Working Crush Wednesday: Meet Tyra, An Actress Making A Name for Herself Outside of Her Roles
Tyra Gabrielle Morrison is a working actress in Los Angeles that’s equally as passionate, about continuing to build her personal brand, as she is about landing acting roles.
Originally from a small town in Louisiana named St. Francisville, 4 years ago, Tyra moved across the country to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career. Anyone that knows anything about a career in the arts, or even being an entrepreneur, there’s almost never an immediate return on investment (not financially, at least).
Let’s say you get a bachelor’s degree in Finance and you’re offered a job with JP Morgan Chase Bank upon graduation; when you slip on your skirt and strut into that office for your first day of work, there is a guaranteed paycheck coming your way at some definite point. When you get your RN/BSN, and you report to the hospital day after day, you can rest assured that you’ll be paid for your time. It’s the law in our lovely nation.
That’s not the case with acting, neither writing, nor being a YouTuber, nor anything of the like. You can get your degree in Theatre, you can go to an actors’ boot camp, you can make it to L.A., and you can even make it into audition room after audition room, and not see a payout for years, or ever, at all. You can spend hours, multiple days a week, for months, creating content for YouTube and uploading it to the video sharing platform and never receive one silver nickel from Google AdSense nor a paid sponsorship.
As an actress, as a content creator, as an artist, early on in your career, you can “work” full 8-hour days and 40-hour weeks (or more!) for this “job” without there being a pay day in sight. This indefinite can be very scary, and sometimes even discouraging. In the midst of such uncertain fields of work, how does someone stay the course?
I know someone who knows.
Let’s hear it from Ms. Tyra The Creative in her own words.
Meet Tyra
What's an aspect of Los Angeles you love, that you can't get back home?
The creativity & “work hard” vibe. Louisiana is very “slow paced” everyone at home is very go with the flow and “will get to it someday”.. But here in LA, it’s easy to feel motivated by seeing people out working out, you're bound to run into someone starting their own business, and for me, the constant sunshine and scenery boosts my creativity.
Related: That L.A. Grind Is Different! Where Are You Getting To It?
You're both a working actress and an independent content creator. With so many people pursuing acting and/or wanting to be an influencer in Los Angeles, what do you do to set yourself apart in this very competitive market?
I just know that I serve a great God, and what is for me is for me. The only person I’m in competition with is who I was yesterday. I don't look at other people and think “wow, i need to make sure that i step up” because there is room for me and I have faith that God is guiding my footsteps. So, I don't necessarily “do” anything but remain authentic in who I am and remember that my God is good and the promises he has for me are mine and no one else’s. This keeps me motivated, confident, and at peace with the process.
How would you rate your success in L.A. so far?
I have been here in L.A. since February 2018. In these 4 years, I would rate my success as very successful; or, if i had to put it on a scale, I’d say 4 out of 5. I’m winning simply because where I come from, people don't typically leave what they know. I'm from a small country town and most of the people I knew growing up are still back home living that small town life, which is not a problem, I just knew from a very young age that that wasn't the life I wanted to live. I know God had something greater for me. So, being here is a success in itself, but on top of that, I was cast in my first major role my first year living out here, which solidified and gave me confirmation that I am right where I am supposed to be.
“I was able to stay the course because there is no plan B.”
If any, what are your regrets about moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment?
I don't have any real regrets because I believe everything happens for a reason. But, If I could go back and do it all again, I would move here alone. I moved here with a partner and it split my attention. I am a person that can get easily distracted with personal matters, and I am learning how to make time for both, but I wish I would have focused just a tad bit more of my energy on my career earlier on because now, I am growing in my craft exponentially and I love it so much.
Related: Dating in Los Angeles
What did you already have in place before moving to Los Angeles to pursue your dreams? Had you already landed acting roles? Did you already have a large following on YouTube?
Since I had already done a major move prior to moving to LA (I moved to New Jersey for culinary school and ended up staying there for 2 years) I knew that I needed a plan. So, at the time, I was an Independent Contractor, I made money from Brand Ambassador work, which are short term gigs for events and brands. So, I had the entire first month of me living in LA planned. I had auditions set up for the first week, and I even booked a very small role that I filmed two days after getting to LA. And, the plan was to use the first month of living in LA as a time to get familiar with the city and find an apartment. When I moved out here, I stayed in an airbnb for the first month because I had already done the renting unseen apartments thing, and I didn’t want to do that again. But, no huge following on youtube either, I had already started the channel, but it was very small, under 1,000 subscribers.
You'd agree that where you are now as a working actress and content creator is not where you were 4 years ago? How did you manage to stay the course, mentally (to keep going for it) and financially (to be able to go for it)?
I was able to stay the course because there is no plan B. Of course I have a theatre degree to fall back on… and a culinary degree. So, teaching theatre or even being a pastry chef are options for me, but in my brain, THIS is the only way. I am a very driven person and even though I don't know how the entire journey will pan out, I know that this is the course I am supposed to be on. It’s something I’ve wanted my entire life and even during my acting dry spells, I have never once questioned if i should be pursuing an acting career. Financially, I just worked as a Brand Ambassador until my content creation was able to pay the bills. And, I partially have covid to thank for that because with the pandemic, BA jobs were nonexistent, so I had to turn to digital content creation full time to make money, and it worked! The biggest thing for me financially was my mindset, I just knew i needed enough money to be comfortable enough so that my creativity wasn’t stifled by stress. So, for me, that looked like.. A comfy place to stay, good food in my belly, and a car for peace of mind. Once I crunched the numbers and figured out how often i needed to work to meet those goals, I did that, and spent the remaining time going hard for my personal brand, YouTube channel, and acting career.
“Here’s the thing about ‘just being an actress’... You technically don’t call the shots. You’re just a vessel bringing someone else’s ideas to life.”
We learn a lot from our parents, mentors, school, and even our peers, but other people can’t teach us everything. What is one lesson you’ve learned, or trait you’ve acquired, that working on set in Los Angeles as an actress has taught you?
Oooo, I have done an entire video on this on my youtube channel, but the biggest thing I have learned from being on set is that you have to be confident in your craft. Whatever that may mean to you. For me, it was a bit hard for me to “play” on set. When I was filming Family Reunion, the director would say “okay Tyra, Let’s play” and I’m like “play?! I’m about to deliver these lines and give you exactly what you want, I don't know what play means!!” But, what he was saying was to explore the character, create my own interpretation of the script so he can direct me properly, because as an actress it is my job to bring the character to life! As a content creator it is my job to bring the project to life! And, to do that, I have to be fully confident in my abilities because only then will you allow yourself to be vulnerable enough to truly tap into your creativity wholeheartedly.
What do you have planned, or see in your future, as an actress? As you reach new heights in your acting career, do you see yourself leaving your other endeavors alone and solely acting?
No. Never. I am building a brand, Tyra The Creative, and I will continue to. I will continue to create my own projects, I will continue to brainstorm business ideas, and I will continue to grow my presence online. Here’s the thing about “just being an actress”. You technically don't call the shots. You’re just a vessel bringing someone else’s ideas to life. But, when you’re also a writer, you decide on the story that’s told. When you are a director, you decide HOW that story is conveyed on screen. I am more than just an actor and I want my audience to know Tyra, versus, the girl who played Young Amelia in Family Reunion.
And because this is a Los Angeles lifestyle blog after all, here’s an #aroundLA bonus question for kicks and giggles. Where, around LA, can you find the best rendition of your favorite dish from back home (Louisiana)?
I actually haven't found a place that has me in a chokehold, but I would have to say, I actually do love Black Bottom Southern Kitchen’s Shrimp and Grits!
Related: Soul Food Restaurants That Will Make You Feel At Home in Los Angeles
If it happened for this small town girl, what makes you think it can’t happen for you?
I met Tyra thru her BFF Bria Black, a Minneapolis-based content creator that’s also from Louisiana. Bria had come to hang out with me at an event, as I tend to be in these L.A. social scene streets, and Tyra came to pick her up. I walked Bria out and I don’t know if they even remember this, but Tyra wasn’t in much of a social mood. It was more of a “yeah, okay, hi… Bria, get in this car, let’s go.” Bria had raved about her BFF Tyra to me, saying we should link, so I wasn’t letting the infamous Tyra get away from me that easily.
That evening I met Tyra, I want to say she was in the midst of getting off her restaurant job, had some side hustles lined up (photography being one, Tyra shot me), and on top of that, was still trying to be productive in her content creation and pursuit of acting. Now??? Honey child, side hustle where?! The girl is a full-time working actress and content creator! I saw Tyra takeoff in what seems like the blink of an eye. Ms. Tyra Morrison is an example of consistently investing in yourself until you reap a return, then taking that and investing in yourself some more.
Related: aroundLA’s T.K. in Front of Tyra’s Creative Eye
Out of all the people I stalk on Instagram, “Tyra the Creative” is one of my favorites because seeing her working reminds me to get my little tail to working, without beating myself up too badly about it. She shares herself both on this L.A. grind, and practicing self-care.
It’s doable!
Find Tyra
website: www.tyrathecreative.com
Instagram: @TyratheCreative
YouTube: Tyra the Creative
This thing I have going here doesn’t work without you. If anything at all in this piece resonated with you, or if there’s the slightest chance anyone you know may feel this, please share it.
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I’ll continue to bring you more inspirational women that I know personally on this personal Los Angeles lifestyle blog. View all #WomanCrushWednesday posts by clicking here.
