Andrea Lopez caught her massive break within the leisure business by a DM on Instagram. After getting flown to LA to seem on NBC’s “Deliver 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 realized the worth of fine impressions and good relationships for constructing her private model on this week’s episode of Fairly Large Deal.
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MEGHAN BARR
What prompted you to start out a profession in leisure and comedy?
ANDREA LOPEZ
I at all times beloved being on the microphone. I’ve at all times beloved the thought of media and I went to high school for tv, radio and movie. That was my main. So I at all times thought I used to be going to enter radio. I beloved the voiceover facet of it.
And my major ardour in life has at all times been impressions and character voices. I believe 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 every part about radio was fascinating to me. So I actually, actually labored with that. And on the facet, I might do my impressions on Instagram and completely different social platforms. That additionally gave me a approach to be inventive with my ardour.
MEGHAN BARR
What do you imply by impressions and character voices? Are you able to present us truly? Are you able to do one actually fast?
ANDREA LOPEZ
Positively. I began doing my lecturers in class and completely different folks that will 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 massive.
I believe my most well-known, most well-known is Kourtney Kardashian. So right here’s somewhat Kourtney speaking about her wedding 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 every part I’ve ever dreamed of. I 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 turn into a enterprise?
ANDREA LOPEZ
Effectively, imagine me, convincing my dad and mom that I used to be going to enter this, they have been very skeptical, as I’m positive you possibly can perceive. As a dad or mum you’re like, “Wait a minute, are you positive? That is what?”
So it took some time, for positive, which is why I believe they actually inspired me to get some sort of diploma or simply go to high school for something that’s associated to what I like, which is leisure.
However it wasn’t till I used all of the social platforms which can be accessible 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 “Deliver the Humorous.” I assumed 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 cellphone, or they’re going to ship you some formal written letter, but it surely turned out to be legit. I auditioned, I truly 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.
Because the 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 the expertise and you’ll 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 really 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 completed manufacturing assistant work in information. I had labored on a radio present. I had completed information hits in a really small city and I used to be additionally a podcast editor. So every part that you possibly can presumably do from a decrease degree, I used to be engaged on already. However this was my first time — actually me truly taking an opportunity on myself — being in entrance of the digicam.
MEGHAN BARR
So why don’t we speak somewhat 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 discuss?
ANDREA LOPEZ
I do have one in thoughts. I believe it would assist clarify how making relationships within the enterprise, after which conserving and fostering the relationships, is so vital. And at all times placing your finest foot ahead since you by no means know what might occur sooner or later. So one involves thoughts.
It occurred, I might say final yr. It was with obé health. I went into it completely open-minded. I mentioned, “Oh my gosh, we might completely do Kourtney prepping for her wedding ceremony and she or he’s using obé health.”
And I truly had used obé earlier than, so I used to be completely trustworthy with that. And once I obtained on the Zoom name to current all my concepts, I acknowledged a really acquainted face. And I mentioned, “Oh my gosh.”
And it was truly a casting agent that I had auditioned with for a very massive community. I had auditioned for a present 9 months prior. It was for a number place on a very massive community. It was a really, very massive audition.
And I assumed I did nice, however there have been 1,000,000 different nice folks. So I didn’t get the position. However I stored in good contact with the casting director and he knew my impressions, that’s how that they had introduced me within the first place. And I simply couldn’t imagine it. I used to be pondering, “Oh my gosh, you’re a casting agent.” And then you definately change to a complete completely different model with a distinct title.
It simply goes to indicate you that you just by no means know what audition can result in what. If it’s a closed door, it might result in an open door. You simply by no means know. And so we had a fantastic assembly. I had a fantastic pitch deck and he was very pleased with what I needed to pitch. It was due to the audition that I had completed many months prior, he knew that I used to be critical {and professional} sufficient that I used to be going to hold off the job.
He was in a position to supply me extra money as a result of he knew me. He had seen me in one other gentle as a number. I believe that basically helped, but it surely simply goes to indicate you the relationships you make early on can completely come again tenfold. And that you just by no means should be pretend. Simply be your genuine self and put your finest foot ahead and that may result in one thing sooner or later.
MEGHAN BARR
Yeah. What was that deal? Are you able to speak somewhat bit about what you bought out of that state of affairs?
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 undoubtedly 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 enable you achieve momentum when it comes to getting offers with different manufacturers?
ANDREA LOPEZ
Positively. So when you get greater and better in your benchmark, my workforce will say, “OK, now that we’ve made this sum of money and anyone presents us decrease, we will present them an instance of what you’ve completed. We really feel good asking for somewhat 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 believe 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 should be … quite a lot of the instances 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 undoubtedly 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 quite a lot 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 definately travel with them? It feels like they would offer suggestions after which did you make modifications primarily based on that suggestions?
ANDREA LOPEZ
Proper. I used to be touring at the moment. So I at all times carry my wigs, I at all times carry a tripod. I’ve 1,000,000 wigs. I believe every time I journey the TSA brokers are somewhat 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 would like.” They got here again with just a few 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.
After I despatched it over to them, they beloved it. They accepted it. These processes can take months. Individuals don’t understand there’s truly work that goes on behind it. I’m additionally a author for a community and that could be a entire different job.
And the turnaround time is so fast. I believe folks neglect that with these movies, they should approve them and so they should make modifications. Generally the movies gained’t go dwell till the product or the service is dwell. So you may 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 transferring ahead?
ANDREA LOPEZ
Seeing how interconnected all people is, I undoubtedly was like, “OK, so if that is potential then I have to be bringing the very best concepts.”
I truly at all times put together a complete presentation. I believe 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 believe it simply made me take it somewhat bit, much more critical than I already was. I used to be like, “That is nice. I do know folks now.” You begin constructing your contact checklist and it’s very nice.
MEGHAN BARR
What recommendation would you give to your self, to 19 yr previous Andrea simply beginning out?
ANDREA LOPEZ
I’ve at all times been open to saying “sure” to as many alternatives, however know that each one that point that you just have been an intern, and also you have been making no cash, and also you awakened and labored on the information station at 3:45 within the morning, after which afterward was working as an intern on a podcast. It’s all going to repay.
It actually is difficult 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 might have all that background. You’ve completed the work.
So even if 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 potential. It is possible for you to to dwell by yourself and it’s going to be nice.
I undoubtedly lived at dwelling for some time and I at all times was like, “These jobs, I’m going to be an intern perpetually,” 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 realized over the previous few years? Like the largest profession classes that you just’ve realized from going by all these completely different experiences?
ANDREA LOPEZ
I believe I hear lots of people say they’re above sure issues. They’re like, “Effectively, I’ve been working at this for a yr.” And I identical to to inform them, “Rome was not in-built a day. These items take time, however know that no matter you’re doing proper now, in case you’re placing within the work, it would 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 carry all ships.”
When certainly one of your mates or any person in your workforce is getting quite a lot 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 believe I’ve constructed a fantastic workforce. It’s nice to shout different folks out. It’s nice to indicate help to your mates, and even not your mates, simply folks which can be in the identical business, 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 he or she nonetheless helps me to this present day.
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 believe that’s the largest piece of recommendation I can provide.
This episode of “Fairly Large Deal” featured Andrea Lopez, comic and social media influencer. It was produced by Meghan Barr and edited by Xavier Leong. When you’ve got a fairly large deal to inform us about, write in to PrettyBigDeal@zoominfo.com. In any other case, we’ll see you on the following episode.
