I received a DM today, “Didn't I see you on After Party on Apple TV”?  Yes.  My little secret: my side hustle as a background performer on streaming and television shows.  I live in Los Angeles after all 🌴😎…. Babos Shoes is the business I'm passionate about, but as most early stage entrepreneurs know (or should know), it’s hard to rely on one source of income.  During the pandemic I was lucky to find work through Central Casting.  Days are often long, but it’s fun to be in costume, have my hair and make up done by professionals, and meet new people. 

At my core, I’m a shoe designer and entrepreneur, not an actress.  But if you put me in front of a camera I’ll do my best.  I always wear my Babos to set, because:

A) Babos are the most comfortable shoes especially for long days on your feet.

B) Everyone on set always asks, “What do you do besides background acting?”, and I point to my shoes.   And sometimes this leads to a purchase.

It’s unfortunate that my big debut on screen so to speak (at 15:50 of Season 2, Episode 2), airs the exact same week as the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) joins the Hollywood writers strike.  Essentially all show productions are now halted.  I've seen first hand how hard the writers and actors work to create the streaming shows we often take for granted.   And the compensation inequity between creatives and studio executives can be downright shocking.  I'm grateful for the opportunity be part of such a great show.  Most of all, I'm grateful to have had an "Extra" source of income supplementing my main passion: shoes.  Last year, I feel the pain of the current strike because last year that additional income really helped during the slow summer months!  Perhaps this blog post will increase awareness how the strike effects so many more people than the big Hollywood names.