We met up with stand-up comedian Jeffrey Leach at the Comedy Cellar in Greenwich Village right after his performance at a sold-out comedy show in NYC.
What other jobs did you do before starting stand-up comedy?
My parents instilled a work ethic in me from a young age and I’ve had a job to pay my way since I was 11 years old when I started a weekly paper route.
Since then I’ve produced live shows, worked in commercial radio, been the booker of major music venues, DJ’d at major festivals, and produced remixes for Island Records and Ministry of Sound, I was also a television presenter and actor prior to trying my hand at stand-up comedy 8 years ago. Now I pursue all things written, performative, and creative.read more
We met up with stand-up comedian Rojo Perez at the original New York Comedy Club in Midtown located on 24th Street in Kips Bay in Manhattan.
Here is what Rojo Perez had to say about the comedy scene in NYC.
What other jobs did you do 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.
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 what to do with some of the stories. A buddy invited me once to an open mic, went terrible, and that was the drug.
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 employee of the month awards.
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.
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.
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”
When did you feel like you were a professional comedian?read more
Nothing Is Funny About Donald Trump – Comedian Tom Papa
On a new episode of “The Last Laugh” podcast, stand-up comedian Tom Papa talks about his career and long friendship with Jerry Seinfeld, as well as his new Netflix Special “You’re Doing Great!”
As Tom built materials for his latest special, he had to keep reminding audiences, “You are doing great.”
He believes right now, people are overwhelmed with anxiety. “They feel everything’s going down and that they’re not doing enough in their personal life.” read more
Leicester Comedy Festival is a 19-day celebration of merriment and hearty fun that began last night with a variety of shows across the city.
One of the night’s highlights was an award-winning Comedian Ed Byrne showing to the audience in De Montfort Hall why he is one of the nation’s outstanding stand-up talents.
Ed Byrne was super excited to be in the city, moving onto the stage in his usual cheerful manner.read more
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
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
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
We met up with Michael Verdi at the original spot of the New York Comedy Club in Midtown at one of his shows the lone bird He is the founder of Lone Bird Comedy and produces a monthly show at New York Comedy Club with his brother and fellow comedian, Paul Verdi. Mike also studies and performs improv comedy with UCB and is a member of the indy improv team, “Baby Haha”. He works by day at a non-profit that was nice enough to continue employing him after he made the choice to shave a mustache. Mike is best known for his intelligent and often dark take on the world as an Italian-American from South Jersey struggling to be the good person his upbringing won’t let him be.read more
Blair Socci is an LA-based comedian who recently moved to LA after starting her career in New York. You may know her from MTV and Comedy Central and you can catch her opening for Ron Funches on tour this summer.
What other jobs did you do before stand up comedy? I’ve done every job there is, and so many more since I started comedy. I’ve truly lived 9 lives. Before I started comedy, I was a commercial real estate broker. I was a junior member on a team selling big buildings and I had to get in the office at 6:30 am and do cold calls ALL day. I wore heels! But it taught me about work ethic and life. I feel super lucky now that I get to do something I love because wow that life was not right for me. Before I started comedy, I was very panicked that I was gonna rot under that fluorescent lighting.read more
This week we talk with native New Yorker Carole Montgomery, who happens to be a very talented standup comedian. She has been performing at NYC Comedy Clubs for the past 40 years and has been featured on over two dozen television appearances, Carole has headlined clubs & colleges across the USA and starred in 2 different Las Vegas production shows. In her ten years as a LAS VEGAS STAR, it is estimated that she has been seen by over 5 million audience members. LAS VEGAS SUN calls Carole “one of Vegas’ premier comics, ” SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS says Carole is “one of the pioneering female comics of the modern era” SEATTLE TIMES calls Carole “one of the strongest women working today”read more
