Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tabetha McNeal. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Tabetha, thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.
In my journey of working with children, I’ve discovered that true generosity stems from appreciating the simple joys and the value of small gestures. When you’re surrounded by the unfiltered honesty and boundless curiosity of kids, you learn to see the world through their eyes and find joy in making even the simplest things better. My generosity is rooted in the belief that if all I have is all I need, then sharing and giving become second nature. It’s about asking myself, “How can I make this better with what I have?” and realizing that often, what I have is more than enough to make a positive impact.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my life is extending a helping hand to others, particularly those who are diligently working towards their goals, maintaining faith, and just need a little extra support. I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of providing that one crucial helping hand – a gesture that can instill belief and propel someone forward on their journey. I experienced this pivotal moment in my pursuit of a career in acting. All I needed was that generous helping hand, and it made all the difference. Since then, I’ve been passionate about paying it forward and being that catalyst for others to flourish in their endeavors.
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?
Sure! I’m a future Oscar winner! (totally going to remember this moment when it happens) But I am a multi-talented actress, voice actor, and coach. As an actress, I’ve been classily trained in theatre and screen. I caught the acting bug when I was a little kid, this pull it had on me that people who looked like me could have such a range of emotions, sing, dance, and be on stage caught a pull on me. I always wondered if I could do the same thing. So I did! It worked and I’ve been stuck since. Acting is oddly the freedom that inspires me. It’s amazing to become another person, feel their feelings, and act out a scene. Connecting with people in that way is unmatched.
I’m from Virginia! (yes..we are known for peanuts) But until I move to LA or NYC it’s home! But it also gave me the southern charm so a plus in my book! I’m definitely the “did you eat” type of person from that.
I now continue my journey auditioning for my favorite shows, reading and going to see more theatre, and learning to love the journey every day! One of my favorite quotes is from Denzel Washington.
If I am a cup maker, I’m interested in making the best cup I possibly can. My effort goes into that cup, not what people think about it. – Denzel Washington
Meaning my journey as an actress is a cup, I’m only interested in making my career the best I can! People will have opinions, and think you are not enough, but as actors, we should never worry about that. Just focus on the career ahead.
At some point in my journey, my best friend Eddie Mawere said “Imagine making the noises you make for free!” I rolled my eyes at the thought of doing voice-over because I wanted to do only theatre and TV. But eventually, I listened, and well…the rest is history. Within my first year, I booked Sunwing Airlines, booked countless indie video games, and a few commercials. Getting to work with brands like Instagram, The Smithsonian Museum, PI Kids, Rescue Agency, Leo The Wildlife Ranger, and more! But during that time it also inspired me to teach others a “faster” way to get into the game.
I believe that actors can do anything because we are trained to be characters so we can also train to be characters behind a microphone. So that’s where “Putting The VO Pieces Together” voice-over coaching came to life. A fun way to learn about voice-over from an actor’s perspective. I provide beginner voice-over classes to everyone! I even bring in mangers and agents so they can have that 1-on-1 perspective on how to work in the industry.
So that’s a bit of my journey! One that grows every day but I am so glad I pursued this career. Acting is my life in pieces and though all the pieces take a bit of time to come together, when it does it makes a beautiful picture worth waiting for.
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?
1. Supportive Circle (The Ride Or Die Friend Group) – The creative crew of actors THAT GET IT! I can’t tell you how it feels to be around other creative people. It’s like a never-ending feed tube to thrive from. When the times get hard, when a strike happens when the bookings come and go. Your team that prays, loves, and encourages you is second to none.
2. Reflection & Prayer (But with God) – I remember one moment in my life when I wanted to leave acting for good. Like most actors who have this question, it was the moment between I’m going to do this or go and do that. I had 2 I was waiting for. I prayed and said “If I get this 1 I will never stop pursuing acting but if I get this one I’ll do the other thing. Funny enough…I got the first audition. A Shakespeare play and since that moment I realized I needed God (for everything) but guidance for my career moving forward. That even when it looks like I should give up, stop, and turn to something else. That it’s all going to work out. So reflect on the good things, the bookings, the avails, the let goes, and more to know that it will only get better if I just don’t give up.
3. TREAT YOUR SELF (Yes..I watch a lot of Parks & Rec) – But seriously..treat yourself.
Treat yourself for the audition
Treat yourself for the booking
Treat yourself for the avail check
Treat yourself for the commercial workshop with good feedback
Treat yourself for recording a hard monologue
Treat yourself for recording a self-tape at 1 AM
TREAT YOURSELF! You’re worth it. I never have to be anything with money either.
My advice to creatives who are early in their journey is to learn to love the craft! This is going to keep you in peace. This industry is like a never-ending roller coaster and it will get hard. But this love for the craft is going to remind you of your “why”. Why does your voice matter? Why does your storytelling matter? Why do you act? The second I remembered that I knew that a journey needs some drama, some pain, and some weirdness, that make a complete story whole. So improve on the things above! Love the craft, people, a higher power, and yourself!
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
GOSH! As an actress, EVERYTHING RIGHT?
But I think what I’m particularly facing is when will my time come. As actors, we do A LOT of waiting around. Sometimes we see our peers and wonder when is our time coming. When will the ol light shine on me next? So we go to class after class, workshop after workshop, meeting after meeting, just waiting for the “break”.
So that’s the challenge, right? What happens when it feels like everyone is booking around me and you know that you are talented? I don’t think we ever suppose to know that answer but I know that we should never give up. I oddly love the underdog story. Where an actor randomly pops up in a movie or TV show and the world stops to take notice. Where they may haven’t had all the bookings, the followers, the “fame” but this one moment showed the world, peers, and the “you’re not good enough people, that the were always enough they just needed a moment in time.
So even though that’s what I’m currently facing I find a weird peace in knowing that I can spend this time working in my craft, getting into classes, and learning to love the journey even when it’s hard. Because it only takes on..move, one movie, one co-star, one line to change everything.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tabethamcneal.my.canva.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabethamcneal/
Image Credits
Headshots – Cameron Radice Photography
