Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Randle.
Hi Tyler, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I went to cosmetology school at 19 because I was still a kid being asked to commit my life to what would become my longest relationship: my college debt. Hair felt like the easiest, most correct decision. Since then I’ve taught basically every aspect of hair to other stylists — and if you’re a stylist, you can find those videos on my social media.
Entertainment has always been the goal. I used to dance in front of the TV to Barney like I was already famous. Stage fright held me back, so my therapist decided exposure therapy was the move — voice lessons first, then shows, then acting classes, which led to improv, which led to standup. I still black out when I think about some of my first sets — let’s just say ignorance is bliss. Made an appearance on KillTony, which was a blast, but definitely not a cure for stage fright. Screenwriting and creative writing came most recently, which is nice because nobody can watch you do it live.
A career in entertainment takes years to come together, and I’m in the middle of that slow build — but I’m learning my craft and meeting collaborators along the way.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not the smoothest. The biggest struggle has probably been balancing everything. I attend college part-time at Texas State University — first in my family to get a bachelor’s degree! Hairstyling pays the bills; entertainment does not. For years it’s meant working full-time (and sometimes over) behind the chair, then going to acting or improv class, writing at night or on breaks, doing homework at night, and driving to an open mic after everything else. While still trying to date in Neverland (Austin, where everyone wants to stay young forever which means no commitment. John still doesn’t want anything serious at 45, good luck!)
Stage fright also needed to be worked through with therapy and performance training. And then there’s the specific struggle everyone experiences but nobody talks about — discounting the things you’ve already done. Learning to register progress as progress, instead of immediately moving to the next item on the list, has been harder than the rest.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I did hair and specialized in color for 12 years, then moved to mostly haircutting after some medical issues arose from exposure to color. In hair, I’m most known for getting a client the result they want — often a result they haven’t been able to achieve before, anywhere else. I learned to read people from years of client-facing work, and that’s a skill that shows up on stage, in a scene, or on the page just as much as it did behind the chair. Acting is still blossoming, but I’m starting to build the resume.
Being on KillTony is probably what I’m most proud of — not because it was my best work, but because it’s a show millions of people watch, and before that, I would shut down if I had to speak in front of people at all. I did a lot of work in therapy and on stage to get to a place where the nerves aren’t exacerbated by being on stage. I feel like I belong up there.
What sets me apart, I think, is that I didn’t learn performance the traditional way, and I’ve been patient with myself while learning. I stay up reading books or watching training on performance and writing. I was given grace to learn and grow while performing in front of audiences, and I’ve extended that same grace to myself — and I think that patience, and the craft it’s built, shows up in the work.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
A few things tend to surprise people: I have seven younger sisters, which probably helps my ability to read a room and de-escalate. I’ve played tennis since I was 13, I know a martial art but like to keep that one a secret (shh), and I think I have enough books at this point to start my own personal bookstore.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/nottylerrandle
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-randle-4b28335a
