In this episode of Overheard at Chica’s Café, Sonia Iris Lozada explores the unseen side of acting — the hours of preparation that audiences never witness. From memorizing lines for a single scene, to scrambling with last-minute sides, to navigating the silence that follows auditions, actors carry invisible labor that shapes every performance. Sonia also touches on the growing reality of self-tapes, where actors double as their own crew — a topic she’ll expand on in a future episode.

But invisible work isn’t unique to actors. Parents, teachers, creatives, and caregivers all hold hours of unseen labor that sustain lives and communities. With humor, compassion, and a touch of Los Angeles reality, Sonia reminds us that even the work that goes unrecognized mattersdeeply.

In this episode, I reflect on watching the Bad Bunny concert on Amazon and the pride of seeing Puerto Rican music honored on a global stage. From the African roots of Bomba, to the storytelling voice of Plena, to the worldwide reach of Salsa, I share both personal memories and insights from my background in Ethnomusicology.

These rhythms are more than genres—they are history, resistance, and the heartbeat of Puerto Rico.

References – Further Reading

• Bomba (Puerto Rico). Wikipedia
• Plena: The People’s Newspaper. Smithsonian Folkways → link
• History of Plena. La Casa de la Plena → link
• Music of Puerto Rico. Wikipedia

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• “Bomba Pa’ Siempre” by Jimmy Fontanez

• “Llena de Plena” by Jimmy Fontanez

• Used with appreciation and respect for the traditions of Puerto Rican music.

Welcome back to Overheard at Chica’s Café, where the coffee is strong, the conversation is flowing, and the occasional biscotti mysteriously disappears. Today, we’re talking about something every entertainer knows too well: what do we do between gigs? Those in-between stretches where your phone is quieter than a stagehand after a blackout cue.
You know, people think actors, musicians, or performers are constantly in the spotlight. But the truth? A lot of our lives are spent waiting. Waiting for auditions, waiting for callbacks, waiting for the gig that finally makes your family stop asking when you’re going to get a “real job.”

But here’s the secret: the waiting doesn’t mean we stop expressing ourselves. In fact, those in-between times are prime creative hours.

Think about it—expression doesn’t only happen on stage or onset. It happens in the things you do to stay alive and sane. Podcasting? Yep. Writing a poem no one else will ever see? Absolutely. Starting a memoir even if the first line is just, “Dear Diary, Hollywood is weird”? Go for it.

Maybe it’s designing or decorating your place. I once rearranged my living room so many times between gigs, my couch now qualifies as a traveling performer. It’s seen more blocking than some actors I know.

And cooking counts, too! Whipping up a new recipe? That’s performance art with edible applause. Just don’t burn the garlic bread, or the critics will be harsh—and by critics, I mean your own smoke alarm.

The point is: as entertainers, we need to express. If we cork the creativity while we’re waiting for the next “yes,” we start to feel like unopened soda cans—eventually, something’s going to explode.

So, write that song. Start that podcast. Paint the wall neon green if it makes you laugh—though maybe check with your landlord first. Expression isn’t about waiting for permission. It’s about keeping your creative pulse alive so when that next gig does come along, you’re not rusty. You’re ready.
So, whether you’re in rehearsal, in between jobs, or just staring at the ceiling fan wondering if it could double as a set piece, remember: creativity doesn’t clock in and out. It’s who you are.

And until that next big gig shows up—express yourself anyway. You might surprise yourself with what you create.

Thanks for joining me here at Chica’s Café. Don’t forget to grab a refill on your way out—and maybe, just maybe, rearrange your couch tonight. It might inspire your next masterpiece.

"Modern Jazz Samba" Kevin MacLeod(incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/