Meet Jamison Jensen | Actor

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

Hi Jamison, how do you think about risk?
The biggest role that risk has played in my life was my move from Washington State to Southern California. I saved as much money as I could spent every penny I had to pursue my dream of being a successful working actor in Hollywood. I left everything and everyone I knew behind to bet on myself. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about the risk I took and it pushes me to keep moving forward.

Risk is what started me on this journey about six years ago. I was taking a college Drama 101 course and the professor mentioned that they had auditions coming up for a play. I’d never done anything like that since high school, and even back then I was far too nervous to take that risk. Long story short is that I ended up doing the audition and was cast in the lead. It was at that moment that I was well and truly bit by the performance bug, so to speak. Shoutout to Sam Sloan and Dr. Nichole Nicholson for believing in me and trusting in me to lead my first ever play.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Creativity is a funny thing. I truly believe that everyone has the capacity to be creative and can show it in a bevy of ways. However, to want to take that creativity and turn it into a profession takes a different kind of drive and passion that a lot of people have convinced themselves they aren’t capable of. It becomes a life’s pursuit and like all things in life, it’s not something that comes easy.

My first professional job in the performance world was working as a karaoke host in my mid-20s at Nashvilles Sports Bar in Kent, WA. I was shown the ropes by Ray Andrews aka KDJ Mythikal, who gave me my first paid solo gig in entertainment. I started as a fill-in when Ray had other gigs to host such as weddings and the like, eventually transitioning into being behind the mic 3 out of 5 nights every week. It was my job not just to keep people singing, but keep them coming back and make them feel like a star. I created my own graphics and promoted my shows every week via social media.

What that job taught me is that marketing is everything in entertainment. You, as performer, as your brand and it’s up to you to maintain it so that it can grow.

That job also taught me how to adapt to almost any situation on the fly. Some nights there wasn’t much going on. Other nights I had to contend with not just the regular crowd but relatively massive influxes of people that may be coming in from ShoWare Center, one of Washington’s bigger indoor venues, that happened to be right down the way from where my show was happening. On nights like that, I learned to read the crowd and would base my entire presentation on the folks that had come in from either a concert or any number of different events that happened. The vibe had to be right and that meant I had to be adaptable to the situation, no matter what that situation called for.

I think that my adaptability is something I’m most proud of when it comes to lessons learned and skills gained during that time. That and my ability to work with others. When you’re working in a venue that’s well known and has a built in crowd of regular customers, it’s extremely important to be able to work with the other people on staff so that everyone gets the most out of the evening.

I believe that adaptability and willingness to work with everyone around me has been invaluable tools.

Ego is a big thing in the entertainment world, and while I am no exception to that, I know when to set my ego aside and work with those around me to achieve a common goal. Whether it’s on set, on stage, or just in my day to day life.

That’s not to say that ego isn’t something to take in stride at times, especially when it’s earned.

I have training in many different forms of media — whether it’s photography, graphic design, audio design, video production, stage performance, voiceover, even now receiving training in film and TV performance. I believe that ego plays into all of those mediums as you’re competing with yourself if not every other artist in those spaces. Your ego sets you apart and allows the essence of you to shine. I honestly believe that ego isn’t a bad thing to have as long as it isn’t unchecked. In every performance I want to be the best. I want people to look at my work and say, “Man…I need more of that”.

That ego is what carries artists to newer and newer heights. That and the desire to always be better than they were before.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve been in Los Angeles for a little over 16 months now, so I’m still exploring the city, myself.

If I had someone visiting and wanted to take them to what I’d say are some of the more interesting places I’ve been to, I’d start with Brooklyn Bagel right off of Beverly Boulevard near Filipinotown. I’m a sucker for a good bagel and these folks make easily some of the best and freshest bagels I’ve ever had in my life. The variety is insane and I can’t stress enough how kind and fantastic the staff is.

I’m originally from Washington State, home of Starbucks and where there’s an independent coffee shop around every corner, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t show anyone coming to visit Horror Vibes Coffee in North Hollywood. Not only do they have an immensely creative and to die for, pun intended, rotating menu, but their year round offerings are more than worth the wait in line. I love the vibe of independent and small businesses and Horror Vibes is unabashedly unique and should be a must-see for anyone that’s a fan of coffee and scary movies.

I’d also make a major point out of showcasing two different eateries that I’ve fallen in love with.

First and foremost, you have to check out Angry Boy Burger in Van Nuys. Another independent spot where you can always bet the food is going to be out of this world, I’ve been going to this burger spot since they first opened. You can’t go wrong when it comes to choosing this place for a burger that’s going to steal your heart.

Second, I have to give a big shoutout to Sunny Blue in Santa Monica. Everywhere I’ve been to in Southern California has a lot of hustle and bustle feel to it most of the time, so it stands to reason that having a place you can get either a snack or a meal that’s portable is a no-brainer. Sunny Blue offers the best solution in my mind with their menu of Omusubi. There are literally no bad choices on their menu and every stuffed rice ball is made to order so you know you’re getting quality with every visit.

For drinks, I’d definitely bring my visitors to one of three places.

If I’m looking to wow them, then we’re headed to downtown LA to Seven Grand. However, while the allure of the bar is something to behold, it’s what lies hidden inside that is going to knock their socks off. Hidden in the back of room, past the bar, you’ll see a doorbell. Ring the bell and enter The Jackalope, a whiskey speakeasy that promises to impress. The place is definitely an experience that is hard to match between the constant vinyl records being played and the personalized service that makes you feel like a VIP. I can’t recommend it enough.

For something more low-key, we’re heading to Sherman Oaks and to The Barrell for Friday night karaoke. The crowd is fantastic, the KJ — Jimmy G is an absolute rockstar, and the whole vibe is just cozy. It reminds me of home and when I was a karaoke host. It’s a nice spot to visit when I’m feeling homesick and is always worth the trip.

Lastly…if you’re looking for the best of both worlds, it’s time to head to R Bar in Koreatown. It combines the city and speakeasy vibe with a great crowd for karaoke and drinks that’ll keep you coming back. The noir-esque gothic motif lends itself to a fun experience every time you walk in. You can’t go wrong when R Bar is the destination.

What about exploring the city in general? I’d suggest Grand Central Market for a day trip on the weekend. Located in Downtown LA, this place has something for everybody whether it’s food, drinks, coffee, fresh produce. It’s reminiscent of Pike Place Market in Seattle in some ways and I love that.

Finally, I wouldn’t be much of an actor if I didn’t recommend the legendary TCL Chinese Theater located in te heart of Hollywood. I had a chance to see Deadpool and Wolverine in their IMAX auditorium and it’s something I can proudly say it’s something I was able to cross off of my bucket list.

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?
There’s so many people that come to mind that I’d love to shout out and I owe a major debt of gratitude towards when it comes to where I am today.

I’d love to give a shoutout, once again, to my college professors Sam Sloan, Dr. Nichole Nicholson, and Patrick Daugherty. Those three helped me realize that not only was I capable of being a performer, but that I could excel at it. Sam and Nichole gave me my first chance at being a lead in my very first play and helped that passion soar in my second. Patrick helped push me even further and was my instructor during the pandemic, allowing me to showcase all of my skills and experience in a virtual setting and then returning to the theater as well. Without those three individuals, who knows where I would be now?

Next, I want to give a big shoutout to my brother from another mother Stephen Schmaltz. From the day I met him, this man has pushed me to pursue these crazy dreams. He got me onto my first set, and has been a confidant since day one. He’s always encouraged me to be the person I know I can be, and to be the actor I am capable of.

I also want to shoutout my current instructor, Casey Lee, of The Actors STUDY. Casey has been an extremely valuable source of information and an amazing teacher since I came to Los Angeles. His teachings have broadened my horizons and expanded my knowledge, giving me more tools and gems to add to my repertoire. I can’t speak highly enough about how much his classes have helped and continue to help me grow as a performer.

Lastly, I want to give a shoutout to someone who, whether they know it or not, was the first person to get me into a performance mindset after high school. One of my oldest friends, Spencer Tucker, who convinced me to start doing voiceover for a video game stream on Twitch. I honestly owe him a lot and without that first push to break out of my shell, I don’t think I would have started on this path.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbjensenacting/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/jbjensenacting

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jbjensenacting

Other: https://bsky.app/profile/moonknightsupreme.bsky.social

Image Credits
Vorice Hebert, Jamison Jensen, Casey Lee, CM Focus Productions