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BACK ISSUES INTERVIEWS Stand-Up Comedians Jim Norton Robert Kelly Donnell Rawlings Brad Stine Tammy Pescatelli Leighann Lord George Sarris Nick DiPaolo Russ Meneve Shang and more By Tasha Harris, NYC Comedy Journalist STAGE TIME The Magazine That Stands Up For Comedy |
Watch comedy, write comedy, perform
comedy and try not to drive yourself crazy.
Have a regular life and regular friends.
I know it’s important to hang out, meet
people and network but there comes a
time when you also got to balance it out
because if you put too much of your self-
esteem, it will break your heart. It just
does because it’s not fair. You can be
really great and really funny and don’t
get the show. Or you don’t get passed at
a certain club. It means nothing except
perhaps you’re not ready; perhaps you’re
not right for that room, perhaps a million
things…
comedy and try not to drive yourself crazy.
Have a regular life and regular friends.
I know it’s important to hang out, meet
people and network but there comes a
time when you also got to balance it out
because if you put too much of your self-
esteem, it will break your heart. It just
does because it’s not fair. You can be
really great and really funny and don’t
get the show. Or you don’t get passed at
a certain club. It means nothing except
perhaps you’re not ready; perhaps you’re
not right for that room, perhaps a million
things…
You’re married to a comic. Do you have any advice for comedy couples?
Yes. Don’t do it! The reason why I give the advice I give is because I spent the first six, seven
years of my comedy career just doing comedy. I was in the clubs all the time. I was all about
comedy. It’s still important now but if I don’t have a spot, it’s probably not going to faze me…
There is a certain part of your career when you need to put the time in but once that foundation
has been established, you need to know when to say, “No, I’m not hanging out tonight.”
In terms of marrying and dating comics, it’s hard usually for the women because the perception
is that the woman is riding on the coattails of the male comic, depending on who you are dating.
If it’s a young comic and she’s dating a headliner, people are going to go, “Oh, that’s why she’s
getting work.” If you’re good and funny and have your own reputation, then that’s not an issue.
The male comics aren’t the greatest dating pool and that’s not a knock on them. It’s just what
it is. A lot of them are young either in age or at heart and aren’t trying to look for something
serious.
I would say be very careful because it’s like dating someone at the office. You never know where
you’re going to work with this person and if the break up is going to be ugly, how are you going
to deal with that?
Actually, I got very lucky. With my husband, in the beginning I was like, “No, it’s not a good
idea. You’re a comic.” He won me over. It happened to be a really good match.
The positive of dating or marrying a comic is that you are with someone who gets it. This is not
an easy lifestyle for regular people to understand; people who have a 9-to-5 job and pension
and a house don’t get the fact that you’re out until two in the morning or when they want to go
out and have a good time is when you’re working.
Not a lot of people have a big understanding of that over a long time but another comic will.
When I call him up from the road and he goes, “How was the show?” And I go, “It was bad,”
the conversation doesn’t stop there because he’ll go, “Was it you? Was it the emcee?
Was it the club?” I can get into those intricacies and he gets it. Or if I’m having a problem,
"how do I fix it?" He knows the difference; he knows me and we can work it out.
So from that perspective, having somebody that gets me - if that’s not important to you, then
by all means, get a stockbroker. Get somebody who has money. But it was very important to
me to have somebody with me who got me and what I do.
Yes. Don’t do it! The reason why I give the advice I give is because I spent the first six, seven
years of my comedy career just doing comedy. I was in the clubs all the time. I was all about
comedy. It’s still important now but if I don’t have a spot, it’s probably not going to faze me…
There is a certain part of your career when you need to put the time in but once that foundation
has been established, you need to know when to say, “No, I’m not hanging out tonight.”
In terms of marrying and dating comics, it’s hard usually for the women because the perception
is that the woman is riding on the coattails of the male comic, depending on who you are dating.
If it’s a young comic and she’s dating a headliner, people are going to go, “Oh, that’s why she’s
getting work.” If you’re good and funny and have your own reputation, then that’s not an issue.
The male comics aren’t the greatest dating pool and that’s not a knock on them. It’s just what
it is. A lot of them are young either in age or at heart and aren’t trying to look for something
serious.
I would say be very careful because it’s like dating someone at the office. You never know where
you’re going to work with this person and if the break up is going to be ugly, how are you going
to deal with that?
Actually, I got very lucky. With my husband, in the beginning I was like, “No, it’s not a good
idea. You’re a comic.” He won me over. It happened to be a really good match.
The positive of dating or marrying a comic is that you are with someone who gets it. This is not
an easy lifestyle for regular people to understand; people who have a 9-to-5 job and pension
and a house don’t get the fact that you’re out until two in the morning or when they want to go
out and have a good time is when you’re working.
Not a lot of people have a big understanding of that over a long time but another comic will.
When I call him up from the road and he goes, “How was the show?” And I go, “It was bad,”
the conversation doesn’t stop there because he’ll go, “Was it you? Was it the emcee?
Was it the club?” I can get into those intricacies and he gets it. Or if I’m having a problem,
"how do I fix it?" He knows the difference; he knows me and we can work it out.
So from that perspective, having somebody that gets me - if that’s not important to you, then
by all means, get a stockbroker. Get somebody who has money. But it was very important to
me to have somebody with me who got me and what I do.
Your Feedback:
I identified with her words on being a black comic - stereotypes and all. Being a Latino comic,
I deal with the same thing. I agree with her when she says comics should watch other comics -
good or bad. You can learn from everyone. I look forward to hearing more about Leighann Lord.
-Sal Rodriguez, NoHo Arts District, CA
Just read your interview with Leighann - great!
-Carolyn Castiglia, NYC
I enjoyed LeighAnn's interview. Brava Ms. Harris! You captured her intelligence, honesty and
uniqueness as a person and a performer. I am so glad I was emailed about your site.
-Saranne Rothberg, ComedyCures Foundation
I deal with the same thing. I agree with her when she says comics should watch other comics -
good or bad. You can learn from everyone. I look forward to hearing more about Leighann Lord.
-Sal Rodriguez, NoHo Arts District, CA
Just read your interview with Leighann - great!
-Carolyn Castiglia, NYC
I enjoyed LeighAnn's interview. Brava Ms. Harris! You captured her intelligence, honesty and
uniqueness as a person and a performer. I am so glad I was emailed about your site.
-Saranne Rothberg, ComedyCures Foundation
