Written by: Joseph Santiago

1. What other jobs did Comedian Rojo Perezdo before starting stand up comedy? I freelanced for a newspaper out of college, worked as a valet parker, bartender, server, delivery guy, and 3 days as an exterminator. Stopped that because I was paranoid I had bed bugs at every apt we went to and was making myself itchy. 2. How did you know you wanted to be a comedian? I didn’t, I’d write in college, shoot silly videos but had no idea to do with some of the stories. A buddy invited me once to an open mic, went terrible, and that was the drug. 3. If you weren’t doing comedy, what would you be doing? I think I would’ve found a way to be in sports as a journalist or commentator. Or maybe I’d be 10 years into my exterminator career and had at least 3 employees of the month awards. 4. Where are some of your favorite places to perform? I have a few spots I love, club wise I think Comedy on State (Madison), Acme Comedy Co (Minneapolis), Standup Live (Phoenix) are where I’ve had the most fun and they get how to treat comedians. Scene wise New Orleans, Austin, Atlanta. The way the comics run shows in these cities I love. 5. Who are some of your favorite up-and-comers in the comedy world? Oh man, not even sure what an up-and-comer is anymore since everyone who is 4 years in with 5 mins has already been “seen”. But these are some New York comics I genuinely enjoy watching: Lizzy Cassidy, Ariel Elias, Ben Katzner, Gordon Baker-Bone, Xazmin Garza. 6. What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten? I forget where we were at or why I was included in the conversation, but about 10 years ago Jesse Popp said “When you realize the worst that can happen is silence, everything else slows down” 7. When did you feel like you were a professional comedian? I don’t think I ever had a moment where something happened and I just declared to myself I was a professional. I was lucky that pretty early on a couple of people started taking me on the road so I was doing 6 show weekends while still parking cars or whatever.

8. How often do you perform comedy per week? read more

Written by: Joseph Santiago

1. What other jobs did you do before starting as Stand UP comedian?

I was a cashier at a uniform store, movie theater usher, waitress at a deep-dish pizza place, marketing rep for a couple of dot coms, orientation leader for my college, restaurant hostess, private music teacher, dental receptionist, extra in TV shows, and a pen sales representative. Any job where you talk to new people every day is great for a comedian to exercise those muscles of coming up with banter. read more

Written by: Joseph Santiago

It’s always a great time for a good laugh! As the summer starts to wind and cool down, best comedy shows in New York City, NYC, are heating up and what a great way to send summer packing by adding a night full of laughter and fun time filled with humor to your night.

Catch a laugh with friends at some of the best comedy clubs in NYC, New York City that bring you the funniest local and top headliner stand-ups in the nation. Some have been featured on Saturday Night Live SNL, Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing, or Late Night TV. read more

Written by: Joseph Santiago

Greenwich Village Comedy Club show for August

After the success of two clubs, Al Martins decided to expand its brand and in 2012 opened the Greenwich Village Comedy Club in the heart of Times Square. Martin once again took the risk by opening Greenwich Village Comedy, the only two-part entertainment complex with three showrooms in New York serving more than 600 comedy fans from around the world every night. In 2005, he co-directed the Boston Comedy Club with Barry Katz, executive producer of NBC Last Comic Standing, and gave Martin the right to be the first three comedy clubs in New York. read more

Written by: Joseph Santiago

We met up with Ray DeVito at the New York Comedy Club right after his stand up comedy performance. It was a soldout prime time show on a Saturday night. The energy was buzzing with laughter in the air at the New York Comedy show. We ask him some questions about stand up comedy. Here is what Ray had to say…

1. What other jobs did you do before starting stand up comedy?

Before doing standup comedy, I use to work as a recruiter in the plastics industry. Which sales jobs are fantastic in regards to knowing where you stand. It’s much like comedy, you know you’re worth immediately if you’re making the company money, you’re good. A lot like comedy, if you’re getting laughs, you’re good. read more

Written by: Joseph Santiago

We met up with Jay & Eytan comedians right before their sold-out comedy show at the New York Comedy Club. We got to learn a little bit about them and their comedy.

1. What other jobs did you two do before starting stand up comedy?

We’ve done what feels like every job under the sun. Anywhere from serving, to call centers, to working on film and photosets. All of which drudge up horrible memories so we’ll move on to the next question.

2. How did you know you wanted to be a duo comedian? read more

Written by: Joseph Santiago

We met up with Comedian Meghan Hanley at the New York Comedy Club in the East Village right before her show to discuss all things stand up comedy.

How did you know you wanted to be a comedian?

When I was in high school Seinfeld was huge, so I used to tell people that I was going to have my own show called “MegFeld,” I was only half kidding. I didn’t know that I wanted to do stand-up till a few years later, but I knew I wanted to be in the business of comedy.  I wanted to be on stage performing, but I couldn’t sing. I wanted to work in television and film, but I had no idea how to do that. I come from a family of Civil Servants. People who dedicate their lives to helping others. The idea of being an actress sounded so selfish and considering I had no experience or knowledge of the business it didn’t seem like something I could say I wanted to go to college for. But during this time I did start writing. I would send out mass emails entitled, “My random thoughts and shit.” I’d pick a topic and write about it. I thankfully don’t think I have copies of any of it. Then one day while I was attending Fordham University in the Bronx. I was watching a VH1 behind the music on Adam Sandler and he talked about doing stand-up while at NYU. I figured, “OK, I’m in the city, what am I waiting for.” I went up to a guy in the Village who was selling comedy club tickets and asked if the club had classes. He said “Yes.” I called the number and began taking weekly classes at oldNew York Comedy Club. read more

Written by: Joseph Santiago

We up with stand up comedian Casey James Salengo right after his sold-out show at the Comedy Cellar in the Greenwich Village in New York City.

1. What other jobs did you do before starting stand up comedy?

I’ve worked at a horse track, a campground, a weed farm, as an ice cream scooper, barista, office temp, a wizard at a Harry Potter museum, mover, dog walker, bartender, babysitter, and probably some other things I’ve blocked out.

2. How did you know you wanted to be a comedian? read more

Written by: Joseph Santiago

David Kimowitz was one of the Co-Founders of The Stand Restaurant & Comedy Club in Union Square in New York City. He was murdered on Saturday, August 3rd at the age of only 40 years old.  Kimowitz was stabbed to death at his house in the affluent neighborhood of Maplewood in Northern New Jersey alongside his family’s au pair Karen L. Bermudez-Rodriguez, age 26.

The au pair boyfriend, Joseph Porter, 27, a resident of Elizabeth, New Jersey, is in police custody and has been arrested in association with the double homicides. read more

Written by: Joseph Santiago

We met up with one of the OG’s of comedy and one of our favorite comedians Chuck Nice right after before his show at the New York Comedy Club in the East Village.  We asked him a bunch of questions and here is what he had to say.

1. What other jobs did you do before starting stand up comedy?

I was the national sales manager for a toy manufacturer, I have also been a bartender, cab driver, waiter, window salesman, and retail manager. Not to mention butcher, baker, candlestick maker, and porn director. read more