Meet Christian Labertew | Actor, Auctioneer, Athletic Trainer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christian Labertew and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christian, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
A professor of mine started one of our lectures with: “Many of you came here to be actors, and your goal is to find success in this profession. In my life and career in the arts, I have learned this: You can have it all, just not all at once.” My classmates and I quote this adage back to this day. To me, it’s a reminder to have respect and understanding of where my priorities lie. I won’t reach my full potential by allocating 20% of my attention to 5 different focuses. That said, I’m a MUCH happier person living a balanced and well-rounded life. Finding this balance is an ever-evolving tightrope walk.
There is no right or wrong way to go about this. Careers in the arts don’t have a blue-print, or a step-by-step guide to success. I’ve found that to be happy as an aspiring actor, I need to have other sources of income and fulfillment. This may not be the case for everyone, but my auditions are more successful and enjoyable when my rent isn’t dependent on booking the role. Similarly, my relationship with the arts is healthier when my happiness isn’t solely dependent on auditions.
Some people may look at my version of a work-life balance and deem that I am more or less successful than other artists. It’s a fair judgment and an internal struggle that I contend with daily. But I try to remember what my version of success looks like, regardless of what it looks like for those around me. For instance, last month my priority was my health and wellness. I invested my time into improving my tennis game, going to the gym, and backpacking around Europe. It was a wildly successful month in my eyes, despite not submitting a single audition. Next month, I hope to enroll in voice lessons, take acting classes, and delve into my upcoming projects. At the end of the month, I’ll undoubtedly curse myself for not investing enough time into my relationships, or prioritizing my bank account, and then I’ll remind myself of my professor’s promise: “I can have it all, just not all at once.”

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I sometimes feel cagey when talking about my art because, to be fully transparent, I am not a particularly talented artist. I have zero visual art skills; drawing, painting, sculpting, you name it, can’t do it. Despite numerous attempts and being raised by a father who is an exceptional pianist and composer, I have never taken to an instrument. And although during my freshman year of college, I was in West Side Story, a musical known for the amazing Jerome Robbins Choreography, I was cast as the only character who did not dance. The point being that the arts did not come naturally to me.
Instead, I found that what made me fall in love with the arts were the same things that made me fall in love with sports. The camaraderie amongst a cast echoed the camaraderie among teammates. We made jokes in the locker/dressing room, we got together daily for practice/rehearsal, and were all vying for praise from our coach/director. I felt as though these two interests were somewhat polarizing, that not many of my friends in these respective circles interacted much with one another. It was so exciting as I got older to meet those unique individuals who, like me, loved the NFL for the same reason they loved Les Misérables; because both were examples of storytelling at the highest level.
Much of my art aims to promote the meshing of my two interests. I think there is something to be said about using the accessibility of movies like Remember the Titans to teach students about segregation and critical race theory. Dear England would be an example of a similar approachability around mental health in athletics. It is a West End play that revolves around the England National Football Team dealing with the immense pressure of competing on a national stage and the psychological concerns associated with the country’s expectations of them.
My aspirations as a working artist are to take part in projects that use the broader appeal of sports and athletics to provide a lens through which we can promote discussions about topics like racism, mental health, and varying political ideologies, without alienating people who aren’t already seeking these things out. I am anxious to continue consuming and contributing to the growing body of work that aims to do just these things: build more bridges, start more conversations, and watch more football.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My appreciation for Los Angeles grows every year, so my perfect itinerary would certainly revolve around touching as many neighborhoods as possible! To start, we would head up North to the valley for an early 6 or 7 am gym session at F45 Studio City (shameless plug), followed immediately by smoothies at the neighboring What-A-Peach. It’s an unreal combo to start the day with. I love the drive down Ventura and then dropping back down into Beverly Hills via Coldwater Canyon.
Maru is a coffee shop in Beverly Hills that is ABSOLUTELY worth the hype so we would grab a couple of signature Flat Whites there before making our way up Rodeo Dr for their annual car show, or along Santa Monica Blvd for one of their Art Festivals. Before leaving Beverly Hills, we’d run into The Honor Bar for what can only be described as the best Burger and Fried Chicken Sandwich I’ve ever had.
It’s impossible to properly explore LA without making your way to the beaches, and every beach sort of serves a different purpose in my eyes. Malibu is the go-to for rolling the windows down and enjoying a beautiful drive down PCH. Venice and Santa Monica are awesome options for a round of beach volleyball, and then there’s Dockweiler where you can watch the sun set around a bonfire. Hard to go wrong any way you spin it.
Our trip would end with the first place that made me feel like LA was home; in the city’s sports community. On-campus tailgating at USC, followed by a Trojan Football Game at the Colosseum remind me of college in the best way, or we could head to BofA Stadium for an LAFC match and grab a victory dog on the way out. And ending the night on the patio of Rock & Reilly’s and splitting a Moscow Mule Pitcher and some fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies? Now that’s a dream trip.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This is my Academy Award Speech: Who are you acknowledging before the Stage Manager cues the playoff music? For me, practicing this speech comes in parts…
1. As cliché as this may be, my family is undoubtedly the first to be acknowledged. In terms of family, few people in the world have been as blessed as I have (or “overserved” as my mom would say.) My parents and grandparents were unicorns; they were more supportive of me studying Theatre than Business and gave gifted me the best college experience possible simply by purchasing my spot on the rowing team (Fight On!). But on a serious note, I am beyond grateful for these blessings that I hope one day to pass on to others as it was once passed onto me. I am constantly astounded by the bravery of those who chose to pursue the path I did, yet were not given the resources and advantages I was, and my family is to thank for that support.
2. It’s impossible to overstate the role that educators have played in my life. In addition to my family, any of my successes can be attributed to my professors, coaches, and mentors. They are tasked with the crucial responsibility of fostering critical thinking, imparting wisdom, nurturing empathy, and serving as role models. The return for such vital work is chronically low pay and constant scrutiny. Their job is full of sacrifice and selflessness, and rewarded in the tremendous power of influence.
To the professors who finish a 9-5, then rush to campus and facilitate discussions from 6-10. To the teachers who show up at school every morning at 6am, and teach chemistry to future artists who have zero aptitude for the subject. To the college students who sacrifice their summers making no money explaining iambic pentameter in theater-camp basements without air-conditioning. These are the people I am endlessly in debt to.
3. Finally, I’d like to thank…*Internal playoff music reaches deafening levels, Oscar speech is over*

Instagram: @claber2

Image Credits
Alex Repola
Sally Smythe
Stephanie Girard