Meet Sarah Oliver

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Oliver.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Just slightly over ten years ago I threw everything I could fit into my Nissan Sentra (including my two cats) and drove from St. Mary’s, GA to Los Angeles to pursue my dreams of storytelling as a writer and performer. I had never actually been to LA before, so I put “Sunset BLVD.” in my GPS and drove down the Strip calling motels to compare prices. I’m originally from a small mountain town called Sierra Vista, Arizona where I went door to door inviting neighbors over for a puppet show or sang at them. Yes, at them. They didn’t want it.

Please tell us about your art.
My earliest memories in my life are being completely immersed in storytelling. I remember being four years old in my first home and the way my parents put me to bed was story-time…but they let me direct the story. I got to cast my brother as the witch and my mom as the Prince and we acted out Sleeping Beauty or the like. I’ve always known this was it for me. I’ve always felt like my most authentic self collaborating, creating, and connecting (so many c’s!). When I moved to LA, it was an ocean of confusion on how to get to do what used to be second nature, and I let the waves drag me down for a while. I took a break from “saying yes to everything” and the whole slew of bad, by-the-numbers advice you get along with your first street cleaning ticket out here, and I just took a moment (several years) and regrouped. Instead of crying about how agents wouldn’t meet with me or agonizing how to “brand” myself, I started singing at people that didn’t ask for it again. I took classes at Second City and I met people that were just as excited/confused/talented and I renewed my vows to storytelling. I’ve relaxed into the knowledge that it will still just take time to do this for a living.

Meanwhile, I write comedy with heart, sometimes for myself but always with my incredible friends in mind. I strive to create stories that aren’t by-the-numbers or for “types”. My mission statement as a writer is to write with women and people of color in mind as rich, and full characters. My goal as an actress is to love the process and never read the Youtube comments.

We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
Remember those waves from before? They are really rough and salty. Put your hand out. Someone is struggling right next to you in those waters. Team up. The creative process is personal and it changes all the time for everyone. However, finding others to journey with -for a time or a long-term partnership- is truly vital. That doesn’t mean find someone to help YOU out. Another Second City gem is, “Make your partner look better than you do.”

“But…I want the spotlight!” you scream as you smash a glass of champagne against your dressing room mirror.

It is a two-way street, you maniac. Two people (or more) trying to help elevate each other is a thing of beauty. It is magic. And stop comparing yourself to others. Every single person in this overpopulated city is so different. Even if that audition says: “Red-headed 38-year-old pregnant woman,” don’t look at them as your competition. You are only ever up against your mind-frame. Even when someone has shut me down, the decision to stay shut down was mine alone. Get out of that beautiful head and make something with or for a pal. If you haven’t connected to someone out here take a class. Actually, always take classes.

But the best best best advice I can give anyone in LA or thinking about moving to LA (with their two cats in tow) is to give yourself business hours. Creatives are told to network, and yes that is a great way to make business connections. However, don’t obsess over it. As you build and expand your personal and professional community, clock out and just be a human at the end of the day.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I am so blessed to have a great network of colleagues that I perform with, live and on camera. You can follow me on social media for my live shows or new film projects @thesaraholiver.

One of my favorite outlets is co-hosting an educational/comedy podcast with my best friend and writing partner, Paul Bianchi. It is called “Mythunderstood” and is available where all podcasts hang out and on social media @_mythunderstood.

Contact Info:

• Email: thesaraholiver@gmail.com
• Instagram: @thesaraholiver
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesaraholiver
• Twitter: @thesaraholiver

Image Credit:
Cameron Rice, Troy Conrad, Jake Lloyd, Joe Funk

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