Be the Solution with Lloyd Waller and Jozlyn Rocki

S7, EP 207

Tonights convo at the chaos table you're listening in on host, Jozlyn Rocki, and season regular/co-host, Lloyd Waller!  This conversation is centered around focusing on certain mindsets...how to be the solution, find ways to connect to help you expand your career,  do things outside your comfort zone, learn new skills in life, go into the show/gig as if you already have the job, finally see/know that you're supposed to be in the creative spaces you find yourself in, find ways to enjoy the creative journey, if you want to do all the things - then you also need to get out there to create the opportunities for yourself..plus how awesome it is to realize that you've reached places you used to hold up on a pedestal, or you thought were too far out of reach, early on in your creative journey.  Also, we talk about how far we've both come, since we first started our creative journeys five years ago...from voiceover, to headshots, to on-camera gigs, to improv and just continuing to move forward.  It is also cool to hear all about what Lloyd (and his brain) has been up to these days, because he has been very busy...from launching his Tic Tok channel, to creating an acting skit group, to getting on stage for his first theater audition/call back, to being on stage side by side with the improv troupe he started training with when he first started his improv chapter, traveling to other states for training and improv shows, to his latest voiceover gig where the director described his voice as a specific red wine. We of course have our random round table question at the end...which actually tells you exactly what blend of wine Lloyd's voice is!  Who's your Daddy...Meow! 

This is a shareable podcast where a group of creatives join together to  document their creative voiceover & on-camera journeys in real time. 

We hope this podcast creates inspiration, stirs up a few ah-ha moments or maybe brings to the surface a feeling of "you're not alone" while navigating the creative process. Either way, we are glad you are here.  Oh, and we also pull into our conversations at the chaos table industry professionals along with other fellow actors, to share their stories, experiences and knowledge - so we can all connect, share, learn, grow and expand together.  

This podcast is for entertainment and not educational purposes!  

Enjoy and thank you for listening to our Creative Chaos!
 
*Have a creative story or journey to share, we'd love to hear it - email us at chaoskeepers411@gmail.com or jozlynrocki@gmail.com
 
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Transcript

Angela Cortez 0:02

This is a podcast where a group of friends document their creative paths in and out of the booth and beyond the screen while also exploring the journey and origin stories of other fellow actors to learn from, get inspired by, and connect with our community as we share our ups and downs and of course our chaos along the way. Welcome to Keeping Up with Chaos from the Booth and Beyond.

Jozlyn Rocki 0:28

Hello and welcome back to another week of Keeping Up with Chaos from the Booth and Beyond. I'm Jozlyn, your host, and this week, Lloyd Waller, seasoned regular, joins me. We get to chat with him about all of his adventures that he's been partaking in with his um on camera and improv and stage work and all kinds of stuff that he's up to. So that's pretty exciting. We also just kind of talk about how it's so important as a voice actor, actor, just creative, to be a solution and have that mindset of being the solution instead of just thinking of like going for the paycheck or going for the gig and getting booked. Like we want to be that solution. Thanks for being here and thanks for sharing us. Because when you share us, we all organically grow. Cheers. Just go meet tonight. Gabby's sick, and Angela's off doing the wedding gig biz. So, you know, it's just us. I was like, hey, it's you know, it's so good to see your face.

Lloyd Waller 1:33

Good to see you. How are you doing?

Jozlyn Rocki 1:34

I'm good. I have like a list of things and sticky notes, but I have like questions for you because I've been you're like, oh no, what she's gonna, but I okay, so let me this is what I want to talk to you about. So remember how we always say, like, it's so important, you know, to be a solution, right? Like how we've talked about that before, you know, and I had this epiphany just recently. Um, so this is how I'm doing, basically. Like I'm doing good, okay? Okay. And I'm having some like cool downloads, I'm having some cool experiences. And it doesn't necessarily benefit me, but it's like when you look at your whole business and like your journey as a solution rather than just wanting to get the gig or just wanting to make the money, it kind of changes your mindset. So that's kind of where I'm sitting right now. Um, so I had an experience where an audition came up from my one of my agents, and I was like, oh, this doesn't fit me. It doesn't fit like what it can do, you know. And sometimes they post like, hey, please send us referrals, you know, because they're very specific auditions.

Lloyd Waller 2:40

Right.

Jozlyn Rocki 2:41

This one didn't really have like send us a referral or anything like that. But I was like, you know what? My oldest son fits this perfectly. It's a very specific audition that had to deal with like specific platforms, a specific age. They were, it was like in the gaining gaming type genre of things, you know what I'm saying? Right. And um, it was like content related. I can't give too many specifics. Right. And um, and I was like, you know what? He would be perfect for this. Now I've had him audition before. I've reached out in this kind of situation before, but it was more for like a commercial. And I was like, hey, my oldest son fits the specs. Can he audition? And my agent's like, yeah, cool. Thanks. So it was like, here's another example of I reached, I reached out to my son, though, and I was like, Hey, are you interested in doing this? And it was like pretty in-depth in terms of the audition.

Lloyd Waller 3:34

I just love you saying I reached out to my son. Like it's not in the same house.

Jozlyn Rocki 3:40

He's not. Remember you.

Lloyd Waller 3:41

Oh, it's not, it's the oldest.

Jozlyn Rocki 3:43

It's my oldest.

Lloyd Waller 3:44

Oh, okay, okay.

Jozlyn Rocki 3:46

I'm my youngest who is living underneath the same room, is like a voice actor who has like a demo. Yeah.

Lloyd Waller 3:51

Okay.

Jozlyn Rocki 3:52

This is my oldest. So I was, so I'm really kind of, you know, trying to become a solution here for, you know, because my oldest is not repped by my agent. He has auditioned for um, you know, things before through me, through my agent, um, because he fit the specs. But my youngest does have a demo. He is represented, you know.

Lloyd Waller 4:12

Right.

Jozlyn Rocki 4:13

But so um, so I reached out to my oldest and we went through this whole long audition. Like, there were a lot of details to it. And I said, Do you think you can commit to this? It's kind of a big project. Are you interested? And he was like, Yeah. So I was like, okay, I'm gonna ask my agent if they'd be open to allowing you, you know, for me to refer you to them to, to, to, to audition. And my agent's like, awesome, yes, please, you know. And I was like, Would you like me to get you in contact with my son? Because he's 20 something, right? So he, you know, and they're like, no, no, no, just forward the audition to him. And so I had to make sure, you know, make sure you copy and paste the the like, you know, how you like are going to um whatever, identify the file or whatever. They have like very specific stuff. And so he did it. And I was like, okay, so right then and there, it doesn't hurt to ask. It doesn't hurt to be the solution, you know, it doesn't hurt to also like forward on opportunities to other people, you know, that are in the industry or that could be a potential solution for somebody else, you know. And um, I don't know. I just was like, okay, that that felt good, you know, that was fun. And, you know, maybe he'll get it, maybe he won't, but at least he was open to the experience and open to the idea of and he did it all on his own. He recorded everything all on his own and everything. So I was really excited for him. Yeah. He it's not too far-fetched for him because he is going into more of like your line of work, as I'm bringing it up to you, too. Um, because he's going to college for production, he's on the production track and media production and management and all that kind of stuff. So um, yeah. So, anyways, I was like, you know, we always talk about wanting to get the gig, wanting to book, wanting to make money, trying to advance our careers. But then it's also kind of nice to be able to be a solution, you know, in a different sort of context. Anyways, that's what I wanted to talk about.

Lloyd Waller 6:10

Okay. Uh a little bit.

Jozlyn Rocki 6:13

It's not the whole reason. Just before Okay.

Lloyd Waller 6:17

Uh I I do want to say for anyone who's listening, I just want to point out it's good that you asked. Yeah. Because there was, I I remember seeing a couple of weeks ago on Twitter there was like a little bit of a controversy with some people who were like sharing auditions to people they thought would would, you know, it would be good for. And it's like, well, you didn't get permission to share that, and now there's issues. Yes. You know. Uh just a reminder for anyone, you know. Um, yeah, I mean, that's a that's a that's a cool thing.

Jozlyn Rocki 6:47

Uh to be like a solution, yeah. You're totally right though. I always ask. But this is my I have a a relationship with my agent, and she knows I have kids that are voice actors, you know. So even though she they they specifically represent my youngest, they do know that I have other kids that do do voiceover, they're just not represented or like specifically, like, you know, they don't have like finalized demos or anything like that. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, I feel like that's a little bit of a leeway there, but you're right. You definitely need to ask. You can't just share auditions randomly to random people. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, yeah, yeah, that's that that's probably a no-no. But again, like just like looking at the needs of the agent, the audition specs, and saying, hey, I might have a solution for you. And would you be open and interested in this solution um potentially? And and them saying yes, and then my oldest being, you know, excited and open to to just going for it and trying it. Um he does have a lot of experience in um, like he's he's done an audio book with me before, you know what I'm saying? He's he's auditioned for other commercial spots, and he's also like in the video realm of things, so it's not too far-fetched. Um the other thing I was gonna tell you is um being persistent and staying connected.

Lloyd Waller 8:10

Okay.

Jozlyn Rocki 8:11

So, like, that's another thing, like a download that I had recently. So, you know, I took a day job.

Lloyd Waller 8:16

Yes.

Jozlyn Rocki 8:17

And I'm working full-time, and it's parallel to like what we do, and it's not it's not so far-fetched from like my previous experience in radio.

Lloyd Waller 8:26

Right.

Jozlyn Rocki 8:27

Um, so I remembered going through some notes, some old journals, because I take tons of notes. I remembered and saw that I had written down a contact. And I was like, oh my God, they work at my company.

Lloyd Waller 8:41

Oh.

Jozlyn Rocki 8:41

And I was like, oh, hey. And so I reached, I, you know, I was like, should I reach out to them? Of course I should reach out to them, you know, like, of course. And so I reached out to this who I thought it was, and we'll say, like, his name was Bob Summers. Okay, is I'm making up a name. And they're like, Oh, you might have the wrong person. You might be thinking of Billy Summers, you know, because I had like maybe miswritten the name down. So for the longest time, I was trying to find this person and I couldn't find him, and then I thought I found him because it's a huge company. And and so I ended up, I was like, should I reach out to him? Should I not reach out to him? I'm like, you know, I'm just gonna reach out to him. Just gonna, I'm just gonna be cool. I'm just like, hey, like, you know, I'm pretty sure we connected at in this like event, you know, at this particular place. Um, and he was like, Oh yeah, that's me. And I was like, yay! And then he's like, hey, you work here now. And I'm like, I do work here now. And he was like, sweet, you know, like send me your stuff, you know, because this could be um cool. And so I was like, all right, so I sent him my stuff, and because he's in like a different department, and um, and I like heard nothing. I even said, like, hey, feedback is always welcome, da-da-da. And I heard nothing, and I was like, oh my god, oh my god, what did I do? Oh crap, you know? And and then like a couple weeks later, he like floated an idea by me to to for like to be a part of like a you know, part of a project. And I was like, Yeah, okay, cool, I'll do this. I'm not trying to be too bag, but I can't really go into details. So I was like, So I was like, yeah. And so I I I r recorded, you know, like the pieces that he had requested from me, and I didn't hear anything, and I was like, oh my god! You know, because we talk about this too all the time. Like, do you it's like you don't hear anything, you just have to hard not to freak out. And then all of a sudden he was like, Cool, it's all con it's all like been like thumbs up across the board, and you're now gonna be like a part of this big um like specialty uh nice yeah, um, campaign, I guess. And so that's exposure, you know, it's experience. Um, I'm not, you know, it's it's also and he's like, yeah, and be on the lookout for um potential like future stuff. And I'm like, and it's in a different department. So um I am excited. And so I was like sharing it with you because it's like a lot of times we always hold ourselves back, like, no, I shouldn't reach out to this person, or maybe I shouldn't, I don't want to bother them, or I'm worried that, you know, this or that, or you know, and then we always talk about like not hearing anything and wondering like what's happening. And um I said to my husband, I was like, I'm just gonna breathe. I'm like, I'm worried, but and I'm just gonna breathe. I'm gonna be patient, I'm gonna wait. And it like totally unfolded. Everything was great. You know what I'm saying? Everything was fine. It turned out okay.

Lloyd Waller 11:53

Yeah.

Jozlyn Rocki 11:55

Yay!

Lloyd Waller 11:59

I I I I it's I mean, it's a good thing. I feel like I feel like like in the middle of you telling that story, my brain was like, this is the story that we I mean. It is almost every story. It's like, oh, I send something in a week later. I haven't heard anything, two weeks later, a month later, indiscriminate. I mean, for some people, like over a year later, you know, it's like, okay, I'm just gonna, you know, it's it's like the whole submit and forget, you know, I know deal. But you know, I I think it's really cool that you, you know, uh reached out and also kind of like searched for the person because I guess the contact wasn't right at first.

Jozlyn Rocki 12:59

Wrote the name down wrong.

Lloyd Waller 13:01

Um but like going through and like making the connection, you know, it's really cool. And I'm happy it like turned into something. Is it is it like a because is it an opportunity that is separate from your normal responsibilities in a sense that like like I know you're you're saying, you know, it's nice to be a solution, and that's that's more directed to the previous story, but the same still though, yeah.

Jozlyn Rocki 13:34

Yeah.

Lloyd Waller 13:34

Is it something where like you maybe get like paid outside of your normal responsibilities?

Jozlyn Rocki 13:43

So yeah, I know what you're saying. So basically it's it's this is like where you know it's a it's you're I work for a big company, which is like a huge corporation that has many different departments, you know. So it's just it's about being a team player, it's about being a solution, it's about reaching out and making connections uh from a business sense and also like connecting, you know, to to create like camaraderie and like friendship. And, you know, so anytime I come across somebody that I end up like connecting with um on a project, I always make sure that I send them a team like, hey, I'm Jocelyn, nice to meet you, you know, um, cool to work on this with you. And so it was like one of those things where I was like, hey, you know, we connected outside of work. Now I'm working here and he's in a different department, but um it it could potentially be an opportunity for me to be able to lend my voice on other projects outside of the department that I work on or work at, and um, which could, I don't know, create other opportunities for me to work on bigger, better projects, or help me advance, you know, in in the corporate culture that I'm now involved in, you know what I'm saying? Or maybe um be able to, when I like do see other opportunities that I might want to submit, you know, um to for like a different position, you know, I I can say, hey, I also worked with this person on this project, you know, and it wasn't really necessarily connected to my department, but you know, it so that yeah, and then also could maybe potentially create opportunities for me outside of my company because of the exposure with other clients, you know, hearing my voice. So maybe, yeah, I do know that that does um occur for other voice actors that um you know, and that work at a like a corporate culture, you know, like they get hired outside of the the company for other projects, I think. But um, I don't know, it's just weird. Like I'm like, oh my gosh, like it's it's just the point is is that um I'm tired I'm just done being afraid or worrying about should I, would I, could I? You know what I'm saying? It's like I'm just gonna do it and what's the harm? They say no, or what's the harm? They say, Oh, it's welcome, cool, you know, and like that's it, you know.

Lloyd Waller 16:01

Right, right, right.

Jozlyn Rocki 16:02

I don't know. We'll see we'll see. I just it's like I always worked at a small company before, a small Midwestern company, and this is like a quite large company, and there's so many opportunities, and I just I'm excited, you know. I'm just excited to see where it takes me. So um, that being said, because I have questions for you. Um doing stuff that you're not comfortable with. So I just I wanted to share this with you because I had a um Midwest agent submit me for something before asking, um, which is a little bit unusual, but not it's still kosher in the industry, like it happens. And so it was for like a UGC, like a user-generated content, um, for like a big like grocery store. And you know, I think a lot of brands are doing that now. They're doing you know, more social media stuff. And so I was like, oh my God, I don't know if I want to do this, but it's remote and it would help, it would be I'd be able to do something on camera, right? Um, potentially, you know, because right now I'm working full-time, so it's a little bit harder to do on camera stuff. You know this.

Lloyd Waller 17:08

Right.

Jozlyn Rocki 17:09

And so um, so I was like, I don't know if I want to do UGC. I was just literally talking to my sister. She's like, oh my God, you should, you know, this like it's good money. And I'm like, I know it's good money, but like I don't doing social media stuff and doing content-related stuff is not really my style. It makes I'm not comfortable with it. And so I'm getting to you. Cause and then um, and so I was like, you know what? Screw it. I'm just gonna do it. It's like a super casual audition, you know, they just want you to be real and authentic. And so I did it, and I just submitted it and forget it, forgot about it. Well, I'm talking about it right now, but I get rid of yeah. And so I was like, well, that wasn't so bad, you know. I mean, it was like kind of fun. And so it got me thinking about you and like your content creation that you started.

Lloyd Waller 17:58

Okay.

Jozlyn Rocki 17:59

Can we talk about this?

Lloyd Waller 18:01

Yeah.

Jozlyn Rocki 18:02

Uh yeah, what about because like I just find it so fascinating that like you started on this like TikTok adventure, you know, for one reason, and now it's sort of like taking off in this like direction, and like, you know, I mean, it's it's not easy doing that stuff. It's not easy to get in front of the camera, you know, it's not easy to be acting, you know, or but then like when you do content creation, it's like a mixture of being real and authentic, but also like, you know, you have like some people have certain like ways that they create their content, not necessarily like a character, but you have like sort of like a way that you do things that becomes a part of what you push out or what you create, don't you think?

Lloyd Waller 18:56

Right. Um I feel like people may disagree with this, but I feel like everything we do in life is performative.

Jozlyn Rocki 19:04

Yeah.

Lloyd Waller 19:05

So when I create like while you were talking, uh immediately I was like, well, I'm just myself. But like you are uh when when people create content, yeah, you're just yourself, but you're like maybe an aspect of yourself that you do not exhibit constantly. You know, for me, I think by and large, I think it's easier for me because like certain things are just a straight up stream of consciousness. Yeah. Uh because I have ADHD and also uh for anyone listening, I just want to point out Jaw said taking off temper your expectations. Because but like I first started making TikToks just so I could be more comfortable being on camera. Um and I think I am more comfortable doing that than like I have up until recently. Like I uh I was kind of on a I don't want to say a height, like a slow, like a down period of like I wasn't creating a lot, which is funny, funnily enough, my mom yesterday uh well actually I rewind just a little bit on like Monday. I made a TikTok and I was like, I need to make more TikToks so that my mom has more of her favorite show to watch because she's joked that she's she'll like get ready to go to bed and like let's turn on uh what's happening in Lloyd's live show. And yesterday I saw her and she was like, Have you been making TikToks? Because I haven't seen anything, and I was like, I guess this is the metric I'm gonna hold myself to, right? When my mom starts asking me if I've been making TikToks, I should probably be making more TikToks.

Jozlyn Rocki 21:16

Oh, I love that.

Lloyd Waller 21:17

Do you hear my clock?

Jozlyn Rocki 21:19

No, I don't think it's interesting.

Lloyd Waller 21:22

It's fairly loud. You can hear it across our apartment. I I have a Kingdom Hearts clock. Uh Kingdom Hearts is a very popular video game. I I I like that.

Jozlyn Rocki 21:31

You've brought that before, yeah.

Lloyd Waller 21:32

Yes. Uh and I've probably asked that question. I forget that it plays music from the series on the at the top of the hour if uh if there's enough light in the room. And I left I left my blinds open.

Jozlyn Rocki 21:48

Oh, that's funny.

Lloyd Waller 21:49

And I just I just heard it. So um that's why I was asking.

Jozlyn Rocki 21:54

I love your TikToks. Like I like throughout my work day, like I get notifications. Oh, Lloyd posted something. Oh, Lloyd posted something. I always was curious about that. Like, do you like pre-post and like no, like they're like you're posting them in real time?

Lloyd Waller 22:10

Yeah.

Jozlyn Rocki 22:10

Okay.

Lloyd Waller 22:11

I don't I don't think there's anything I ever I mean, there's probably a couple I've like recorded and then like saved as a draft and then and but I try not to do that anymore. Like I try not to have anything on drafts. Um I just will post things as I think of them, you know. Or even uh sometimes I won't even have like an idea before I post. You know, I'll just open TikTok, turn on the camera, and say something.

Jozlyn Rocki 22:39

Really?

Lloyd Waller 22:40

Yeah. You know.

Jozlyn Rocki 22:42

But you have stuff to say, because that's what I was saying to my sister. My sister's like, oh, you missed the boat. Like, you know, I was I saw this like TikTok, I saw a social media post where someone was saying that her and a group of girls, like they do social media and they do they have content that they create and they're making money off of it. And she and some of it has to do with their families and their kids. And I was like, Yeah, I'm not really into that. And I was like, but you I feel like you have to have sort of a direction or a little bit of a like a like something that like anchors you into like the direction that you kind of go in, you know what I'm saying? And and and or like an interesting story, or you know, something that some people like do the shock value, you know, like I am a mom that's 40 that survived colon cancer, you know, or I'm a, you know, I I don't know, something something devastating. I might cut that out. Cut that out. Like but like you started off like like you said, to get more comfortable in front of the camera. And I feel like I love it because it's like these little like snippets of Lloyd's brain, you know, like little journal entries, you know. Yeah, I mean And that's like a direction.

Lloyd Waller 23:55

Uh you know, uh maybe if the direction is everywhere all at once, and uh you know, uh yeah, oh man. Yeah, yeah. Um I think that I have ideas of like where I would want things to go, but there are also mental blocks in regards to like mental and logistical physical, because I work a full-time job uh and do a lot of stuff outside like TikToks. Like if you think I post a lot of TikToks, like if you're a person who follows me on TikTok and is like, oh my god, this guy's posting all the time, how does he do that? You would be so surprised to find out that as far as creative stuff goes, TikTok is like so low on the totem pole that it takes so little of my time, you know, except for the days, like there were a couple days where I was like, I'm gonna make a hundred TikToks in a day.

Jozlyn Rocki 24:58

Oh my gosh.

Lloyd Waller 25:00

Those are those those take up a lot of time, but it's like I'm always doing something. Like I spent most of this morning holding a fucking boom pole because I'm, you know, I do uh like there's a sketch group that some friends I know from Impo Improv, you know, we put together. So like we're filming sketches. That's cool. You know, yeah, it is, it's really cool, you know. It's it's one of those things where like you have to like if you want to do things, you have to create those opportunities yourself. But I I think for me the hardest thing about content creation when it comes to TikTok specifically is that between TikTok and YouTube, because I don't I want to start a YouTube channel, um I am doing so much already that I do not have the energy to document everything I'm doing.

Jozlyn Rocki 26:04

Right.

Lloyd Waller 26:05

You know, and I feel like if I documented everything I was doing, honestly, I would really, like, really grow like a social media following that would generate opportunities and income. And you know, it's it's uh important to acknowledge like the the the fact that I know that's a possibility is is good, but like actually doing that is very different than I know talking about it. Knowing that yeah.

Jozlyn Rocki 26:40

Or knowing and then talking about it and then creating it. That's another thing I said to my sister. I was like, it's not just something that like some people, you know, it takes thought and you know, there's a lot of people that are out there that do content creation that also is like helps promote maybe programs that they've created or helps like voice actors or on-camera actors to get exposure, or they're sharing information, they might be a coach, you know what I'm saying? So it is valuable. Um, I just was like, I don't know if I have any, like without the verbiage, I don't know if I have like a shtick about me. You know what I'm saying? Like, and I don't know if so, like some people have like something about them that they can share, and I don't have anything, you know what I'm saying? And then it's like also trying to figure out I don't know if I'm that interesting. Like, you know, you know what I'm saying? It's hard to think about. I find you very interesting. Like, I think the things that you talk about are interesting. I was like, wow, and they're relatable too, you know. I think that that's what holds some people back from I don't know. I have a love-hate relationship with social media. I do it because I think I have to, and I do it to like keep up with like business-related stuff, you know, and do stuff with a podcast. But like I've kind of given up on creating content to promote, I don't know, to promote, I don't know how to explain it. You know what I'm saying? Because it's like it's a lot of work.

Lloyd Waller 28:05

Yeah. So uh you started to say that you think that holds people back and you didn't finish the sentence. Uh finish it for me. No, I'm not gonna finish it for you, but I am gonna say that I think the only things that hold anybody back from anything is capacity and fear.

Jozlyn Rocki 28:26

Yeah, that's fear, fear, and afraid. Yeah, yeah.

Lloyd Waller 28:28

Do you have the capacity to do it? Yes. Why haven't you done it? Because you're afraid to do it. You want to do it, but there's something stopping you that is rooted in fear, in my mind. That's my opinion. Yeah. Um, you know, because it because it is one of those things where, like, even if you don't have the capacity, you could, and I'm not I'm not saying that anyone should overextend themselves, but people do overextend themselves for the sake of. Leave me alone, Zoom. I'm not raising my hand.

Jozlyn Rocki 28:58

I was gonna say, what's happening?

Lloyd Waller 28:59

Oh, gosh dang, you can just leave it. It just it bugs me. Now we're out of the sides, but I I I you know, people all the time will be like, you know, what are you willing to give up for the sake of blah, blah, blah, whatever. You know, and I and I and I think that works for some people. I would never tell somebody to like overextend themselves to uh to progress, yeah. Even though that is straight up what I do. Uh I like legitimately, I'm so low energy right now. Like, I took a 30-minute nap before I got on this call because I was like, okay, well, I had three improv shows this week, and I, oh, you know what I can do?

Jozlyn Rocki 29:48

That's exciting. Let's talk about your improv though. Like, I think it's exciting that you're like, I think it's so cool that you're like in a position where you can, like you said, you're working full-time. You are working on putting yourself out there on by creating content on social media. And like you said, like TikTok is like a pretty user-friendly, easy platform to do stuff like, and especially like the direction that you've chosen. Like you're just, you know, they're little snippets of pieces of information or little like thoughts. Like they're like thought bubbles. I feel like they're like thought bubbles that come out of your brain.

Lloyd Waller 30:23

Right, right.

Jozlyn Rocki 30:23

And you're very, you know, and are just like random pieces of information, or you know, like so. I think that's cool. But like you also do improv.

Lloyd Waller 30:32

Right.

Jozlyn Rocki 30:33

And then like now you're thinking about doing theater, and like you've gotten your headshots done, you know, like, and you're putting yourself out there to to not only do voiceover, but also improv on stage, theater on stage, on camera stuff, like hello, you know, pushing out content on social media. Like, this is an entirely different Lloyd than five years ago, you know? It's exciting.

Lloyd Waller 31:00

Yeah, most definitely. Uh I yeah. Uh, you know what's crazy is so I'm gonna fix some things really quick because it's gonna bug me. My my camera's wire is so uh it's not long. Oh it it well, it's it it I never know if I can reach it forward on my monitor without uh it completely deciding to just fall off the back of my computer. So I always leave it low. But golly.

Jozlyn Rocki 31:33

Looks good.

Lloyd Waller 31:34

How well can you can you still hear me pretty well?

Jozlyn Rocki 31:36

Yeah, nothing's changed. It looks great.

Lloyd Waller 31:39

I just I really need to get other lighting in this booth. It's always I've like I have one lamp. Uh I used to have when I before before I moved, I actually had lights, but I just didn't feel like putting them back up because long story. Um okay, as long as you can long as you can hear me and see me, and I have this giant shadow that I hate.

Jozlyn Rocki 31:59

But I I have shadows too. I mean, like I always work, it's like, you know, it is what it is. But I like it's like God. So I just you're doing it all. Yeah.

Lloyd Waller 32:09

Yeah. What I was gonna say was uh the crazy thing is, so I started like I started pursuing voiceover in I wanna say twenty twenty one-one. Yeah. Right. And January twenty-seventh uh no January twenty-send, twenty twenty nope it wasn't January twenty-seventh, twenty twenty-two was the fur that was the first time I ever went to an improv show. And you were a part of that, as was as were everyone who is on this podcast. Yeah. Uh, because there was a like a real question of if I was gonna go or not, and you guys kind of uh uh encouraged you. Encouraged, coerced. Um but I uh but the crazy thing is, you know, it's 2026, you know, and I I went to that show. Uh it's the group is called Bleach Improv or Troop, I should say, Bleach Improv. They've been doing improv in Vegas for over a decade for sure. Um and then I, you know, a few months later, I was like, I'll take these classes because we've talked about Brent Mukai so many times, he's fucking amazing. He was like, if I want to do, if you want to do character stuff, you have to have strong improv skills. And so like the combination of me having gone to that show and him saying that, I ended up taking classes, went through all their classes. And there's a lot of like so much stuff that like fast forward to now, yeah. Fast forward to uh I guess we'll say this last week. Um, there is uh for people who are like who are not, I guess, entertainment mind minded, there are uh like training centers, much like the voice actor studio for voice acting, you know, there's uh UCB, Growling, Second City, uh that are like acting, comedy. Uh some friends and I decided to start taking classes at UCB in LA. Uh and it was weird because when I first started improv hearing about these places, uh there's like a it's like this tower up on a hill that you know, you you you learn about the people who have gone through these places that like are on SNL and like in movies and like, you know, yeah. Uh it's like, oh my God, that's like the end all be all of improv, which is not the case, right? Because I for the past, I don't uh not the past now, but uh a week ago, last Sunday, I finished it UCB has like their core track of cla core improv is like 101 through 401. Yeah. So last weekend I finished 401. Wow. Uh which is like a really big deal. Yeah. It's it's a really big deal. But it is also, I think a lot of people in the class we agreed that it was very helpful and also largely a reminder of how much more we have to grow. Oh yeah. You know, uh someone out someone said to me, uh someone said to me yesterday, actually, that like completing 401 is the first step of proving that you're serious. Yeah, yeah, right, yeah. But the crazy thing about that is timing-wise, I finished UCB 401 and later during the I finished that on Sunday, and on Thursday, I was invited to play with Bleach Improv. The people who I first saw do improv, who I first learned improv on from, I was invited to play in their monthly show with them. Wow. Which was like a huge deal. You know? Yeah. And then I had two other shows like the next day. Um, and but the thing that was very interesting about Bleach specifically is that the theater where I primarily do improv mom's basement theater, uh, Bleach was at a place called Vegas Theater Company, then they went to mom's basement, now they've gone back to Vegas Theater Company. But for a lot of people that I know in Vegas who do improv, uh Bleach uh Bleach is the only for a long time, and still really outside of comedy sports, but this which is short form, has been the only consistent uh troupe doing things for the longest time. Like the only people who have like have their own show. Uh and and there might be there's one that's like like it's like a church group, and I can't remember the name of it, but yeah, that's okay. Uh but they were like on a pedestal, you know, for I fucking had them, I had them on a pedestal for so long. Yeah. And so when I was invited to play with them, one of the things that I was like really kind of worried about was like, these people have so much experience. Like, like they've been doing improv more than three to four times as long as I've been doing improv. Right. You know? Uh and I was like worried that going out and playing with them would be a situation where like I kinda stuck out as like the sore thumb, the guy who like didn't really know what was going on. And I have a friend uh in LA who does like a lot of musical theater. Uh their name is Chantilly. Uh and I was talking to them about an audition that I did that I actually told you I auditioned for Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson at a place called Yeah, Majestic Repertory Theater. Love them. Got a call back, did not, I was not cast, but part of it was because I it was my first ever callback and it was a cattle call. Uh for people who don't know what that means, it means you auditioned in front of a director and maybe a couple other people, and you come back for the callback, and you're in the room with everyone else who is auditioning. So you're like watching all of these people, you're like, oh my god, they're so good. I am the least experienced person in this room. And I definitely I definitely let my nerves get to me. Um, but one thing they said to me that I did not do because I let my nerves get to me, they were like, you have to treat it like it's already your job.

Jozlyn Rocki 39:21

Right.

Lloyd Waller 39:21

Go in there, you've been invited to be here, they want you there, do the work.

Jozlyn Rocki 39:25

Yeah.

Lloyd Waller 39:26

And I remembered that before the Bleach show. Good. So that's you know, kind of the mindset that I had. And it was a great show. That's awesome. You know, I I had a good time. Uh, a lot of people I know from the improv community, as well as like uh uh mainly improv community, uh came to support, and they're like, oh, so good, blah, blah. You know, yeah. Yeah, it was a fun time. And I I think that was I think that I've been I've been thinking about it for the last three days. Um, just knowing that it felt like I was supposed to be there. Yes. And to people who don't know anything about me who were in the crowd, it looked like I was supposed to be there. Right. Is um I I can't really uh put words I I I I I want to say that it like instills a level of confidence in me that I don't think I had before. Uh and and really like building confidence is is in any regard just doing the thing over and over and over until you know you're not uncomfortable with it anymore.

Jozlyn Rocki 40:46

Exactly.

Lloyd Waller 40:47

But uh, you know, uh it was just crazy because like I've been invited to be in shows, like I I'm I'm into shows that happen monthly already. I've been in lots of shows. Four other shows, four to six other shows, you know. But it was the first time I was like, oh, okay, you know, this is like there's not there's no question here, you know. I'm supposed to be out here. And I like that's awesome. I think that was the first time, and I've been doing improv for four years. And that was probably the first time I was like, yeah, this is where like nobody can tell me I'm not supposed to be here right now.

Jozlyn Rocki 41:31

Right. You know, it's an amazing thing. That's awesome. Like I that I think that kind of like circles back to like what I was, you know, saying before, where it's like taking the opportunities that are presented to you, or like you said, creating the opportunities for yourself and then stepping out of your way. You know what I'm saying? Like step out of your way, don't create a problem. Because all too often, like I was back to like the whole worried about, you know, oh my gosh, I sent my my work to this other department. Like, what are they really thinking about it? And then like, just don't worry about it, breathe, you know? And then like, and then have then they send you a project. And then I was like, I was doing exactly what you you were talking about. I was like, oh no, am I supposed to be doing this? Should I can I do this? Can I, can I actually voice this? You know what I'm saying? Like, should I should I even be here? And I'm like, no, yes, I am here for a reason. I'm supposed to be here, just like you said. I'm supposed to be here on the stage with these people. I belong here, and finding having that like epiphany, that moment where you're like, I'm here, I belong here, and that mind shift, you know, yeah, and everything clicks in place. It's like, wow, you know, like holy shit, you know, like this is where I'm supposed to be, you know, and like looking back and reflecting like you, you know, on the five years that got you to the journey that got you to where you are, you know? It's like everyone always says, yeah, you know, there's gonna be some missteps, yeah, there's gonna be some hiccups, yeah, there's gonna be some disappointments, but all that was set in place on purpose to get you to where you're supposed to be.

Lloyd Waller 43:19

Right.

Jozlyn Rocki 43:20

And it's hard to think like that when you're in it and you're trudging through it. You know, it's hard to be like we still have work to do, right? We have still places to go, you know, but yeah.

Lloyd Waller 43:34

I think you know so excited for you.

Jozlyn Rocki 43:37

Yay! I wanna I wanna squeeze you.

Lloyd Waller 43:40

Oh my I I I was at work one day, like two weeks ago. Um, it was a Monday, I remember that. I texted our friend Sandy, who's been on the podcast before. Yeah, Sandy Buck. Yeah. I texted her because I had it, and I hate I don't like feeling like I'm wax poeticing, but sometimes I just can't stop. Like I think in a very wax poetic way. And I just had this thought that I I don't even like saying it out loud because it feels so sappy. Uh but I I texted her and I was like, I just had the the the like feeling that things for me are like really about to blow up, but only if I do not allow the various fears that I know will rear their ugly fucking heads to slow me down from doing what I need to be doing. Right. Which is which is that's actually why I was complaining uh in our WhatsApp about uh agencies that don't put information on their sites. I know it's fucking because I was I had spent that whole day applying to agencies. You know, and I was like I just was like, well, if I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna fucking do it. Yeah, you know, so I started sending applications and I sent one to an agency that never responded to me back in June of last year. Because I'm like, respond to me or tell me no. Yeah. Because I'm going to keep sending your message.

Jozlyn Rocki 45:25

Um it's good, persistent, being persistent, you know, creating opportunities for yourself. It's like, you know, being the solution, you know, you never know. It's all about timing and you just have to keep going, you know.

Lloyd Waller 45:37

Yeah. And I I'm gonna side note, I'm uh this is specific. If we like ever have an actual agent watching and you see me right now, I need you. Yeah. Don't expect people to tailor make their introductory emails to you when you have no information about your agency on your site. Right. I don't know what you like. I don't know what kind of people you like, I don't know what you stand for. Like, ah so frustrating. Yes. Yeah, you know, because it is like, why am I wasting my time? I don't want to say wasting my time, but why am I no, it is a waste of time for me to try to meet your expectations when your expectations aren't there.

Jozlyn Rocki 46:26

I have figured out that like I cannot meet anybody's expectations. And like I figured out that like I don't even like when I submit to stuff, like it's like everyone's like, Well, how did you go about doing that? I'm like, here's my thought process. I want to do this, I want to submit to agents. I overthink everything, throw it all out the window, say, fuck it, send them my stuff, fill out the application, hit send, and then I'm done. Like I literally just say, Hey, I'm Jocelyn. I'm in, you know, I can't wait to talk to you. Here's the information that you're looking for, or I just submit the application that they have up on their site and give them everything that they're looking for, you know, because I'm a professional, I'm professional grade over here, you know, and then and then I'm done. And like sometimes, sometimes I'll reapply every three months. Sometimes I'll reapply every six months. Sometimes, sometimes, you know, if something new comes up, like I, you know, if I've been something new happened, you know, maybe, yeah, maybe I'll I'll submit. It's usually like three to six months. Like I try not to be super annoying, but you know, like I what's the harm? I'm not being annoying, I'm not sending long emails, I'm following the process, like I'm being persistent and consistent. And it's all about timing, luck, and maybe I might be the exact thing that they're looking for. I might be the solution, you know, like I might be the sl you might be the solution. You just don't know, you know, and all too often I think people are like, well, I want it to be perfect, or I maybe I shouldn't do this, or maybe I shouldn't do that. No, fuck it. You gotta go from like, I'm gonna do this, overthink it, throw it out the window, say fuck it, hit send, be done with it.

Lloyd Waller 48:08

You know, and uh, you know, the crazy uh this is an intrusive thought, but I literally, while you were talking about that, I was like, why would I overthink it when I can go play Xbox? I haven't played Xbox in a month. So like I I love game. I've been so fucking busy.

Jozlyn Rocki 48:23

But it's good busy. Like, yeah, I think it's so exciting. Like, I I I I know we're like we're we're gonna wind things down, but I think it's so exciting that like if you look at where you and I were five years ago, we were contemplating whether or not we should take a voiceover class.

Lloyd Waller 48:41

Right.

Jozlyn Rocki 48:42

You know, and then we started taking voice acting classes. And then, you know, and then fast forward to now, you're getting headshots done, you know, you're putting yourself out there on TikTok and creating content. Um, you know, you're you're you're out on the stage doing improv. You're taking classes in LA, you know, at places that like you didn't know were even reachable, you know? And you know, I'm I'm doing on-camera stuff. Like I've booked on-camera spot commercials, you know, been on set, like a real set, you know, I've done student films, um, I've voiced student films, you know, like it's it's I think too, we need to celebrate the fact that like we've come so far, you know what I'm saying? And that we're we're still here, we're still doing it, you know? And as much as we overthink things, you know, we still say fuck it and do it, you know? Right. And we're still here and we're still consistent and we're still trying to be the solution, you know, and and having fun doing it, you know. Um I and trying new things that we think that maybe we're not totally f the right fit for, maybe we're not super comfortable with, you know. Um, but we still do it anyways, you know. And I think that that's like the conversation that is like important to have, you know, like you don't have to be the best. And maybe you are really, really good at something. Great, do it, excel at it, but like you don't have to be the best to do to just do something. You just have to do it, you know. And I think looking back, like I'm proud of us, you know, we've done things that we didn't think we could do and had fun doing it, you know, and reinvented ourselves along the way, you know. And I think that's cool.

Lloyd Waller 50:33

Yeah, I think it's really cool. And I think there are a lot of like I uh if people knew how like pessimistic I was during the day, they would think I'm a very different person. I think there's like two people who know how pessimistic I am, and it's like Sandy and my friend Brianna, because I talk to them all day about how pissed off I am. Um but I recently uh have like really tried to remember and remind myself of because it's really my job just drives me fucking crazy. Uh which like I get common sentiment. I hate I'm gonna say it when people are like, aren't we all miserable? It's like we don't have to be. Yeah. But um, and that's that, you know, I one of the hardest things for me is that when I tell people that like my job drives me crazy, people, I don't think people think about the fact that like if you work a job that you're not satisfied with, and like you've, you know, you uh I I've probably talked about this multiple times. As a matter of fact, um, actually, I'm not gonna say that because that's gonna get emotional.

Jozlyn Rocki 51:49

Uh oh my gosh, we just went in three different directions, but now we're back. Okay, so why are we?

Lloyd Waller 51:54

Well, it it's all related. It's just I was thinking about the times where I've talked about this, talked about this. Hating your job, yeah. And and and one of them uh was uh I don't know if maybe we cut this. I don't know. Um one of them was uh you know gab I don't know. I'm gonna ask this question not knowing like it for the for the reference of whether or not we should cut it. Um because I don't know, like I haven't been I haven't recorded with you guys since uh you know Frankie Oh since we lost Frankie, yeah. I don't know if that's something you guys have talked about.

Jozlyn Rocki 52:49

Not really, no. I mean, but like it's not really, not yet, you know.

Lloyd Waller 52:53

Yeah. And so uh I was just thinking about like it's okay. The uh it was just well after that happened, you know, Gabby posted a clip from us recording and talking about that. And I and I remember there was a clip where it starts with me saying I don't want to wake up in the morning and go do something that I didn't want to do in the first place and then not make it home that day. And the last thing I did was something that makes me miserable.

Jozlyn Rocki 53:26

Right.

Lloyd Waller 53:27

You know and that happens for so many people.

Jozlyn Rocki 53:32

Yeah.

Lloyd Waller 53:33

That happens for so many people. And for me, I don't think people under like the thing that frustrates me is I don't think people understand how much working a job that you are not content with takes out of you. Everybody's just like, well, I gotta do what I gotta do. And it like eats away at your soul. You know? And it's like you spend more waking hours of your life being in a place that makes you miserable than anything else in your life. So like I have had to really hone in on the things that do make me happy, and the opportunities I have been provided through, you know. As my youngest, yeah. Uh and the the I you know, the thing the opportunities I've been provided, the people that I've been surrounded by, uh, and like the things that like keep me going. Cause like a couple like a couple of months ago, uh I I'm in a show called Improv is Blind, which also happens monthly at Mama's Basement Theater. But we went to uh Tulsa, Oklahoma to uh to we we did a set of our show there. Um at a theater that uh one of our uh true members, a guy named Brent, he used to live in Tulsa, so he was familiar with the theater. We, you know, yeah. And so we went there, did improv. Uh but the thing for me that was uh very I don't wanna maybe it is, and this is I I stopped myself because I was like, don't wax poetic. But I I I was like, I I think on the on the level of like someone having like a North Star, right? I went to the Greenwood Rising Museum, which is the museum that is where Black Wall Street used to be. Um for those who don't know about Black Wall Street.

Jozlyn Rocki 55:53

I've heard of it.

Lloyd Waller 55:54

Look it up. Look it up. It's is the Yeah. Uh all all you know. Google it. One of the most if not the most prosperous, uh predominantly black uh municipalities, neighborhoods, whatever that like the US has ever seen. And it was very vi like a lot of people died.

Jozlyn Rocki 56:17

Um you went to the museum.

Lloyd Waller 56:22

Yeah, I went to the museum.

Jozlyn Rocki 56:23

Uh-huh.

Lloyd Waller 56:24

And uh the whole experience of that I won't get into because I think that's a very personal thing. But at the end of the like when you're leaving the museum, they have this big wall of like placards that are like statements people have like made where it's like, I'll commit to building a better future because that like through this, you know, I'll be more uh more conscious of the way I walk in the world, you know, all these different things. And for me, mine was like the one that because they they have like the they have like an eye, they're like an I have iPads you can type in, like and it'll pop up on a thing. But the for me it was it like the iPad wasn't working that day. But I like for me as a personal commitment, yeah, I said that I will never stop uh being a large black man who takes up space in the arts.

Jozlyn Rocki 57:29

Oh wow.

Lloyd Waller 57:31

And that you know, that is something that is like very important to me. Yeah. Uh so that's like if we if we say that there's like a purpose, like I think at this point in my life, that's like what drives me. Like and it I think we separate like purpose, desire, and all these things, but like that's what that's like. Um so like remembering that that's what that's what I want to do, remembering the direction it's taking the the well that too, uh, but also, you know, the appreciating the journey. Yes, you know, because you know, not it's you know, people go to like improv festivals and stuff, but it's not uh not everybody who's doing improv is going to another state to do improv at a theater that they've never been at, you know.

Jozlyn Rocki 58:27

Right.

Lloyd Waller 58:28

Um I through like acting classes and stuff, like I just committed to and uh being like a script supervisor on a short film that like through like meeting people from other stuff. Yeah, and it's like all these opportunities, you know, are happening because I haven't stopped, right? And I have to remind myself that that's you know, I uh that because I haven't stopped, and also because I've continued actively uh striving to be a good person, yeah, and being a good people don't want to work with pieces of shit.

Jozlyn Rocki 59:16

Like yeah.

Lloyd Waller 59:18

Um that's no no no, I just you're doing all of it.

Jozlyn Rocki 59:25

Like that's what I was gonna say is like some people think, oh, I'm not this, I'm not an actor, I'm not this or that because I I'm not like on a TV show or I'm not on a film, but like it's all of what you're talking about, all the doing of all the things, being open to the opportunities, open to connecting, open to receiving, open to following through to opportunities that are presented to you or the ones that you created yourself and just experiencing it. You are an actor. You are doing it, you are doing all the things, and all of it collectively combined cre is like your creative experience, yeah, you know, and like I love that you said that you had that moment at that museum where you had like that download, that epiphany, that like and you put it on a placard, you know, and you like solidified it, you know, and like like that's like manifesting.

Lloyd Waller 1:00:25

Yeah.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:00:25

That's like, you know, you just made your um, you just manifest it, you know, like you created it this like, you know, you solidified it into the universe, you know. Right. It's in writing, you know, like you stamped it on a wall, you know, and I think that's cool, you know? And I think that's important because I think all too often people think, well, I've I have to do this in order to do that, or I have to be at this point to be able to consider myself like whatever label you want to add to like who you are. And no, no, you just have to do it, you know?

Lloyd Waller 1:01:03

Yeah. You're that thing when you decide that you're that thing.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:01:06

Yeah, yeah.

Lloyd Waller 1:01:07

Yeah.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:01:07

That's so exciting.

Lloyd Waller 1:01:08

I know that's like a doctor or something. You can you can you can decide you are any sort of artist when you s when you decide you're gonna do the art and you start doing it.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:01:19

Yeah, you can't just be a doctor to and start doctoring. Like you probably need to go to school.

Lloyd Waller 1:01:24

I cannot just say I'm an optometrist.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:01:29

Right, right. In the creative realm. Let's like, let's like, you know, in the creative realm, if you decide that you're gonna do something, then you've decided and you're doing it, you know.

Lloyd Waller 1:01:39

Right.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:01:40

And and like I think that like in the beginning, looking back five years ago, we thought that like we had to do this, this, and this, or we had to be at a certain level to be able to say, like, I'm a voice actor. No, you're already a voice voice actor. No. Like, you know, I used to think like, oh, I have to be a certain age to be to be acting. No, I started acting as an older woman, you know, and I'm an actor. I mean, I'm you know, I'm doing it, I'm doing the things, you know, and and um and you should too, if you're listening.

Lloyd Waller 1:02:11

Yes. Yes. If if you want to act, if you well you should just do it.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:02:16

Yeah. If you want to reinvent yourself or there's something that you're excited that's passionate that you want to do in the creative realm, doesn't you should decide to do it and do it. And don't let like your full-time job hold you back, or you know, don't think that like because money does shouldn't hold you back either. Like that, like you said, there are other things out there that we've talked about before that you can find ways to like educate yourself, get training, learn, you know, or like volunteer your time, like you said, to like create opportunities to learn, you know.

Lloyd Waller 1:02:50

Right. I will also add to that, don't let money hold you back, but also don't well, I I think there is a I'm not gonna I think there is a subcategory of people who want to do art who do themselves a disservice by saying, I'm gonna do it all on my own. I'm not gonna get training, I'm not gonna invest in the resources or equipment as far as you know, voiceover is concerned. You know, so just like if you're gonna do it, also be open to like what is considered to be standard for whatever that is, I guess I'll say. Yeah, that's okay. Don't just be like, I'm gonna act, and you spend 10 years doing whatever you want, and then you're like, you can't take direction, you know. Right, right. You know, stuff like that.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:04:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely.

Lloyd Waller 1:04:02

Because there's I think the more that I like do stuff, the more I see and hear people who do that. And I'm like, I'm just like, oh no. Well, it's just, you know, when you when you take classes and you like, you know, I don't want to talk about there's a website called I'll I'll say it, Casting Hall Club.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:04:21

Oh, casting call club, yeah.

Lloyd Waller 1:04:23

Right. On Casting Call Club, you can listen to everybody's auditions. And it's like, oh, this person recorded this audition in the bathroom with the fan on. Oh, yeah, yeah, right. Like, you know, and they have 300 auditions, and it's like, you're not gonna go anywhere doing that.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:04:42

Right, right.

Lloyd Waller 1:04:42

You know, but nobody's telling them.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:04:44

Right.

Lloyd Waller 1:04:44

You know.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:04:45

Take the time that in the the place that you decide to be creative, whatever like application, take the time to learn like the basic like stuff that you need to know in order to put your best foot forward because it's only it's gonna be a disservice to you and other people if you don't know what you're doing. That's why I was so happy that I found the voice actor studio. I was in radio for like 20 years and I've been doing voice, I've been voice acting for like a long time. But like when radio left me, and then my husband's like, just do voiceover. I'm like, okay, I'm just how am I to just do voiceover? Well, it was important for me to be trained and to understand because there's it's it's such a it's a beast. It has Right.

Lloyd Waller 1:05:25

Stylistically, it's so different.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:05:26

Yeah, yeah. Just like if you're an artist or if you're you want to be a director, you want to be in films, or like you want to act. I mean, there's so many things you need to just have a basic understanding of the art.

Lloyd Waller 1:05:38

Right.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:05:38

Of you know, the path that you decide to go on. You need to understand that. I mean, you can't just yeah.

Lloyd Waller 1:05:45

I don't know. Yeah.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:05:46

Anyways.

Lloyd Waller 1:05:46

We could that's like a whole taste your dreams and get the the the necessary education to do so.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:05:53

Yes.

Lloyd Waller 1:05:54

Yes.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:05:55

Yes. Yes, exactly. That's uh you just opened up a whole can of worms because I was like I could go like right down that rabbit hole, like for sure. And we were gonna like run out of time. I am like, I wanted to hear more about like I just I I wanted to hear more about your your show and Tulsa uh you said like it was it like a cool really quickly, was it like a cool show? Like it was everything that you expected it to be and um everything I expected.

Lloyd Waller 1:06:21

I don't know if I had any real expectations. Um and I think in hindsight, that's a very good thing to do in improv. Uh not really have any expectations. What was the question you started to ask? Did it what?

Jozlyn Rocki 1:06:36

Did it like maybe it like exceeded your expectations, or maybe exceeded what you didn't even expect? You know what I'm saying?

Lloyd Waller 1:06:43

Like were you kind of like I think the expectation was we go, we do the art, the audience receives it, and that's what happens. You know, it because it was you know, it's not like we uh we weren't going to Tulsa to make money. Yeah, right. You don't you're you're doing improv, you're probably not making money off of it. Like there are very few people who make uh good money off of improv. Yeah, um, you know, but like we had a pretty good turnout. Um people enjoyed it, you know, and we got to play with and meet some pretty cool people in the process. Yeah, you know, and we'll probably go back. Like if you were talking about maybe going back in like October, you know. So that's good.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:07:38

I think that all too often people set uh also like you set out to like when you go into the creative realm that you're like instead, like I said, like that mindset of like shifting your mindset, like I'm a solution versus like going after like for a paycheck. You know what I'm saying? When I think I saw Brian Cranston like mention this on social media. He's like, if you like, you don't go into it as like I'm auditioning for like a job, right? You're going into it as if like you are there to share your art and you're there to share your interpretation of like the audition and like it's different, you know what I'm saying? And like, yeah. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, it is. And I mean, how many times and and we going back to Sandy Bach, how many times have we all done things for free? You know, like I've done student films and indie films on camera and voiceover stuff, and everyone's like, oh, why would you do that for free? Well, I wanna, it's exciting. It's it's the experience. I get to create art, I get to be a part of something, and that's how you get started, you know?

Lloyd Waller 1:08:47

Like I was like, my first Terrence would be annoyed by this, but my first lead role, right, is something it's something that's I mean, I'm I'm allowed to talk about it. Uh but uh uh it's uh an audio drama called Wicked Father, uh, and it's free, you know. But I was like I was looking at it and I was like, oh, you know what? This looks interesting. I would like to do this, you know. And and what the reason I said Terrence would be annoyed is because Terrence has specifically told me that I'm in a place where I should not be doing free stuff. But but uh it's like, hey, if somebody wants to pay me, absolutely, right? But I will fill my time doing other things if nobody's paying me right now.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:09:39

But that it was a genre that you didn't like you might not have like booked before, and so it was an opportunity for you to be able to experience it, and then you learned and you grew, and it was something you did for free, and like maybe the next time you'll get paid. That's that's what I'm saying. Like, you know, yeah, you just have to be open to the experience, be the solution, you know, get a little training before you start doing things, right? You know, understand the space that you're going into, and just like if you're passionate about it, just do it, you know?

Lloyd Waller 1:10:10

Yeah.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:10:10

Yeah. And don't hold yourself back.

Lloyd Waller 1:10:13

Yes.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:10:14

Yeah. Okay. I want to do the fun question because I I have I have a feeling that like my child that interrupted us, which is my youngest, who is the voice actor, um I have a feeling he's hungry for dinner.

Lloyd Waller 1:10:27

Cool. And I desperately need to use the restroom.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:10:29

I don't. No, that's okay. And I I have to tell you, remember how you you you said, ooh, you might be a doomsday prepper. And I'm like, I might be a doomsday prepper. This is like in reference to like a couple like episodes ago. So you think of a number while I'm telling you this. I decided to learn, because you know, we've talked about this too before, about learning something new, like a new skill and not being afraid to like try it. I learned how to make bread. Like I can make bread now. So like so if the world goes to an apocalyptic place, I have I now know how to make bread so I can feed my people. And um I can make gluten-free bread and I can make regular bread. So, um, and it's you know, it's not as easy as you think. It is simple, but it's not as easy as you think.

Lloyd Waller 1:11:13

As someone who has my best friend and roommate loves making bread, uh there was like like I've helped, you know. I'm I've never been like a big baker, but there was one time where she like fell asleep and I felt so bad. I was like, I can't wake you up. So I I just like finished the bread. Oh, it's not, it's not, it's not destroyed, is it? And it wasn't destroyed. Yeah, and we it's funny because we have like the measurements like literally just like taped to like a kitchen cabinet.

unknown 1:11:42

Really?

Lloyd Waller 1:11:45

So like I I get it. Like it is, I mean, that's I mean, baking is science.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:11:50

Yes, you know, so precise.

Lloyd Waller 1:11:53

Yes, fanny finicky for sure.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:11:56

Yeah, it's not fluid like being like art, you know, it is very precise. Yeah.

Lloyd Waller 1:12:00

Yeah, or cooking most other things. You can just except for like meat, you know, you need things to be thoroughly cooked, but you can cook however you want to.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:12:07

Exactly. You can like cook with your heart, right? Like not with baking. No, no, no, no, no. This and I literally read an article where they said that like there are ingredients in store-bought bread that is the same ingredients that I would find in my yoga mat. And right then and there, that stopped me in my tracks, and I was like, I need to figure out how to make bread that doesn't have yoga mat material in it. And so I also was like, I should be able to have a skill that like I can actually provide for my family without have like that I can make, you know, like I'm not and so I was like, I'm gonna have to figure this out, you know? And I think everybody has that moment in their life where they like, I'm gonna crochet something, or I you know, like whatever, I wanna grow something, you know?

Lloyd Waller 1:12:48

Right.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:12:48

And so I was like, I'm gonna learn how to bake bread, gluten-free and regular bread, and I made it. And it's like four ingredients salt, yeast, flour, water. Like, you know?

Lloyd Waller 1:12:58

Right.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:12:59

And amazingly, I don't eat gluten. I try to stay away from it, but I could eat that bread.

Lloyd Waller 1:13:04

Nice.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:13:05

Yeah, and I didn't have a stomachache. Okay, pick a number, quick.

Lloyd Waller 1:13:08

Seven.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:13:09

Seven? Oh, that's a low number. Okay, alright. What's the funniest thing you've read recent recently? Recently. What's the funniest thing you've read recently? Like it could be like maybe just like a line in the news.

Lloyd Waller 1:13:26

Um I know. There's one specifically. I'm trying to think of it. Uh I literally read it out loud earlier today. Uh shh. You know what? You know what? This is what I'm gonna do. Because I cannot remember. I cannot remember what it was, but uh I'm just pulling up Google right now. Do we count emojis?

Jozlyn Rocki 1:13:54

Sure.

Lloyd Waller 1:13:55

Okay. So one of the projects that I am currently working on, it's like a continuous thing, is called uh Hearts of Kings, which is like uh an Otome Companion project for Honor of Kings, which is like a ginormous IP in China. Um they their Instagram, they post some of the clips that are recorded, and so the whole thing is like you are a player, it's a uh you are a player who are i it's first person, and and I don't want to say player because it's it's so complicated, but it's first person, and there's like a cast of guys, and it's like I I don't know if I've explained this to you before, it's like a dating sim type situation.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:14:51

Oh, yeah, you have mentioned this before. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Lloyd Waller 1:14:53

So some I I I didn't realize that I found their Instagram, yeah, and I found a post, one of the posts, uh, with my character stuff. His name is Kaiser, and going through the comments on this one video, it's just a bunch of people going and licking their phones.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:15:18

Oh my god, is this about your character?

Lloyd Waller 1:15:20

Yes.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:15:20

Oh my god, that's funny. Is this the one that you've shared recently?

Lloyd Waller 1:15:23

It's not one I shared recently. This one says uh slurger burp Kaiser, tongue emoji, tongue emoji, tongue emoji, tongue emoji, followed by a gif of a cat licking the screen repeatedly. Wow.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:15:39

You know here's something here back to you. Okay, okay. So something that I've read recently would be that like that there's yoga mat material in bread. So that there's that. But when you said that a client described your voice as cabin, is it Sauvignon?

Lloyd Waller 1:16:00

Cavere Sauvignon, yeah. Which is like I was like it's actually it's the right the director for this project. But that's what that's kind of the thing, is my character is uh yeah, with some berry like some tangy berries and some very different character than I am, very different person than I am, I'll say that.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:16:27

Yeah, you know, um because you know, cabernet yeah, Cabernet Sauvignon has like the dark juicy berries, the the velvety texture, the chocolate essence, and like also like it's a very smooth wine. I don't know if you drink wine.

Lloyd Waller 1:16:46

Well also I don't, but like it's a great it's uh he's a very let me I'm gonna do one second. Where's my da da da da da? I can hear myself. Uh I have my mic monitoring off this whole time. But he's the type of person who like people are waiting for him to like deliver lines like this. Oh speak to you in a way that makes you feel like you should be listening to him. You know?

Jozlyn Rocki 1:17:15

That's that's the character. Yeah.

Lloyd Waller 1:17:16

That's that's that's not specifically him.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:17:19

You should do that. That's a great Yeah. I mean, because it's that that wine is like a very robust, deep, smooth, like textured body of wine. You know, it has like the cherries and the dark chocolate and the blueberries, and it's like it's got a real like fine wine, smooth, drinkable. Um, yeah. So that I I I hope you do more of that. That's great.

Lloyd Waller 1:17:47

I have a session on Tuesday.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:17:50

I uh I like what you did there, Lloyd. No wonder people are cats licking emojis.

Lloyd Waller 1:17:58

Yeah.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:17:59

That's uh that's that's you're I think you're blushing, but okay.

Lloyd Waller 1:18:04

You know what? I cannot tell a grown adult to not hear my voice and call the character daddy. The YouTube comments, oh man.

Jozlyn Rocki 1:18:15

That's great. That's great. We have to end right there because that's who's your daddy. We're gonna end it right there. That's awesome. I love it.

Angela Cortez 1:18:26

I love it. That's a wrap. Tune in to our next episode and continue the creative conversation. Feel inspired? Share this podcast with a few friends so we all organically grow and feel connected. Follow us on social media to keep up with all the creative chaos.