Today we’d like to introduce you to Lenny Hernandez.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Lenny. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
What’s crazy is that I would have never guessed that I would be producing/co-hosting a radio show especially one with over 10 million subscribers at DASH RADIO. It was something that I kind of just stumbled in to. I moved out to Los Angeles like so many to pursue the dream as an actor. It’s something that I have wanted to do since I was ten years old. I grew up mimicking characters in movies and shows that I would see on TV and I became obsessed with them.
Mid-90’s Jim Carrey was my jam. My family watched In Living Color weekly and Fire Marshall Bill became my go-to impression. There wasn’t a theatre program in middle school where I lived so when I advanced passed fifth grade my teacher pulled my mother aside to tell her that she should enroll me in classes at the local community theatre to help foster my love for creating sketches and mimicking tv characters. She did and my passion for storytelling just kept my creative cup full. I am very thankful to her and my mother for listening! Once I graduated college (with a THEATRE DEGREE no less) I started working for a company in Missouri that afforded me the opportunity to transfer out to California. This was a dream come true in itself. I ended up landing a commercial agent fairly quickly once I moved west with the help of a good friend who was interning at their office. Ask me someday to tell you about my audition for my first agent. Its a story I will never forget! I was fortunate enough to book a few commercials and a film almost straight away. All these things kind of just lined up which made my first couple of years very busy.
Flash forward to a few years later. I was on set as a guest star in a new web-series (that like many projects, never saw the light of day) and I ended up meeting a producer by the name of Guy Garner. He at the time was running a very successful radio show called Taste Makers. We jived, and he, with another co-host in mind, created a show where we would interview people in “the business” (actors, producers, directors…etc.). Over the first 4-6 months we ended up going thru several co-hosts just trying to find the perfect dynamic and what we have now is the perfect fit with comedian Jake F-H and myself.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It definitely has not been the smoothest of roads to get to where I am now. Los Angeles is an incredible city. Literally one of my favorites I have ever been to. But one thing it is not is forgiving. Living thousands of miles away from any of your support system can be very difficult. You must learn to navigate the incredible times with the not so incredible times. The highs/lows that go with living in Los Angeles make you learn how to not take things too seriously and honestly to grind & hustle for what you want out of life. Early on there was a span of time (a ten weeks period) where I had booked two commercials, a print spot (magazine ad), and a large role in a feature film. It was AWESOME! I was living it up. It was an incredible ten weeks period for me and I just thought thats how the industry worked. Jobs just rolling in. I was the happiest I had ever been.
Then for the next 18 months (a FULL YEAR and a HALF) I booked NOTHING. NADA. I was still submitting myself like crazy, agent was still sending me out on commercials, yet I booked nothing. I made no money as an actor during that time. Those 18 months were very trying on my psyche. I questioned my abilities, my talents, my drive. I had to find survival jobs to pay for my basic needs. I worked as a bartender in Palms and as a Concierge at a high-end hotel in Santa Monica. Often working 7 to 11 shifts a week just to keep myself above water financially. Money can be great but damn if it doesn’t go quick in Los Angeles. This is a very familiar story to many who move out to LA with the same passion. What I learned about myself during this time is that it’s okay to pause for a bit to recharge. I started journaling as a way to pull myself up. I would write about my experiences at auditions as a way to check in with myself before and after. This helped me pull my focus back on the prize. My goals. Dream chasing is a marathon, not a sprint, and if you can remember that, you will be fine.
Please tell us about el L.A. with Jake & Lenny (Dash Radio Show).
I am so proud of the work we do on ‘el L.A. with Jake & Lenny.’ We interview incredible guests on our show from all walks of the industry. We’ve had on singer/songwriters, comedians, actors, filmmakers and so much more. We are just super proud of the fact that we can give WORKING industry people a voice to promote their hard work. Honestly, it’s one of the most rewarding things I do. All of our interviews are free form and uncensored which can be a great thing or an absolute mess and we wouldn’t want it any other way!
What were you like growing up?
I was a ham growing up. My mother and my favorite teacher Gretchen would say I was a bit of a class clown. I like to think that I’ve aged out of that! Haha! Huge shout out to my fam, friends, and Arrow for their unwavering support.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dashradio.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/el_laland/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elL.A.withJAKEandLENNY
Image Credit:
LGEmerick Photography, Benfield Photography
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