Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Sartain.
Hi Adam, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always been a performer, even from a very young age I took to performing in one form or another like a duck to water. In school, joined every talent show I could, I learned instruments and started playing in band in Jr High, but also kept up acting. In High School, I took over the production of the morning announcements and did everything from filming them to editing them and of course being the sole “on air talent”, figuring out new ways to entertain like “Live from the Library”. My efforts inspired a newly formed Video Production class to take over for me when I graduated. Then in college, when I flunked a few classes in my Genetics major because I spent too much time in band and theater, I decided to switch to Music as my major, getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Tuba in 2005. Tuba didn’t pan out as a career as orchestras only have one lifetime opening and most already had one. So I did what many of my family members did and worked for the State of California. I put in the effort and did the best I could, becoming an expert of a complicated tax credit program, but I would resort to doing voices while on inspections and diving into community musical theatre whenever I had free time.
In 2016, I had enough and had to embrace my destiny. So I made a plan, sold my house, quit my well-paying full benefits job (as well as seats on three different non-profit boards), and moved to Los Angeles to finally pursue my dream of being a full-time entertainer. Before I set foot in LA, I made sure I had headshots, a resume, and a website. Most of my acting credits were community theatre, but it filled a page. And being prepared as I was, I got a commercial agent within two months and booked the 2nd audition they sent me on, a national (non-union) commercial for eHarmony. So much has happened since then. I’ve changed agents, produced my own musical for the Hollywood Fringe Festival, became SAG eligible with a stint on TruTV’s Adam Ruins Everything, had a year being basically homeless surfing from couch to couch until I found a roommate with probably the best rent deal in LA aside from those who live with their parents. Oh and I survived the pandemic, including getting COVID twice.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Money has definitely been the biggest challenge. I had significant savings and no debt when I first moved to Los Angeles in 2016. By the end of 2018, I was completely broke and had accrued a bit of debt. 2019 was probably one of the hardest years as I call it, “my homeless year”. Not to say I was on the streets for more than a few hours, but I had to couch surf and was never in the same place for more than a few months. I had to change my address 7 times that year. And moved most of my stuff into storage because there was no room in many of the places I landed. All that said, it could have been worse, and I am very grateful for all the friends that stepped up and provided either a place to stay, or the opportunity for one.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love the different series I’ve created, like Adam Plays the Tuba, and my latest podcast, Inside Animation. But I’d say I am most proud of my latest TikTok/Instagram post series, 100 Ways to Laugh, where I combine my vocal talent with my best feature, my laugh!
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
For networking in general, my advice is to have a mindset of being open-minded wherever you go. Start conversations, answer questions, be willing to connect. I was fortunate enough to find a networking organization of people in The Industry helping each other. I still have not found an official mentor, but the way I will approach that is to find someone whose work I admire, and communicate with them, asking questions followed up with how I admire and trust their opinion, and eventually moving to asking them to mentor me.
Pricing:
- General VO project up to 5 minutes = $100
- Production work/administrative = $16.50/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: https://adamrsartain.wix.com/adamsartain
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sooperadam
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCETVtU4ysRiJvjD9oRCnNbw
- Other: https://linktr.ee/sooperadam
