A Short Q&A with Olivia Saccomanno
Intro: “Get to Know Actor Salon Coach and Teacher, Olivia Saccomanno. Olivia has been with the studio for many years and brings such an extraordinary combination of intelligence, empathy and an ability to meet anybody where they are at. Her coaching at Actor Salon has been a game changer in the lives and careers of countless actors to date.”
Thank you Olivia for giving us some of your time!
What do you love about coaching and teaching?
I love working with each person individually, witnessing their journeys, celebrating their wins, and watching them achieve their unique career goals. There is nothing like taking a goal that might feel slightly out of reach, working together week by week to chip away at it and then finally getting to celebrate the achievement of seeing all that hard work come to fruition. Being a coach is one of the most rewarding experiences.
How did you become a coach at ACTOR SALON?
I was a client first! I really appreciated the approach of both life and career coaching – I knew I needed to be laying down a strong foundation of life skills so that my career could be supported. I was new to Los Angeles and I had a lot to focus on: home, money, making new friends/community, and self-care throughout it all. I quickly got hooked and eventually found my way to coaching!
How has coaching improved your own business?
Week after week I hear myself guiding others and I think “wow, when was the last time I focused on my marketing?” Coaching keeps the business side of the career ever present in my life!
What are the things that you really try to instill in your clients?
That getting reps is just the beginning! Once you have your team in place the real work begins. If you don’t know what that means, come join us and see for yourself!
Clearly the industry has changed in the last few years, how has that influenced your perspective?
This is clearly not a static industry so we can’t utilize the same plan for our careers that has worked in the past and expect the same results. I think the smart actors are able to be fluid and adapt their career plans as new circumstances within the industry arise. More often than not, I love the new changes and that is really important to remember as change can be hard at first.
What is your favorite type of client to work with?
I love the fact that I have the privilege of working with a variety of creatives so I guess my favorite “type” is someone who allows themselves to enjoy the journey and aren’t just looking forward to getting to the destination. It is also really great if you did the things you said you would do so I can assign new tasks (homework) and we can keep chipping away toward those career goals. So a client having time in their schedule for “office hours” is a huge plus!
What are some of the walls you personally hit as an actor and how do you help your students navigate those same challenges?
There was a point in my career where I was working multiple part time jobs to stay as “flexible as possible for my acting work” but it meant that my hourly rates were too low and I didn’t have the benefits that a full time employee would have. I was exhausted all the time, only had one day off a week and felt like I was having to do my auditions in tight windows even though the point was these jobs were supposed to be more flexible. I had to reassess and make changes. When I see clients in similar positions we take the time to figure out the freedom/day job situation. It is always worth taking the time (and it may take more time than you want to give it) to figure out the right situation for you. Having a steady flow of income is going to give you a key foundation for your acting career – don’t push it off thinking you can muscle through!
From your perspective, what are some of the traits that someone needs to have an enduring career?
The ability to stay creatively full, the “yes, and” mentality as long as it is also protected by your gut and intuition, and the love of the craft above all else!
How would you describe your teaching style?
I would say my teaching style is direct but kind. I want you to enjoy/love your career in this moment and I also want you to have the joy of seeing your goals come to fruition. So I am going to ask you how much we can take on and then we will go for it! But come check out my class and tell me if you agree! There is a free audit 🙂