I’ve heard this or other versions of this question (What’ your real job?) hundreds of times. I know what people are asking, and I know why they ask it. Mostly they don’t understand how standup comedy could be a “job”. They just assume it’s just a hobby, something that I do on the weekends, or when I have time off. Sure it starts that way; ALL of us have day jobs to pay the bills while we try to “make it”. Sometimes however it’s someone who thinks it could not possibly be considered work, and it’s just playtime away from the real world. These are the people I’d like to live in my and other comedians shoes for a little while.
I respect anyone who works the 9 to 5, and I really respect the ones who have given up on a dream to support and make their families life better. My uncle told me a long time ago to “Love what you do for a living.” See he was one that did what he had to do; he worked for 30 years for the railroad, and hated it every single day. He did it because he had to. I respect him and people like him immensely. He gave up so much just so his family would not have to. Ever since that day, I was determined to love my job. This is why 15 years later, I still do. Loving my job does not make it an easy one. It just means I don’t mind the work it takes to do it.
Some days I would love to have what some consider a “real job.” I think I would love being home with my wife every night being able to sleep in my bed. I would like a steady pay check, benefits, and raises. Most of all I would LOVE to be able to drive a car I’d like to drive, not one that I have to. The last 3 weeks I’ve been home 4 days. I’ve driven 3,500 miles, slept in my car in -6 degree weather. (My bottle of water was frozen when I woke up 4 hours later.) I have to travel with 2 blankets, a down comforter, heavy winter coat, gloves, wool socks, boots, and a knit hat. That one drive was 14 hours, and that’s a fairly short one compared to what I’ve done in the past, my longest drive was 48 hours straight, just stopping for gas and food. That’s just the travel part of my job. I’m not only a professional driver, my other jobs include, mechanic, travel agent, booking agent, web master, salesman, merchandiser, buyer, writer, producer, and last but not least performer.
I also LOVE every aspect of what I do. I like being in control of my life, and doing what I love to do. I don’t take it for granted. I’ve been able to travel, and see a lot of things a lot of people never have the chance to see. There is a lot of freedom that goes a long with being a comedian, but there is also a lot of pressure as well. I’m only as good as my last show, and all it takes is one bad show for me to never come back to a club. There are no write ups, or warnings, just “He sucked, we don’t want him back.” Plus we can’t collect unemployment when we are out of work. I’ve even been fired 3 hours before show time just because. The three most stressful things in life are joblessness, homelessness, and public speaking. Comedians do all of them every week.
I would not trade the last 15 years for anything, I’ve met thousands of great people, and made lots of friends because of what I do, and If it wasn’t for comedy, I would never have met the greatest woman I’ve ever known, my wife. Comedy is my life, and I owe my life to comedy. It’s a real job with real problems, and real benefits. It’s just not the normal way most people live their lives, but if I was normal I probably wouldn’t be a comedian.











