Daily Inspiration: Meet Yvette Rodriguez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yvette Rodriguez

Hi Yvette, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

I got started singing in my grandmother’s speakeasy, a two-bedroom apartment in Detroit, Michigan, when I was three or four years old. My grandmother’s customers would offer me a dollar if I sang a song for them, and that was how I started to make my allowances for whatever I wanted on the weekends. I loved the attention I received as a performer from day one.

Motown was thriving, and a lot of the staff from Motown would come to our apartment to get dinners and watch my sister and me perform. Believe it or not, I was morbidly shy as a little girl until the music started, and then it would slip my mind that I was supposed to be “shy.” One of the Motown staff members told my mom about an audition at Motown. My sisters and I choreographed a dance/singing routine and were given an audition.

Although I was shy, I was the leader of the group. Once again, I forgot that I was “shy” just for the moment. During the audition, my sisters all got really nervous and left me on the stage while I was deeply into the song with my eyes closed. I was truly in my element. I’ve dreamed of being on stage and it felt great!

Fast forward, we did get a call-back and an offer, but they only wanted the little girl—that little girl was ME. I was so excited, and so was my mom, but, the timing just wasn’t right. If they had offered us a deal as a group, my life would have been very different, but my mom decided that she couldn’t allow me to go out on the road alone. No amount of convincing from the producers or the powers that be could change my mother’s mind. This was my first taste of disappointment as an artist. I thought this would be the start of my singing career, I was wrong.

Fast forward, we did get a call-back and an offer, but they only wanted the little girl—that little girl was ME. I was so excited, and so was my mom, but the timing just wasn’t right. If they had offered us a deal as a group, my life would have been very different, but my mom decided that she couldn’t allow me to go out on the road alone. No amount of convincing from the producers or the powers that be could change my mother’s mind. This was my first taste of disappointment as an artist. I thought this would be the start of my singing career, but I was wrong.

For years, I was very upset about her choice, but once I graduated from high school, I immediately majored in Theater and Communications. Although I had never seen a play before in my life, fate would have it where I ended up being singled out as one of the best actresses in my class, in spite of not having the best grades in other academic areas. The Wayne State Theater Department staff encouraged me to never give up on my dreams and go for it 100%. Shortly before graduation, a gentleman who had taken an acting class with me called me from Los Angeles and invited me to visit him in Los Angeles, CA. I hopped on a plane and came out to visit him for two weeks, and my life changed forever. I knew Los Angeles was the place for me the moment I stepped off the plane at LAX. This is where the fun all began.

My life has evolved in ways I couldn’t have ever imagined. I have sung with some of the best in the industry and met almost all the celebrities and singers I dreamed of working with. I actually had an opportunity to sing backup for Ms. Aretha Franklin before her passing. Now, I am producing my own short films, booking commercials, doing print work for major manufacturers, advertising campaigns, hand modeling for celebrities, and currently coaching and directing a host of talented actors from all over the country!My goal is to inspire and encourage other people, not just performers but indivduals who are passionate about growning in life. I believe if you keep on dreaming and moving, you will eventually land where you are supposed to be. Life happens, but keep dreaming and don’t forget to put action to the dreams, try not to determine the outcome, just show up and show out! You never know when your ship will sail. The world may let you down, but don’t let yourself down. Never give up on YOU.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Honestly, I would classify my journey as a winding road—a road full of fear, uncertainty, and self-doubt. The unknown part is the most difficult because it means I can’t control the outcome. Not being able to control the future has been my biggest downfall. I thought I had to have it all figured out and that it would be harder than it was. I overly complicated the whole process, which I think is part of my creativity, if that makes sense.

I came from a relatively conservative background. My grandmother, Ms. “Sandy,” was a true entrepreneur in every sense of the word, but most of my family was very traditional. They believed that if you got an education and a good job, you would be fine. This mindset didn’t work for me; it was too structured for my creativity.
My grandmother, godmother, and biological mother always encouraged me to pursue my dreams 100%, but I never had financial support. Being the pioneer of the family—the first to go to college and the one with a lot of courage and boldness—was very difficult because these strong women could only offer the knowledge they had. I never doubted my talent, but making the money to support myself while pursuing my dreams was hard. I’ve always had a problem with repetition; I bore easily. When I first moved to Los Angeles, I must have had over six or seven 9-5 jobs in a year, not because I wasn’t a good worker, but because my heart just wasn’t in it.

I had the same issue as a child in school. I was a C student at best, unless it was an acting, dance, or voice class. This has been a real struggle for me. Most of my life has been about choosing which way to go: the regular 9-5 route or the starving artist route. I have been on this journey alone 100% financially. I am not the type of person who can sleep on someone’s couch or floor; I must have a clean and secure home, so the struggling artist mentality doesn’t work for me.

Now, moving forward, I realize that if you want to do something, just do it, and the money will come. I don’t want to make it sound like magic, but it really is true: if you can work hard at something you have to do, you can work smart on something you want to do. It all comes down to mindset. I had to move away from my comfort zone, 3,000 miles away from my homeland, to finally get to this point. This lifestyle has been a little lonely sometimes, but again, you find your tribe—or I should say, your tribe is where your heart is—and it all works out if you stay the course.

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?
Happily, I can now say that I am finally a full-time artist living out my dreams in Los Angeles. It has been a dream come true to be here and feel secure enough in myself to say this proudly. I am able to offer my talent to the television and film industry, in addition to blessing others with my skills as an artist by teaching and coaching other actors from all over the country.

I founded a non-profit organization, Silence the Tears, for at-risk youth—young men aged 13-21 who have been incarcerated or are stuck in the justice system. Through this program, I teach behavioral modification skills through acting and Toastmasters techniques. Post-COVID-19, I have been teaching virtually to students from all walks of life and ages.
I specialize in enhancing confidence and stage presence, not only for artists but also for people in other industries. I am known for encouraging and inspiring those who want to be the best at whatever they decide to do in life. I am most proud of the fact that, despite the ups and downs in life, I’ve maintained a balanced state of mind and tenacity through it all. Even with the pain and disappointments, it has all been worth it, and if I had to do it all again, I would, but without so much fear and doubt in my heart; it only holds us back.

My philosophy is, “The best is yet to come.” This, for me, is what makes me a true female warrior who relies on faith and hope that all things are possible if we are willing to try. You will never fail if you put one foot in front of the other and just DO IT! Take a deep breath first. 🙂

What are your plans for the future?
I will be completing a few short films by mid-2025. My aim is to become a producer and writer to help artists of all walks of life tell their stories on television. A female Tyler Perry would be a great way to describe it. I am planning on staying healthy in a world where true happiness comes from within. I want to live a peaceful, graceful life without worrying about money or success and be happy on the journey before me with sheer bliss!

I want to help people see how pleasant life can be if we are honest with ourselves and stop giving away our power unnecessarily. I plan to do that through my writing and teaching while opening doors for others with a true passion to act and perform or pursue any kind of self-improvement.

The big challenge in my life currently is to reach higher than I ever thought possible and see what happens. I aim to stay open-minded and travel, take my mind off myself, and see how others are living in the world. I want to see how I can contribute to others and not just focus on myself. I want to give the gift of wisdom to all I encounter.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Yvette Rodriguez @shobizconnecion547, @yvettluv
• Youtube: yvette Rodriguez @yvetterodriguez9411 Email: [email protected]
• Other: https://tl.page/yvette-r5

Image Credits
Paul Gregory Photography.