Meet Shaun Cruz | Drummer & Voice Actor/Comedic Performer

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

Hi Shaun, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
Do something every day. Meaning do something that pushes you towards achieving your goals EVERYDAY, even if it seems minuscule it still puts you closer than you were yesterday. It reminds me that not every day is “grandiose” its not supposed to be, but every day does grant you an opportunity to get to where you want to be!

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.
On the music side, I am a working-class drummer, a “hired gun,” if you will. I have been playing professionally (live) for the past 12 years, both in my own bands and projects and or hired by other artists to play in their live shows or recordings. As far as my acting and performing career goes, it’s something that I began taking more seriously about five years ago following my mother’s passing. On her deathbed, my mom told me, “That’s why you gotta do what you love and have fun,” referring to life in general. I took that piece of advice and ran with it, to me they were words of wisdom from someone who meant everything to me in their most vulnerable state, standing at the crossroads of their own life, advising me to follow what my heart desires and do what I really want to do because tomorrow is never promised and we’re only here for a small amount of time, so why waste it? I spent years trying to talk myself out of wanting to “be” an actor/voice actor because of self-doubt or lack of confidence, and that was probably the hardest thing I had to face, but losing my mom put things into perspective for me. I decided then that I wasn’t going to waste any more time and that I was going to go after what I wanted. So next, I looked up local improv classes and signed up! And that was the beginning or at least the formal start of my “Acting Career.” What I want people to know about my “brand” and my story is that everything I do comes from the heart, wether I’m playing music acting on stage, in a video, or in the voice booth it all comes from the same place of passion, I’m doing this because it’s something I really love and not so much for the recognition aspect of it. I love entertaining and I LOVE making people laugh, if it’s something I can do for the rest of my life I’ll take it!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Hmmm I’m not a very “Miami” person but here goes! As far as food goes I’d definitely take them to have chicken wings at Sports Grill, It’s a local chain of sports bars but they have the best chicken wings in Miami by far, i’m not a chicken wing aficionado or anything but I really can’t think of any other regional places I’d recommend to an out of towner lol. For drinks prob hit up the newly reopened Fox’s Lounge which has a speakeasy vibe to it it’s been around since the 1940’s it closed briefly a few years back but finally reopened It’s a cool hang and a nice place for an Old Fashioned, Prob also hit up a local brewery Lincolns Beard that’s always a cool hang too. Definitely take them to watch live comedy and improv at Just the Funny Theater. Other than that Miami is a very “Party”/Club kinda town and that’s just not my scene, I’d rather go on a hike or go kayaking or bike riding, I guess kayaking is an option too! I’d take them Kayaking and beer drinking in Biscayne Bay!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My only formal Drum teacher; Ivan Zervigon

My Instructors at Just the Funny Improv Theater in Miami, FL

Website: shauncruzvo.com

Instagram: @shauncruzvo @shaundc87

Youtube: @shauncruzvo

Image Credits
Adriel Hernandez – Photo Credit he is at @wackymooo on Instagram Ferdi Rodriguez Photo Credit @Ferd_tography on Instagram