We recently had the chance to connect with Cheyanne Taylor and have shared our conversation below.
Cheyanne, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
A “normal” day looks a little bit different for me as an actress and singer because my schedule is always changing. On a day off, I usually start with a morning walk and Pilates. Then I check my emails, look through casting sites for new audition requests, and try to knock out at least one task on my to-do list- whether that’s posting a TikTok from a show, reviewing lines for an upcoming audition, or checking on payments from recent projects.
I like to cook my meals on my days off, since I get to be creative in a different way. Throughout the week, I aim for two training days (like a dance class, a voice lesson, or singing through my audition book), one full rest day, one day to see my friends/family, and three days working my day jobs.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an actress, singer, dancer, and performer. My friends and family describe me as kind, supportive, and a little bit crazy- in the best way. I’m the type of person who takes big leaps. I apply for the jobs I may not be fit for, but call to me.
I am based in Thousand Oaks, CA, but I’ve worked all over-from San Diego and Costa Mesa to Austin,TX. I’m ambitious, empathetic, and willing to do whatever it takes for the jobs I love and the people I love. That mindset has brought me so many new job opportunities this year.
I was focusing on mainly theatre and film, but found myself doing more interactive work, teaching, and even booking my first nationwide commercial. This year I also got invited to my first two film festivals: Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival and Raindance in London. I trusted my intuition when I reached out to audition for the indie film Deformelody, little did I know it would take me to such big venues!
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
My mom taught me the most about work, more specifically hard work. When my parents got divorced, my mom went back to work. She had to pick up three jobs to sustain us through my first year of High School. She taught my sister and I resilience. Even though she was working so hard, she made sure we had magical holidays, birthdays, and summers. I didn’t see how hard she truly worked until I was in college and home for the pandemic. Graduating college with a Musical Theatre degree, my full time job was auditioning, but now I had to also pay bills. My mom taught me that you survive by adapting and trying new things. I started my own Princess Party company and my mom bought me my first three costumes. I got a teaching job for the summer teaching art and acting classes. She would stay up at night to help me prep and brainstorm ideas. She told me to follow my dreams and keep that in mind when making decisions. All the pet sitting, nannying, teaching, those were survival jobs, but the life lessons I learned made me a better artist. So take the cards you’re dealt and start your own game. My mom is my hero and my inspiration.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
Last year, I was grinding nonstop. I went to almost every open call, took as many dance classes as I could afford in a week, squeezed in trips with friends, and eventually burned myself out. I always joke that I don’t take many breaks until I’m forced to. Last December, I got in a car accident and broke my arm. I was forced to slow down.
Coming back after the holidays and trying to return to my routine, I realized something. I needed to reset my life, I needed to find the work/ life balance. Going to every audition had been a great learning experience, but it became unhelpful. I went out for roles I didn’t feel inspired by and dreaded going to auditions. To fix that mindset, this year I decided to only go in for roles I really wanted to do. That made me excited to show up and have fun in the audition room again. I still take voice lessons and dance classes, but with balance. Now I take 1 voice lesson every month (or if I’m in a show every other month), and instead of trying to take 3-4 dance classes a week, I take 2 and add an extra only when I can afford it.
Socially, I realized I was seeing my friends once a month and was drifting away from them. Now I make the effort to see them more often, it was as simple as moving Pilates around so we can be in the same class, that made a huge difference. Seeing my girlfriends once a week reduced my stress and anxiety, and gave me something none-work-related to look forward to.
I don’t have it all figured out, but I’m glad post accident, I am more financially, socially, and spiritually aware.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value I protect at all costs is time. We live in a “grind culture”, but I have learned that I want to work to live not live to work. I value quality time with others especially as my family has spread throughout the country and even abroad. While everyone is busy building their careers, I find it’s important to slow down with people you love.
For example, my sister is my best friend, and in the past two years she lived in Madrid and now Honolulu. It would be easy to say, “I don’t have time” or “I can’t afford it”, but I value our relationship deeply. So I made a plan, saved intentionally, and followed through. I spent ten days in Madrid and have been to Hawaii three times. Even though I wasn’t training, singing, or dancing, I came back with more life experiences that made me a stronger performer. People often tell actors to constantly perfect their craft, but I argue that having life experiences gives you more to pull from.
Post pandemic, I have felt a stronger need to live fully and experience the world, since we were stuck in our own family bubbles. I am learning not to feel guilty about rest days, mental health days, or using my vacation time. I also plan trips during the off season or when I don’t have projects, which keeps trips affordable and more enjoyable.
I am also close with my cousins in Austin. They have five kids and while I can’t make every birthday, I try my best to visit a couple times a year- and they do the same. It would be easy to say “It’s just a 5 year old’s birthday party, who cares?” but then 3 birthdays go by and you realize you don’t know anything about your little cousins anymore. I love the bond I have with them and unless I book a dream job, I am there (with my refundable ticket in hand, of course).
A question I now ask myself is: “Will I regret not doing this in 5 years?” If the answer is yes, then I say yes- guilt free!
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Something I’m doing now that probably won’t pay off for the next 7-10 years is writing my first novel. I started it in 2019, and I am still shaping and perfecting it. It is a dating memoir that started out as a personal journal about my love life and eventually evolved into a comedic, relatable look of what it’s like dating in your 20’s in LA and New York.
The book also explores dating through the pandemic and the aftermath of how dating had transferred over to apps. Some of those experiences were awful, but I can laugh at them now- and writing has helped me process them. My goal is to create something that resonates with people who lost a piece of their teens, 20’s, or 30’s, during the pandemic.
This project is definitely a long game. I’m still learning about myself, about others, and about the craft of writing. I’m excited to keep making connections and eventually share a story where people feel seen.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_cheyannetaylor/
- Other: TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@cheyannetaylorcreates
