opportunity presented.
Tereva, 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?
But of course! I am an actor, mom, writer, lover of all forms of storytelling, and most recently, podcast creator and host. I’m one of those creatives who always has their hands in something all of the time. I can’t begin to talk about myself as an artist without mentioning and honoring my grandmother, Reva, who shaped so much of who I am. She was a dynamic storyteller and professional pianist, and inspired me to fall in love with music at an early age. I was a professional violinist by the time I was 15, but always felt called to storytelling, despite being incredibly shy and insecure. During my time at the University of Florida, I began taking theatre courses, performing, and through a series of starts and pauses, the rest is history. I’ve been able to do some incredible work (Best Supporting Actor, Atlanta Black Theatre Festival), and have worked with some amazing artists.
Recently, I have started a new venture. My blog (www.lovetereva.com) and podcast, ‘Love, Tereva’, which celebrates the beauty in the mess of healing, is a project that I am incredibly proud of. I began the blog and podcast to chronicle and share my own mental health journey, as well as offer encouragement, support, and some laughs, while navigating through the chaos of life. I am incredibly vulnerable and transparent as a person, and I am so honored to share my experiences, without filters, with my readers and listeners. I’ve been told that I have a sweet voice, but a foul mouth, so listeners might want to pop some headphones on before listening in public!
My vision, is for ‘Love, Tereva’ to become a space for listeners and readers to feel seen, and acknowledged. I want to cultivate a norm of celebrating the process of getting better, rather than only receiving kudos when we present as fully healed.
‘Love, Tereva’ is available on Apple Podcasts and Google Play.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I am nearing the two year anniversary of my divorce. Any major life transition is difficult. When those transitions happen during a pandemic, your strength, sanity, and compassion for yourself and others, is truly put to the test. Although I was a working actor at the time of my divorce, I had been the primary caregiver for my children, and when not booked for a job, was a stay at home mom. Most days, I don’t know how I made it through. I am thankful for my amazing support system for encouraging me and my brother for making impromptu trips to help me with childcare and moral support. My children were out of school for an entire school year, and I had to figure out how to homeschool my daughter, support my son’s virtual education, and figure out how to get myself back into the job market after spending so much time solely as an artist and mom.
I used my undergraduate degree in Education to begin teaching online. I didn’t make much money, but I knew that I needed to build my resume and work experience. I booked a few commercials and a few industrials, but filming was so scarce during the pandemic. I used the time to continue my education. I received a Business Communications certificate from Duke University, completed a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion certificate, and took online acting classes. For about the first 6 months, I cried every time my children left to be with their dad. Taking care of my children was such an ever present and significant part of my life, that I had no clue how to function without the responsibility. It sounds crazy, but it’s true! It took about 6 months, and therapy, and introspection and encouragement from my support system, to finally see the time without my children as opportunities to invest in myself.
My life is so much different now. I have started playing my violin again. I’m in a dance studio 1-2 times per week. I practice self care and am doing things that bring me so much joy and fulfillment, like writing and hosting my podcast. Through the experience, I learned to truly think of disappointments as blessings instead of curses.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
Success looks different for creatives. Success may look like feeling at peace and satisfied with one’s work after an audition or submission. Success may look like being called in for a project that is aligned with your purpose and your passion, even if you don’t book the job. Success for creatives is about the process, not necessarily the end result. I see so often, and I also experience, persons who are not walking in their creative potential (because, truly, we are ALL creatives), unknowingly harming the confidence of creatives by diminishing their success. An actor, director, playwright, dancer, musician, etc. is still all of those things, even if you’ve never seen their work on a major platform. If they are getting paid, they are a professional. They are not aspiring; they are DOING the hard and never ending work of perfecting their skills and talent. So please, be kind to your creatives!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lovetereva.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/love_tereva/
- Other: https://www.terevacrum.com/