Daily Inspiration: Meet Alexei Cherkasov

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexei Cherkasov

Hi Alexei, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I moved to Los Angeles in January 2023 with less than $1000 in my bank account and a three week reservation at a hostel in Koreatown. After jumping from restaurant gig to restaurant gig, I saw a listing to become a content creator at Jam in the Van, a comedy club in Culver City I had a fruitful internship at the year prior. I joined the team part-time, then full-time by the summer, and I was in a special position where my day job assisted in my ultimate goals of being a performer in Los Angeles.

I wasn’t too interested in being a comedian myself, but after going to one of our hosted open mic events, I got overconfident about how simple the art form is. The process was fascinating and prompted me to begin attending the mic monthly. Although acting is my first true love, stand-up comedy quickly became an exciting puzzle that I still grasp to understand.

My bosses gave me the opportunity to start hosting the open mic, so I realized I had to get good quickly. I started going to various comedy clubs in Los Angeles and performing at open mic nights, bombing ruthlessly and repeatedly.

Eventually, my hosting gig moved to our main comedy venue as opposed to the bar down the street and I could now leverage my connections with snack brands, our in-house HD cameras and our 200 seater venue to create a truly unbeatable open mic experience for performers and audience members alike.

My acting pursuits have excitingly picked up as well, as I was cast in a feature and a short film that are entering production in September and November, respectively.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My first job when I moved here, I got fired on my fifth day of training over a salad where the leaves were not arranged neatly. Being in food service in Beverly Hills is not for everybody. I had minimal funds and had to scramble to find a job.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have known I wanted to be an actor since the age of 7. I market myself as one and take pride in deepening my knowledge, skills and experience.

In acting, there are many approaches and schools of thought. The next step I want to take in my acting journey that I feel like can elevate me spiritually as well is integrating meditation into my practice.

What does success mean to you?
I define success as feeling content with the level of presentness you have and the opportunities you seize in the moment.

Are you ashamed? Hiding from circumstance? Avoiding the present? You are losing life by its very definition, analyzing and ostracizing yourself without being in the moment. Do good things, do them well and often, and be PRESENT to claim life’s dividends. One who can say they’ve done that is someone who is successful in my eyes.

Pricing:

• $5 to perform at my monthly Open Mic (free to attend)!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexoncamera/profilecard/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Image Credits
Christopher Mortensen, Lauren Michaels, Latin Affiliated