Andrea Lopez caught her huge break within the leisure trade by a DM on Instagram. After getting flown to LA to look on NBC’s “Convey the Humorous,” she started rising her following on social media by her spot-on movie star impressions. Then, whereas negotiating a giant model partnership, she acknowledged a well-recognized face.
Hear how Lopez discovered the worth of fine impressions and good relationships for constructing her private model on this week’s episode of Fairly Massive Deal.
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MEGHAN BARR
What prompted you to begin a profession in leisure and comedy?
ANDREA LOPEZ
I at all times liked being on the microphone. I’ve at all times liked the concept of media and I went to highschool for tv, radio and movie. That was my main. So I at all times thought I used to be going to enter radio. I liked the voiceover facet of it.
And my major ardour in life has at all times been impressions and character voices. I feel it got here from my loud, Hispanic, mixed-cultural household. We’re simply at all times doing voices collectively. And my dad was an enormous affect.
I used to be in a position, with radio, to morph that and do voices. I used to be in a position to do commercials and completely different voices, and all the pieces about radio was fascinating to me. So I actually, actually labored with that. And on the facet, I’d do my impressions on Instagram and completely different social platforms. That additionally gave me a solution to be artistic with my ardour.
MEGHAN BARR
What do you imply by impressions and character voices? Are you able to present us really? Are you able to do one actually fast?
ANDREA LOPEZ
Positively. I began doing my academics at school and completely different individuals that might name the home, like my completely different aunts. I simply at all times would … that’s the place it began, however then I actually obtained into celebrities and actuality TV when that hit huge.
I feel my most well-known, most well-known is Kourtney Kardashian. So right here’s a bit of Kourtney speaking about her marriage ceremony in Italy.
“We simply fell in love on the Italian riverside. We simply ate pasta and simply had the very best romantic time on gondolas. It was simply all the pieces I’ve ever dreamed of. I really like Travis.”
MEGHAN BARR
Wow. OK. I can see the way you made a profession out of that as a result of I really feel like I simply talked to her. When did you understand that this might change into a enterprise?
ANDREA LOPEZ
Properly, consider me, convincing my mother and father that I used to be going to enter this, they have been very skeptical, as I’m certain you may perceive. As a father or mother you’re like, “Wait a minute, are you certain? That is what?”
So it took some time, for certain, which is why I feel they actually inspired me to get some sort of diploma or simply go to highschool for something that’s associated to what I really like, which is leisure.
However it wasn’t till I used all of the social platforms which are out there to us — I put all my voices on Instagram, all my voices on Twitter. And I used to be found by a expertise scout for NBC’s “Convey the Humorous.” I believed he was completely kidding.
I used to be like, “You’re going to fly me to LA?”
It was only a random Instagram message and doesn’t sound legit. You assume you’re going to be contacted by way of e-mail or telephone, or they’re going to ship you some formal written letter, but it surely turned out to be legit. I auditioned, I really was in a position to fly out to LA for 2 weeks. I did the present and it was my first time on nationwide tv doing voices.
For the reason that second that present aired, I’ve completely modified my profession trajectory. I’ve been in a position to pursue impressions, voiceovers, and comedy. It took any person else to scout me and to inform me, “You’ve gotten the expertise and you may actually pursue this.”
MEGHAN BARR
And when was that? When did that occur?
ANDREA LOPEZ
That was the start of 2019. We filmed (the present) after which we waited, in fact, eight months for it to truly be produced and put out on tv. However again in 2019, and earlier than then, I used to be at all times working in media. I had performed manufacturing assistant work in information. I had labored on a radio present. I had performed information hits in a really small city and I used to be additionally a podcast editor. So all the pieces that you may probably do from a decrease degree, I used to be engaged on already. However this was my first time — actually me really taking an opportunity on myself — being in entrance of the digital camera.
MEGHAN BARR
So why don’t we discuss a bit of bit about that, was there a particular deal that shifted your perspective on the gross sales facet of the influencer market? Like several deal that basically was impactful in your profession that you just’d wish to speak about?
ANDREA LOPEZ
I do have one in thoughts. I feel it is going to assist clarify how making relationships within the enterprise, after which retaining and fostering the relationships, is so vital. And at all times placing your finest foot ahead since you by no means know what may occur sooner or later. So one involves thoughts.
It occurred, I’d say final 12 months. It was with obé health. I went into it completely open-minded. I stated, “Oh my gosh, we may completely do Kourtney prepping for her marriage ceremony and she or he’s using obé health.”
And I really had used obé earlier than, so I used to be completely sincere with that. And once I obtained on the Zoom name to current all my concepts, I acknowledged a really acquainted face. And I stated, “Oh my gosh.”
And it was really a casting agent that I had auditioned with for a very huge community. I had auditioned for a present 9 months prior. It was for a number place on a very huge community. It was a really, very huge audition.
And I believed I did nice, however there have been 1,000,000 different nice individuals. So I didn’t get the function. However I stored in good contact with the casting director and he knew my impressions, that’s how they’d introduced me within the first place. And I simply couldn’t consider it. I used to be pondering, “Oh my gosh, you’re a casting agent.” And then you definitely change to a complete completely different model with a distinct title.
It simply goes to point out you that you just by no means know what audition can result in what. If it’s a closed door, it may result in an open door. You simply by no means know. And so we had an incredible assembly. I had an incredible pitch deck and he was very pleased with what I needed to pitch. It was due to the audition that I had performed many months prior, he knew that I used to be severe {and professional} sufficient that I used to be going to hold off the job.
He was in a position to supply me more cash as a result of he knew me. He had seen me in one other mild as a number. I feel that basically helped, but it surely simply goes to point out you the relationships you make early on can completely come again tenfold. And that you just by no means must be pretend. Simply be your genuine self and put your finest foot ahead and which may result in one thing sooner or later.
MEGHAN BARR
Yeah. What was that deal? Are you able to discuss a bit of bit about what you bought out of that scenario?
ANDREA LOPEZ
This was the primary time I had reached over 10 grand and I used to be doing one video. So much less content material however extra script writing went into that. I used to be positively doing a complete script for them, however this was over the ten grand mark for one video on TikTok.
MEGHAN BARR
After you secured that deal, over the $10,000 mark for one video, did which have a optimistic impact? Was there a ripple impact? Did that provide help to achieve momentum when it comes to getting offers with different manufacturers?
ANDREA LOPEZ
Positively. So when you get larger and better in your benchmark, my workforce will say, “OK, now that we’ve made this amount of cash and anyone affords us decrease, we are able to present them an instance of what you’ve performed. We really feel good asking for a bit of bit extra.”
MEGHAN BARR
It feels like that deal helped you perceive what your personal value is in your personal profession, since you are your personal private model. I feel that’s actually vital, figuring out your personal value.
ANDREA LOPEZ
Proper. Precisely. And figuring out additionally that I can work with health manufacturers and it doesn’t must be … loads of the occasions you’ll see, as a feminine influencer, I’ll get reached out to by very female-oriented manufacturers. However this one can be geared in direction of females of all ages. So it positively obtained me into the health world.
It helped me to understand, “OK, there’s a much bigger circle than what I’ve at present been engaged on and there are loads of manufacturers to contact and to work with.”
MEGHAN BARR
Yeah. So how does that work? You ship over the movies and provides them a way of what they’re going to get out of you, and then you definitely trip with them? It feels like they would supply suggestions after which did you make adjustments based mostly on that suggestions?
ANDREA LOPEZ
Proper. I used to be touring at the moment. So I at all times deliver my wigs, I at all times deliver a tripod. I’ve 1,000,000 wigs. I feel every time I journey the TSA brokers are a bit of involved. They assume I’m performing some covert operation as a result of I’ve like 10 wigs with me.
However from my finish I used to be like, “That is nice. That is all I want.” They got here again with a number of revisions and that very same day I used to be like, “OK.” I pulled my wig out. I placed on my make-up, I did the identical getup. And I used to be again as Kourtney.
Once I despatched it over to them, they liked it. They accredited it. These processes can take months. Individuals don’t understand there’s really work that goes on behind it. I’m additionally a author for a community and that may be a entire different job.
And the turnaround time is so fast. I feel individuals neglect that with these movies, they must approve them and so they must make adjustments. Generally the movies received’t go dwell till the product or the service is dwell. So you’ll be able to wait three months, however they wish to have all of it deliberate out.
MEGHAN BARR
And has that have modified the way in which that you just conduct offers shifting ahead?
ANDREA LOPEZ
Seeing how interconnected all people is, I positively was like, “OK, so if that is doable then I should be bringing the very best concepts.”
I really at all times put together a complete presentation. I feel I simply come extra ready and extra enthusiastic about it, as a result of there’s that off probability I do acknowledge any person, and also you simply by no means know.
I feel it simply made me take it a bit of bit, much more severe than I already was. I used to be like, “That is nice. I do know individuals now.” You begin constructing your contact checklist and it’s very nice.
MEGHAN BARR
What recommendation would you give to your self, to 19 12 months outdated Andrea simply beginning out?
ANDREA LOPEZ
I’ve at all times been open to saying “sure” to as many alternatives, however know that every one that point that you just have been an intern, and also you have been making no cash, and also you wakened and labored on the information station at 3:45 within the morning, after which in a while was working as an intern on a podcast. It’s all going to repay.
It actually is tough work proper now, however belief me these jobs are all vital and we’ll get you to the place you wish to be. And also you’re going to be a method higher candidate as a result of you have got all that background. You’ve performed the work.
So even whenever you’re exhausted and also you assume it’s ineffective, it’s not. You’ll be making actually good cash that you just by no means thought was doable. It is possible for you to to dwell by yourself and it’s going to be nice.
I positively lived at dwelling for some time and I at all times was like, “These jobs, I’m going to be an intern endlessly,” however you’re not. You’ll begin making strides. You’ll make connections and one job at all times results in the following job. Proceed what you’re doing. It appears onerous now, but it surely pays off.
MEGHAN BARR
What are the largest classes you’ve discovered over the previous few years? Like the largest profession classes that you just’ve discovered from going by all these completely different experiences?
ANDREA LOPEZ
I feel I hear lots of people say they’re above sure issues. They’re like, “Properly, I’ve been working at this for a 12 months.” And I similar to to inform them, “Rome was not inbuilt a day. This stuff take time, however know that no matter you’re doing proper now, in the event you’re placing within the work, it is going to come again and it’ll all be OK.”
I had a very nice boss who I labored for, for 3 years. I used to be an intern for her. I used to be a producer for her podcast. And the largest piece of recommendation she ever instructed me was, “Rising tides elevate all ships.”
When one among your folks or any person in your workforce is getting loads of success, that’s nice for you too. It’s not a contest. I work with so many individuals that do different impressions and I feel I’ve constructed an incredible workforce. It’s nice to shout different individuals out. It’s nice to point out assist to your folks, and even not your folks, simply individuals which are in the identical trade, since you guys are all a workforce.
Don’t consider it as I’m one individual and it’s simply me on the island and solely I can succeed. That’s by no means a good suggestion. That was the very best piece of recommendation. And she or he nonetheless helps me to today.
We haven’t labored collectively professionally for 2 years, however she nonetheless calls me. We’re nonetheless nice pals. I nonetheless name her when there’s a deal and I wish to get her opinion. So it’s a workforce effort. I feel that’s the largest piece of recommendation I may give.
This episode of “Fairly Massive Deal” featured Andrea Lopez, comic and social media influencer. It was produced by Meghan Barr and edited by Xavier Leong. If in case you have a reasonably large deal to inform us about, write in to PrettyBigDeal@zoominfo.com. In any other case, we’ll see you on the following episode.
