Meet Ronald Atkinson

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ronald Atkinson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ronald, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us today. We’re excited to dive into your story and your work, but first let’s start with a broader topic that might be stopping many of our readers from pursuing their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. How have you managed to persist despite haters and nay-sayers that inevitably follow folks who are doing something unique, special or off the beaten path?

One thing I know that’s true, is that life is short. I’ve grown up to realize and understand that you don’t always need to ask permission to do what you want in life. You may ask yourself that question, but that’s strictly between you, and your conscious. Sometimes in life we are all afraid to take that step because we’re so worried and focused on the wrong things, such as… What will my friends and family think? Will this ruin my reputation? Will this keep me and my family safe? etc.. If these are the questions we keep asking ourselves that can hold us back, we will never know our outcomes unless we try. This is when we know we are deep within our comfort zone, or sheltered box. So here’s a few things that has helped me develop my ability to persist and take risks, and some things that can help you also…

1. Stop asking permission from anyone but yourself. Young ones, yes, this includes your parents. A lot of times when you talk things out with someone, they may talk you out of it. They often may not understand where you’re coming from, or the situation you are in. They also may not see your vision. Or understand fully what’s going on in your head or your world. If you’re married, you may talk it out with your spouse or partner, but at the end of the day, you make the final decision. You are in control of your own destiny.

2. Always ask yourself, how will this help me out in the long run? In many cases, if you have a dream or a goal, you have to have a plan to achieve it. In between those plans, are often times the small steps that will help you reach each and every single small goal, or an objective.

3. Always ask yourself, what will the consequences be? Every decision we make in life will always have a consequence, good or bad. But one thing’s for sure, is that not everything is always good or bad as we make it to be. For example, something may be bad for one person but it may be someone else’s good. Ever heard of the term “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure?” It’s pretty much that. What we also know, is that we aren’t always in control of the outcome or the consequence, but we are in control of how we respond to the consequence or outcome. Can we learn from it and move on? If so, take what you learn and move on.

4. What will it cost? It doesn’t always mean money, but it’s going to cost you SOMETHING. This is where we look at sacrificing something. In order to do what we love, it’s going to come with a cost, or a sacrifice. Which will mean you’ll have to give up something in order to get what you need. Which will lead into my last thought, faith.

5. Walk out on faith. You have to have faith in yourself to go the extra mile on your journey. You will also need to believe in yourself that you are going to be guided in the right direction. Always believe that you’ve made some reachable achievements to take the next risk. Stakes will always be higher, but you also have to be willing to climb even higher. This is where we always recognize and see our growth.

As I navigate this journey through the entertainment industry, whether it’s acting, modeling, or voice acting, I realized that even though it’s a highly competitive industry, the biggest “nay-sayer” is always going to be yourself…. And sometimes voices in our heads can get to us and we beat ourselves up. But despite what your head and voice say, you can’t let it dictate to bring you down. It’s always better to be your own cheerleader. The person you want to prove is always yourself. Positive affirmations are always better when you speak positive thoughts and words into existence than negative affirmations.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Many may already know me or my story from many articles and social media, but I do want to say, Hi, I’m Ronald, (spoken with a laugh). For those who don’t know me. I am a Kansas City-based actor, model, and voice actor that has been navigating through the entertainment industry for the past seven years. Actually, I’m slowly getting back into it after taking a break for a few years. Recently I just finished a theatrical production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, where I played a Drifter from the legendary hit music group known as ‘The Drifters.’ So that was fun. Of course my co-star who played the lead role of Carole King was Masie Dulitz. Talented actress who is now in New York, actually. So I look forward to seeing her one day on Broadway in person as she has done amazing things. But yes, I just got done with that production, and I also started doing commercials again, as well as a recent collaboration with social media actor, Trey Kennedy. If you watch the ‘Dancing with The Stars’ skit, I do play Alfonso. I am still on social media and I still create content, but I haven’t been doing it as much as I used too because I’ve been so busy with castings and other projects. social media fatigue can kind-of be a thing too, so I took a break from it as well. It’s really about trying to rejuvenate myself now. Finding different things and seeing what works and what doesn’t work. I think taking a break is good, which I feel like you shouldn’t do as an actor or a model, but it’s best to always take care of your body and soul. That’s always first and foremost, important. I realized that the more you get comfortable, the more you settle and break away from routined habits. In other words, my break lasted a lot longer than it should have, but I’m feeling better and refreshed, and looking to go back after it and where we started. As we approach into the holiday season, I am more aware of what my goals are, and now it’s back to being persistent and taking risks, despite if I feel a beat down. However, that’s just how the industry works. You must know how to handle and deal with rejection. You must always stay on top of your craft. You must always find ways to improve on your craft. Keep going to the castings, go-sees, and always stay in communication with your agent on any projects that’s coming. This is partially why it’s important to take care of yourself, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. You’re on go-mode almost every day which is a challenge, but it’s a fun challenge, and that’s why I like the entertainment business, because it helps you take on opportunities and risks. It’s better to get casting notices each and every day so that you’re working and submitting to agents and casting directors than it is to go through a period of being stuck and not getting any casting notices. Otherwise, it decreases your chances of being seen, noticed, and what we also like to call “working”… Which is pretty much auditioning for the most part until you actually book the job. You’re still working even if you didn’t book the job, but you’re at least still showing face and being persistent. Which is where too many people give up. What I also like about this profession is that it allows you too unfold and see things from other lenses, while the world can see you through various lenses. As an actor and model, you transform yourself to be in someone else’s shoes to tell a compelling story.

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?

There’s so much I’ve learned about this industry over the years that I wish I learned a lot sooner in life in which will be hard to break into three. But I do want to break down perhaps the most important advices for any actor, model, dancer or anyone who is involved in the arts in some way that would like to have a head start.

1. Do your homework and research: We all have been there… We watch television, movies, performing art shows and often times it draws us in. We ask ourselves, how do I get there? This is where we get inspired. Especially when many people may idolize their favorite celebrities performing. I was that way as well, and having gone to school, sometimes even colleges and schools don’t talk about the navigation to get somewhere. I also think the biggest thing that’s not taught is that these are actual jobs that you can get paid for. Yet in society, it’s seen more as an activity. And with all of the rumors and assumptions made by outsiders or parents, what’s the most safest way to pursue “a” or this career at any age on a professional level? The first step is to research how the business works. YouTube is your best friend. See how your favorite artists, actors, dancers, and performers made it. Hear their story. Start learning how to build a resume and portfolio whether it’s online, or a demo reel compilation. Build up your photos for head shots, professional castings, go-sees, agencies, and auditions. Research the right agent in your city or region that best fits and supports you. Be sure to set-up meetings at their offices. If you don’t have an agent, or can’t get one, at least build your portfolio so that they can see work incase they ask for any submissions, or any other company that you audition for. Look up the right casting sites to put your name out there, and of course, build your social media if you feel like it. Because anytime you meet with an agent or a casting director, they’re going to want to know your story. One of the questions they will ask is ‘How did you get here?’ Not physically at that place, but your background and story, and how did you get to this step.

2. “There are no small actors, only small parts.” We hear this saying a lot. Tom Hanks even teaches this in his own acting seminars. This can be applied to anything, not just acting. Everyone of us wants to be the best, or want that lead role. Sometimes we think that we are better than the person next to us. Or we may ONLY want that lead role but feel we’re too good for the small roles. But this is where we have to put our pride and ego in our back pocket. We’re not always going to get that lead role in a A-list movie or Broadway musical, or be a top fashion runway model for Gucci, or the backup dancer for Beyonce. I’m not saying it’s not going to happen, but it’s not going to happen each and every time we take a gig. Sometimes we have to start small to get big, or stay grateful for each opportunity that is presented no matter how big or small that job is. But everything you do in this industry, or a job, is always and equally important as the next person beside you has. There’s no I in team. We all work together. Only you can perfect what you do. Only you can do your part to make everyone else look great just as you do with yourself. Only you can make one line from a script of a play, movie, commercial become more memorable that will still impress and inspire millions. Like Liberty Bibberty became popular, or Jake from State Farm saying “uh Khakis.” It’s all what you make of it.

3. Relationships Matter. I once mentioned before that it’s not what you know, but who you know. However, I want to take it at a different angle. It’s how you treat someone. Kindness, respect, and taking criticism, is far more important. This is how good working relationships are built. This is how trust is built. How do you learn from one another? How do you act with a fellow co-star or co-worker? How do you act when you’re working with a set-crew member vs. an actor? How do you act around people you know in your everyday lives? How do you treat the custodian different than you would treat your boss? A first impression is always a lasting impression. Sometimes a casting director may not know who you are in your first audition. But they will remember how you treat them and other people in the room before you step up to the plate and audition. You may not get a part now, but they will also remember you months down the road and say, you may be right for this part because I like your personality with how you were in the audition room, and you have what it takes. So always treat people with respect and kindness, it goes a long way when you’re working in a profession that’s built on team work. This will help develop your skills professionally when you go about talking to different casting directors, agencies, and producers. To end this portion, I do want to leave off with some advice that a previous director mentioned, and that is to trust our vision. You may want to do something one way that is comfortable for you, but the director may not want that. You have to do things when you’re able to be seen through other lenses and perspectives. And with that, comes trust in them as well as yourself. So always take things like that with a grain of salt so that it makes their lives easier and the working relationship mutual and great!

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

Don’t settle and get too comfortable. We all will have a moment where we are tired or burnt-out. But if that’s the case, that means we’re doing something right. It shows that we are pushing ourselves to do things we never done before, and that we are doing something beyond capable of ourselves. The problem is that when we ‘rest’ we rest for too long, and that’s what you don’t want to do. It’s easy to feel comfortable and kick back into an old routine that gets us nowhere. Then we become lazy. It’s important to make sure your energy is high even when you feel low. For example, I love to exercise and stay physically active. Working out is great, but not just because I have to lose weight and look good, or look a certain body type for a role or a shoot, which can be tiring to do, but to strengthen my mobility, especially as I get older in age. When I do HIT exercises and kickboxing, I like to assume that I’m preparing myself for an action film or on-set stunt training. It gives me a clear mental focus that can also take my mind off of things that give me stress or anxiety. It allows me to re-shape my mind and mental clarity in a way.

Another is to stay inspired. For me, I love to visually stay inspired and be reminded about the things that help remind me of why I started doing them in the first place. YouTube was my best friend in the year 2021 and 2022. I programmed myself to watch videos about various things that motivated me to keep going the route I was going, all while trying to improve myself, physically and mentally. And with that, we all need have what I call are “de-stressors.” For me it’s weekly. It’s what takes your mind off of anything that has happened during the week such as work, or a break from life around you. For some people it’s going to church. For others it’s probably going to a bar or a night club to hangout and drink. Maybe it’s going fishing, or maybe it’s having a date night with your spouse. Whatever it is, take those into consideration and let it de-stress your mind from life. Because I work in an industry of entertainment, movies are my [current] de-stressor. I love going to the movies each week, sometimes twice a week. Doesn’t matter what the film is, doesn’t matter if it’s a film that I personally want to see, or the genre of film, but going to a film takes my mind away from the outside world. It pulls me in to go see a movie with a fresh lens and an open mind, and it draws me into the craft of acting and film-making. It allows me to take mental notes, and maybe barrow some sort of method from whoever it is I’m watching. Same goes for dancers and musicals artists. We all are inspired by one another even if we’re all in the same profession. We’re unique and it’s what makes us different. But how can we learn? We feed from each other.

Last is to establish a “safe-space.” It doesn’t always have to be a place, but It can be anything or anyone that brings you peace and comfort. It could be a church, your office, an outside area of nature, and it could also be going for a drive. Hanging out with people can be a safe space. Talking to your favorite person can be your safe space. Talking to God and meditating can be your safe space. It’s not a physical place around you, but it’s a thing or a place that pulls your mind, heart and soul into another place that takes away from the outside world. It’s construct of what brings you joy each and everyday the most. For some kids, school is their safe space because it takes away from whatever drama is happening at home. You would think my safe space would be home, or the movie theater. It’s actually not. But here’s a unique way of putting it….If you know your own love language-Physical Touch, Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Gifts, and Acts of service, sometimes your safe space can lie within those. If you enjoy cooking and it brings you joy, that’s your safe space. If a friend or a best friend who you trust to share everything with is long distance but talks to you 24/7 from the time you wakeup to the time you go to bed, each and every day, that person is your safe space. Do you feel there’s trust, safety, and peace? If so, you may have found or know your safe space.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @RonaldAtkinson9
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/RonaldAtkinsonJr
• Other: TikTok: RonaldAtkinson9

Image Credits

Eye Model Management