Meet Gage Robinson

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Gage Robinson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Gage below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Gage with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I attribute my work ethic to my nearly 20 years of competitive swimming. Especially in a more individualistic sport like swimming; the more you worked, the better results you got. I had many coaches over those years who instilled that mentality in me and to this day it courses through my veins. From early morning practices (often in the water by 6:30am) to two-a-days in off season to stay in shape, the structure didn’t allow for laziness. Of course, it wasn’t just the pool that taught me these lessons; my parents had a massive role in being the golden example of work ethic. My mom is an author of 4 books, former CFO, and queen of getting things done. From her I learned that if you have a goal, it REQUIRES hard work, focus, and dedication to bring it to fruition. Still to this day, her golden standard is what I look up to most. My dad has been in medical sales for the last 30 years and throughout that time he has more than embodied the definition of a good work ethic. From cold calls to traveling nearly every week, he taught me that hard work doesn’t always look pretty and that it is required in order to be successful. Of course, the simple act of living as a “starving artist” requires one to develop an even more keen sense of work ethic as nothing is given for free in this industry.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I grew up in Garland, Texas, a smaller suburb of Dallas where I was raised watching movies and doing my best to entertain those around me. Early on in my childhood I discovered my love for performing and making others smile/laugh. After a long stint of being a competitive swimmer throughout high school, it was time for me to focus on my real goal: winning an Academy Award. I attended the University of Texas at Austin where I graduated with a BFA in acting and several main stage shows under my belt. I moved to LA in 2017 where I began my pursuit of the coveted trophy. After spending many years in the big city, I quickly realized that I wasn’t built like the others… My southern hospitality and blinding optimism seemed to stick out like a sore thumb. It dawned on me that I had something to give others: positive energy. My life motto is “Perspective Drives Performance”… that is to say that everything is dependent on how you see yourself, others, and the world. Through my acting, my only goal is to entertain the world and make them smile. Having been in a feature film “Stupid Games” and the recent reality show on Hallmark Channel, “Finding Mr. Christmas” I have fallen in love with the exciting nature of what I call creating magic. It takes a village to put a movie/show together and the result of a massive team working towards the same goal is truly something to behold. I have a passion and outright love for storytelling that fuels my soul and allows me to continue spreading the simple yet impactful message of “hey you, Smile”.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, the biggest quality that has helped me on my journey is that of having a kind and open heart. The ability to empathize/sympathize with others has helped me to connect with others in my industry on a genuine level. I have discovered that people want to work with others who have a baseline of understanding and kindness. My advice to others here is to find a way to compliment those that you have a conversation with. Take interest in what they are saying and find a way to lift them up. When you constantly look for the good, you will find it.
Another massive skill that has catapulted me on my journey has been time management. There are so many distractions these days and knowing how to navigate those and set aside time to focus on your dream is a necessity for results. I often use the block method of scheduling where I plan time for top priority items before moving on to the smaller things.
Lastly, and this is a tad specific to my industry, is the skill of memorization. Being able to quickly memorize sides or even a full script is crucial in this fast paced world. Over the years I’ve strengthened this muscle with constant practice and my advice to others who want to conquer this is just that: practice practice practice. Take your favorite speech of a movie and begin by memorizing the first line, then the second, third and so on and so forth (I call it “stacking”).

My biggest advice to those who want to develop and improve is to find your “why”. Asking yourself “why do I want to do this” will help bring out the intrinsic motivation it requires to have the self autonomy to do anything you want.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I am ALWAYS looking to collaborate with other creatives (or create magic as I say). I am constantly on the search for storytellers, creatives, and other artists who have the heart and passion to bring their perspective and talent to the industry. Those who have a vision and burning desire to bring it to life are the ones for me. Whether it be a photoshoot, short film, or feature film, if it entertains others, brings the truth to the light, or just makes someone smile, I want to be a part of it. If this sounds like you, please reach out to me either on Instagram (@therealgagerobinson_) or drop me an email at [email protected].

Thank you so much for the questions today. I look forward to meeting and connecting with all you magic makers out there.
And remember, Smile 🙂

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealgagerobinson_/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gage-robinson-213519aa/

Image Credits

Andrew Mac
Joss Glennie-Smith