Meet Jerome Allen-Smith | Actor & Writer (Theatre and Film)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jerome Allen-Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jerome, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When I was younger, I would burn the candles from both ends, in order to maximize the most out of life. If it came to a volunteer opportunity, I was there; if it was a play, I was there. You could say I didn’t know how to say “no” nor could I shake the ubiquitous feeling of FOMO. Although this boosted my resume and gave me many friends to bond with, being in a consistent state of exhaustion was not sustainable. As time has gone on, I come to value the feeling of full rest versus the feeling of being tired. Coming out of grad school, a couple years ago, I have started to place gaps in my calendar where I do nothing but lounge or explore a new hobby. This has been profound on both my emotional/mental health but also has positively impacted my work. I learned that stepping away from my work has actually given my mind space to be more expansive and less focused on the stress of the next thing. I think balance is the key to success and not “hustle culture” or overworking yourself.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an artist who loves to explore the contradiction between irreverence and depth within human interaction. I have been acting since the age of ten and have picked up a few more tools along the way since then. I have also worked as a director, writer, and sound designer. I have worked domestically and internationally through the Peace Corps, and I know what sets me apart is that I know that there are infinitesimal ways to explore the aforementioned intersection. I am extremely proud to simply be a working actor and figuring out how to balance out survival jobs with acting gigs. It is needle that a lot of artists have to stand on and takes a lot of trial by fire. I got where I am by going to graduate school and building a reliable and loving network of people I can fall back when the chips are down.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If you’re visiting New York City, there are many things to do. I have had quite a few visitors and would do this:

1.) Breakfast at Rolo’s in Ridgewood, Queens
2.) Bike to Prospect Park
3.) Lounge around the Park – Picnic with Small Bites
4.) Bike to the Brooklyn Promenade and have a view of the city
5.) Dinner in the Lower East Side
6.) Watch a Show at New York Theatre Workshop
7.) Drink and Chill at The Johnson’s in Bushwick

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t where I am in life without the love and support from my teachers in high school who gave me the space to play and explore in theatre classes. Chelsea Cullen, my high school theatre teacher, was instrumental in giving me the confidence and self-assurance to pursue acting as a career. She gave me the opportunity to be “Seymour” in Little Shop of Horrors, the lead role and gave me the chance to be the one leading a project. Through her effortlessly being herself and being a role model of someone working in theatre, I was able to see myself doing it too.

Website: https://jeromeallensmith.com/

Instagram: @jerome.allensmith

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerome-allen-smith-54751a96/

Image Credits
– Nathaniel Johnston Photography
– Akiyo Komatsu