Daily Inspiration: Meet Tony

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony.

Tony, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Absolutely. I’m an actor and performer based in Nashville, TN. My love for the stage started way back in kindergarten when I played a non-speaking role as one of Martin Luther King Jr.’s children in a school play. Unexpectedly, the student playing MLK didn’t show up, and somehow, I knew his lines word-for-word and ended up performing that role. That experience ignited my passion for the performing arts.

Over the years, I balanced acting with sports like football and basketball, modeling, and school plays. However, I didn’t seriously pursue acting until college. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to perform in various mediums like theater, film, and TV. My current goal is to get cast in local Nashville theaters and take on more significant film and TV roles. Although I’ve gained nearly 20 years of experience, I still consider myself a lifelong student, always eager to learn and grow.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not entirely smooth, no. Throughout my 20-year journey as an actor and performer, I’ve faced numerous challenges. Transitioning my craft into a sustainable career, finding representation that values my talent and aligns with my values – these have been ongoing struggles. One of the most difficult experiences was the personal loss of my parents in 2013 and 2015. The grieving process was overwhelming, and I had to take a break from the arts and entertainment world. But my mother’s words before she passed away, encouraging me to keep performing and sharing my gifts, motivated me to return to acting in 2018. What has kept me going is the wisdom of understanding that it’s a journey, not a destination. When you learn to accept and embrace the present moment, the experience becomes much more enjoyable. And I’m beyond grateful for all these moments.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As an actor and performer based in Nashville, TN, that’s my specialty and what I’m known for. I’m also exploring other forms of expression like dancing and writing rap lyrics. I’ve had the opportunity to perform my songs at The Infinity Fellowship and various local music venues in Nashville. What I’m most proud of is the feedback I receive about my work and the ability to share my knowledge and wisdom with young, upcoming performers. What sets me apart is my authenticity and vulnerability. But you’ll have to experience that for yourself. 😉

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
In life I have taken many risk but I will give you three moments that are significant to me: The first one was moving out to Los Angeles in 2010 to further my acting career. I was terrified and oblivious to what I was doing. After a year, I was fortunate to meet a lot of great people and worked with some talented individuals.

The second one was moving back to Nashville when I learned that my mother was terminally ill. When I took a break from acting, each day felt like forever without having an emotional outlet. I remember one time when I had the opportunity to meet John Singleton at a mixer. He was speaking at the event and he said, “You can make Hollywood wherever you’re at.” This isn’t to take away from anybody moving to pursue their dreams, but you have to remember to make the best of what you have right in front of you.

A risk that I work to avoid is playing it too safe and not taking a risk at all. You don’t realize how slippery of a slope that can be until you look back and feel regret for not giving yourself permission to fail. There were times I missed out on an opportunity to not just work but to also grow.

I can’t speak for everybody, but we all want to be winners in our endeavors. However, winning is not everything. A valuable lesson I learned from my former Transformation Coach, Chris Lee, is to “Celebrate your loses as if you won the championship.”

Everything is perception. When you learn to not let the losses bother you, it makes the journey less difficult. Every step in the journey is vital to helping you fully grow into all of your potential. The wins and losses all work together to help you get better every day.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @jucantoin @agentfive11
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/tony.insignares.9
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChiefASAXA