Meet Taylor Patterson | Actor, Creator & Writer

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

Hi Taylor, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I’m a strong believer in work hard, play hard. Though, these days I find myself doing more of the former. I truly believe the more you put into something the more you get out of it, so I’ve been putting a lot of time into my creative passions. Perhaps more this year than possibly ever in my life, but I’m also conscious of burn-out and I’m aware that I’ve been working a little too hard recently. I am looking to use this summer as a time to reset and slow down a bit.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think what separates me from others is my work ethic. I really do put a lot of time into my creative outlets. Perhaps, because they’re more tangible than ever before. I think it’s that exact skill that’s opened a lot of doors for me as well. It’s definitely not easy but I’m also thankful to be able to make a living from doing what I love and I’ve never taken it for granted. It doesn’t really feel like work when it’s something you’re passionate about. Instead, it feels like a game. I’m levelling up, collecting badges, and completing side quests. I’m far from where I ultimately want to be but I can say one of the biggest things i’ve learned so far is the importance of community. If you can turn your creative pursuit into a process of community, that involves other artists, encourages collaboration, and sparks physical in-person action – than you’re well on your way. I’d like to be remembered as an individual who brought people together, through events, projects, initiatives, – whatever it is, I’d like to be remembered as a person who did that effectively.

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.
You’re putting me on the spot. Technically, I do this for a living so there’d be a few places to visit for sure. But ultimately, I’d have to show them where I grew up in The Beaches, along with where I’m living now, near Trinity Bellwoods. Those two spots are on opposite ends of the city but are both integral hangout spots in Toronto. In terms of food, we’d have to go to Danny’s Tavern for a burger, Cafe 23 for a coffee, Chubby’s for lunch, Bar St. Lo for a dinner out, and a walk on Ossington Avenue. And to top it off, an Oasis House party, of course.

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 love this. I’m all for giving credit where it’s due. There have been several co-signs I feel like I’ve been given in my career in the last few years. The biggest one of course being at my job blogTO. I have a tremendous amount of appreciation for Aaron and Tim for hiring me when they did three years ago, as it’s completely transformed my life. I also need to thank Jai from Creative Futures, and Meghan my mentor – both relationships I’ve fostered through my time with Soho House. These two have opened doors for me in the last couple of years that I’m incredibly grateful for. And most importantly, my partner, Lauren, there’s no way I’d be able to manage all that I do without her support, constructive feedback, and direction.

Website: https://taylorpatterson.co

Instagram: @tpatzz

Image Credits
Jacqueline Ashton
Chara Ho