Meet Steph Perez

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

Steph, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?

I was raised in a family that would give you the shirt off their backs if you needed it. It was instilled in me that it is better to give than to receive. If I have the energy and the time, I will give it to whoever needs it. I am still trying to figure out the balance of giving too much, so I constantly remind myself to be generous to myself as well.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

These days, I am producing live theater, performing improv, and also teaching. I spent five wonderful and insane years in Chicago, where I gained so much experience and honed in on my talents. But there’s just something about being back in Miami. I feel like I am back in my element, and because of all the work I have done, I can now share it with my own community. The most special thing about being back is bringing improv and live theater to the community that helped make me who I am.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

#1 has to be knowing things outside of your world. It’s essential to not only tap into your wants and needs but also to be aware of what other communities are facing or enjoying. I love to travel, and I try to stay updated on pop culture. I truly feel it enriches my world and my art. #2 is making sure to take care of myself and reminding myself that I don’t have to overdo it to be successful. I define my own success, and I do it at my own pace. #3 is mostly reminding myself that life is not that serious. You have to let things go and find the humor in even the darkest of places. That’s how you move forward and ensure you have a built-in safety net when life seems to go sideways.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

I’ve recently taken a big step by removing myself from a local institution that I was counting on for stage time and networking. I’ve decided to give it a go on my own terms and with full creative freedom. It’s scary, and I hate the idea of failing, but you never know until you try. I am trying to accept that even a failure on my terms is much better than failure at the hands of another. At the end of the day, I’m not taking losses because every failure just becomes a lesson.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @dalestefunny