Jake O'Flaherty on the Myth of "Waiting for the Right Time"

Jake O'Flaherty has one of those careers that spans almost every corner of the business, including actor, coach, professor, producer, writer, theatre founder, and someone who's worked consistently for decades. In this episode we're exploring the many hats Jake has worn throughout his career and the lessons he learned along the way.  He says that this means you must start treating yourself like a business and create your own opportunities.  It's not show business he says, it's the business of show and turning up is 100%.  He has booked more than 200 national commercials and voiceovers, and appeared on series major television series, Shameless, Lethan Weapn, Criminal Minds, The King of Queens, CSI:NY, 9-1-1 Lone Star, and many more. Jake was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, raised in Tampa, Florida, received a Bachelor's degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a Master's degree in TV/Film/Screenwriting from Regent University in Virginia. Jake has booked over 200 national commercials and voice-overs, as well as TV and Film. In 2012, Jake started the Whitefire Theatre Company in Sherman Oaks with Artistic Director Bryan Rasmussen, and produced all the original productions of the "Shorts" series, along with creating the "Dead Pilots Society" and "Hollywood Shorts" & other various productions. Jake has been teaching at the Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory in Santa Monica in various classes since 1998, which led him to coaching actors and eventually celebrity clients like Ken Jeong etc. Recently, Jake wrote, produced, and starred in the web series "Failure To Parent" with Carolyn Hennesy, which has been optioned and is being shopped as a 1/2-hour comedy. He wrote his first full-length play with playwright Tom Misuraca called "Suicidal Blonde", directed by Candi Milo and starring Kimmy Robertson, which sold out for 6 weeks in LA, and is hopefully coming to NYC soon. In the film "Red Pill", written/directed by actress/author/Tony winner Tonya Pinkins, he is starring alongside Ruben Blades, Kathryn Erbe, Luba Mason, Cathy Curtain, Colby Minifie, and Adesola Osakalumi. In 2024 doing an off-Broadway production of an original play called In A Roundabout Way directed by Kim Sykes. Jake is also a Professor at Pepperdine University & Los Angeles City College. Jake's Word of the Week:  BELIEVE Download this episode now and discover what happens after you press "submit."  If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us as we bring you the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers—sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.