E10: Paving the Way for More Diversity in Your Industry with Danielle Perez

[00:00:00] Hello and welcome to Shes Big Time Now, a podcast for women who are refusing to play small. My guest today is Danielle Perez. Danielle is a disability rights advocate and a rising star in the entertainment industry.

[00:00:14] In 2004, she survived a tragic accident that resulted in the amputation of both her legs below the knees. But that never stopped her from pursuing her dreams. Today, she's a Los Angeles-based comedian, actor and writer. Danielle made headlines in 2015 when as a contestant on the prices right,

[00:00:33] she won a treadmill despite being in a wheelchair. She is open for Maria Bamford, Kristella Alonzo and Nicole Byer. Danielle has also appeared in popular shows such as curb your enthusiasm, special and Russian doll

[00:00:48] and has upcoming appearances on the Amazon series with love and the pitch-perfect spin-off series. With her talent and advocacy, Danielle is breaking barriers and paving the way for more diverse representation in comedy and acting roles.

[00:01:03] On the show, she shares how she found the path to stand-up comedy in her 30s. The importance of being inspired by others without trying to be them and how you can find humor in the unlikeliest of places. Let's get into the show.

[00:01:25] I am so excited to have Danielle on the show because she is hilarious. If you have not checked her out, you need to make sure that you go just type her name and YouTube.

[00:01:54] And you will come across all kind of great content featuring her plus she's an actress as you've heard and she's doing all kinds of great things. And so she's so unique in what she's been able to do that I had to have for on the show

[00:02:06] to share her story. So welcome. Thank you. Thank you for having me. So one of the things I always like to start out with is many people are looking for their path in life. And they're looking for inspiration and to learn from others.

[00:02:21] And so I want to know, if someone were to ask you, it's a question I always start with, what do you feel is the secret behind your success? What would you say? Oh goodness. Honestly. And like you say success and I'm just like, oh man.

[00:02:38] I don't know if I feel successful. But I think it's being as authentic as I can being me with stand up comedy, being a comedian. Lots of people tell jokes, lots of people can be funny but what makes you unique.

[00:03:00] What makes you, some of people are excited to see is just like doubling down on yourself. It's great to be inspired by people and look up to people and see how other people are working. But the thing that's going to draw people to you is you.

[00:03:16] I love that. Did you know that early on or was that something that you had to realize? Because I can imagine even as being a comedian or going into acting.

[00:03:25] You see people and you're like, okay, I want to be kind of a mixture of this and that and all that together. So how did you realize or with that authenticity was so huge in making it?

[00:03:35] I think it's something that I just observed, especially in stand up and doing stand up. Like there are so many comedians that I look up to. I'm inspired by like Joel Kambu stars one of my favorite comics and Lori Komartin and it's just like,

[00:03:53] you know, they are their amazing joke writers and they're amazing presence on stage but it's like they are. They are them, you know what I mean? Like they're not shying away from being themselves and so it's like that seems to me like the secret, the secret sauce.

[00:04:12] You have to think as it's like if you want to see you know Michelle Bittos, see Michelle Bittos. You know what I mean? You want to see Nicole Biertos, you know, they're two different women. You know what I mean? They're both black plus eyes. Exactly.

[00:04:24] You know what I mean but it's like you're getting two different things from them right because they're two different people.

[00:04:29] So it's like the thing that's going to make me stand out is me and I think also too like early on like I started stand up with my best friend Madison Shepherd

[00:04:39] and a lot of times it was very rare that we were like booked on a show together because it's like well they're two both black, that women.

[00:04:48] So we could just interchange them from each other and it's like no we're doing different things right right right we are not interchangeable get that correct. Yeah.

[00:04:57] No I love what you said about that because I think that can apply to so many careers and just being yourself when you show up authentically as you are it lowers the right people to you.

[00:05:09] Because no one can beat you. I used to always say no one can beat you at being you and so one of the things that you said Danielle that I thought was really interesting you said I don't feel big time. I don't feel like I've made it there.

[00:05:22] And you know I've been interviewing different you know influencers and people were big time in my eyes but I found a lot of people who've done these amazing things they often don't see it.

[00:05:34] And I think that's what you think that is do you think you have this ideal in your mind of where you're headed and so you're not there yet or what makes you feel that way.

[00:05:42] I think that's a big part of that is that you know I've only been doing stand up her eight years. That's a drop in the bucket you know. The only day was just got her you got you know to me and I said yeah for real.

[00:05:58] Well, it's a long journey.

[00:06:00] I remember even before I started stand up watching the John Rivers documentary piece of work and I mean this is a woman who has a do we decibel system catalog of like a rejoke she's ever written and looking at her calendar like successful you know and

[00:06:18] I think objectively kind of any person would get John Rivers and be like a legendary career a woman who has done it all which reached the mountain top you know and she's just looking at a calendar just like all I see her that empty day. You know.

[00:06:35] And so it's like I think it's just I am thankful that I know enough to know that there's a lot there's a lot of road left and there's a lot that I want to accomplish and I'm just going to keep our heads down and keep working towards it.

[00:06:52] And so what do you feel like there's something that once you hit it, it will be that defining moment is their this goal in your mind.

[00:07:00] That's the thing that it's like now I don't I think that and I think that's like part of like being creative is that you are constantly like evolving like as a creative person and so even if you're like.

[00:07:15] Oh, perhaps I'm like very content with this but in other aspects like like because I understand up I write I act you know what I mean it's like maybe like right now like the hunger for stand up isn't as big as like the hunger for acting and then maybe that might not be as big as sometimes is the hunger for writing so it's like it's.

[00:07:36] You're allowed to change and you're allowed to kind of like grow and evolve with that and so I don't think there's like one thing that like once I accomplish that then I'll be like I made it because we're always moving the goal post.

[00:07:51] Yeah, it's that's so true because you know you feel like you get some place and you're like you don't do that but what's next.

[00:07:57] Well, I want to go back in your path of finding this because how many people realize they're funny you know I mean to be able to do it and make money off of it.

[00:08:07] So I want to go back to your childhood first did you know as a kid you were funny did you have an idea this is what you might do or did kind of just happen to you. I don't think I thought I was cutting as a kid.

[00:08:21] I think I definitely knew I was like percocious I definitely was you know I am I love detention like when I was little I wanted to be like an actress you know. I did like ballet and top and jobs and all those things but.

[00:08:38] Yeah, it was like I was a class clown or anything like that because I always wonder about that so what was that moment for you when you go.

[00:08:46] I got it you know I can do this what let you know that then since you say I wasn't the class clown but you had this kind of this background and you that wanted to perform so there was this performance you talk about my way so you have that.

[00:09:01] But what was that moment when you realized I can do this that I have a gift for this for sure.

[00:09:07] I mean there was a big big gap a big golf between that because you know I grew up in Los Angeles you know I grew up watching TV and like the late eighties early nineties and so it's like I'm not seeing people that look like me on television I'm not seeing after latinas.

[00:09:22] Hearing anyone say the word Dominican when I tell people I'm Dominican they're very confused.

[00:09:27] So I just you know I didn't see it's like okay yeah I want to be an actor but I don't see anyone else like me being an actor on TV so it doesn't really seem like that's reasonable idea or goal.

[00:09:40] Also to growing up in LA my sister went to Laxa like LA County High School for the art so it's like I was aware like kids my age who are actually doing this you know like being very you know studying the scale studying learning the craft like truly intentional about it.

[00:09:55] Yeah in a serious way so it was always like oh that's just for fun I was 30 so many years later I lost my legs when I was 20 and I've been living in LA and my best friend.

[00:10:09] She had actually she'd gone to Oxford with my sister and then she went to theater school in London and so she's back in LA trying to do like black box Shakespeare which like why you're doing LA is beyond me but.

[00:10:24] I was like I'm gonna break out as this is darn in 1993 and her roommate was a stand up so we started going to a show so like the third show was like girl he was not funny.

[00:10:36] You're funny how do we do set up companies literally because this comment like I could you it was just he wasn't it was just so like no like that's crazy like he's getting on stage and like doing comedy.

[00:10:50] I can't believe so that it was so even that's so interesting to me because you get the courage to do this by seeing somebody else and go on.

[00:11:00] This dude ain't even funny so if he's able to do this then maybe I should try how soon after you have this kind of light bulb moment about him do you go from saying. Okay maybe I could to actually doing it and being on a stage.

[00:11:16] I feel like maybe like a few weeks if that like I really saw the text like that I sent him out of some like girl how do we do stand up comedy.

[00:11:25] And then she found this comedy the stand up comedy class at IOS to theater in Hollywood that does not exist there anymore and our teacher Melinda Hill and she's you know successful comedian she'd been on like Reno 9 on lawn and all the stuff at run like a long running LA stand up show Tiger Lily with like Natasha Lajero and Maria Bampard and stuff.

[00:11:48] And we show up to our first day of stand up comedy class which is like all right you gotta go to open mics and we're like okay and so that weekend we Madison's like okay you ready to do it.

[00:12:00] And I'm like oh my god I'm so excited she's like we're so brave and I was like where are we brave because we're going to watch people do stand up. So no we're afraid because we're going to do it all like what.

[00:12:11] Oh my goodness I can't even imagine I would have been freaking out.

[00:12:14] We're off to the races like it truly I really thought we were just going there to observe you know take it in take in the sights but she signed his up she's like no we're out of our shoes seven and I was a rock paper in Hollywood again doesn't exist there anymore gross from meltdown I just started speaking about my life and.

[00:12:36] People were listening and laughing and totally just like excited about what I was saying and I've never done heroin but.

[00:12:45] I knew I needed that for the rest of my life I was like I guess is this is it was that a dicting like just that moment on stage and you're like okay I'm funny people are paying attention people are.

[00:13:01] So that moment was a life changing moment for you 100%. It was like yeah it was just a truly the feeling was just like indescribable but I just knew it felt right it felt.

[00:13:16] It was like important and immediately we were like oh my god we have to do this again we have to we have to find another open mic it's we love found another open mic and it was in downtown off skin row just truly the drugs and like we got there really what early in a second for 24 and 25 and the list is was our very rude awakening of like this is a reality of what stand up comedy will be.

[00:13:39] I got up there and I bomb I bomb is not good and all I can think of was like I just want to get back up on stage and try to do it again.

[00:13:48] I'm like I need to do wait a minute I don't stop you there so you're saying the second time so you have this first great experience you go through the second time and you bomb.

[00:13:56] But yet something inside of you said okay stop let's get back up like I have to I'm like I know that I can like I'm trying you know what I mean it's like I know I did it so like let me figure out how to do it like I can do it.

[00:14:11] I already did it I didn't want so like let's get back up let's figure it out what what do I need to change what do I need to I know I can do this.

[00:14:21] So I just need to get back on stage and just like why isn't that so big right now. But you know that's so huge and I think that's a life lesson for a lot of people because we think when we first start out if it's not perfect.

[00:14:35] If we don't get it right or we bomb or we fail that it's not meant to be yeah but you didn't take that in that moment and say this is not meant to be you're like.

[00:14:44] No I'm going to keep going because you felt that that feeling in there so when you look back from where you started to where you are now or what goes to your mind or you like oh my gosh.

[00:14:55] I had no idea of this journey I'm embarking on that is that yeah that's definitely like be a little full circle especially you know going through the pandemic.

[00:15:05] I was just on a phone call with like what am I like a friend's kitty friends and just starting stand up.

[00:15:12] So really well thing about it is that you get to know a lot about a lot of people and you kind of don't really know anything else beyond what they're sharing on stage but they're sharing like super personal things.

[00:15:27] And you're seeing them try and succeed and you're seeing them try and fail and so that kind of those first like few years of stand up you're just kind of like taking in all these characters.

[00:15:40] And you're learning so much about them and you're not really you know because everyone's got jobs and real lives and we're doing this you know from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. like.

[00:15:51] And so you're not hanging out with these people during the day like they're not your friends but they become your family. You know really weird way but it is cool to see like you know I've been doing stand up for eight years like oh my god.

[00:16:11] I'm about to know some of these kukuku kukuku roots for 10 years unlike it feels good as like seeing everyone succeed in different ways you know because it is such an individual journey.

[00:16:26] Because if there was only one way to do it we'd all do it that way and we're not we're all doing it our different unique ways and we're all bringing something different to the table seeing everyone succeed like you know my friend.

[00:16:39] So kutsuka like she just had her HBO special like drop and it's like that's fucking amazing that's so cool you know it's like we used to like do these terrible open mics and drive like crazy distances for show.

[00:16:56] I think that's like a full-sup for a moment because you know like you said this has been a journey for you and you know just to see other people like everybody's even though everybody wanted wants to make it you all kind of had to navigate your own path to finding it there.

[00:17:12] You know finding your way and trying different things and being willing to be open in that process so I can only imagine looking back is now you're acting you've been on you know been on TV.

[00:17:24] I mean you've really had some defining moments and I also want to kind of go back to some of those defining moments in your life that kind of have led you up to this point.

[00:17:34] We're hearing about your comedy but you've gone through some really interesting times you talked about it early on the life defining moment of losing.

[00:17:43] You know portion of your legs so I want to kind of go through some of your life and how you use those experiences to shape your life but to still catapult you to your next.

[00:17:53] So tell me about your experience of first one of your first defining moments of losing your legs or portion of your legs. I was living in San Francisco and I actually was kicked out of San Francisco State University. Yeah, still sending my parents transcript.

[00:18:17] You would ever okay up in San Francisco they have the money which is a light rail system that goes above ground and below ground so below ground it's like subway above ground you know light rail and it runs a traffic and I was crossing the street hit me ran over my legs and my my legs below the knee were amputated and it was like an emergency situation.

[00:18:41] So they had to do skin grafts to preserve my limb below the knee like in the hospital for a month that San Francisco general and came down to Los Angeles and was also in the hospital for a month and then did some time and like occupational rehab facility so it was a lot to be 20.

[00:19:00] So I was going to have feet and all you want to do is like quote unquote be normal just party bullshit with your friends. So it was definitely you know the 10 years between losing my feet and starting stand up.

[00:19:20] I didn't I honestly just didn't really know what I wanted to do so much of me was focused on like I just want to be normal for a big part.

[00:19:28] I was dealing with a lot of like the denial around like what had happened and not really confronting it and so I truly believe like you know stand up state my life. It gave me a real purpose it gave me drive it gave me something like motivation.

[00:19:45] It gave me just something to work towards and work hard out and like and achieve with and succeed with. So one of the other life defining moments I want to talk about with you is going on the price is right girl.

[00:19:58] Tell me about that because your price is right moment also ended up catapulting your name. I mean people knew who you were across the globe. Thinking back to that price is right moment.

[00:20:08] My good friend Wendy Starling she was leaving LA for New York she's like I'm going to be in New York comedian now and we're like okay let's do all the LA things so she wanted to go in the prices right and I was like sure let's do it.

[00:20:23] And I was the first name called down a contestant's row and I won a treadmill and a walk in sauna and the internet lost it's my.

[00:20:38] I know I mean so much so because I thought so much so that you end up getting called by Jimmy himmel to come on his show to talk about it. Very next day so. How much of a defining moment was there for you?

[00:20:52] I mean I must have showed you that you were meant to be famous. It was it was so silly because you know the episodes are they should like two episodes a day it's a well-oiled machine you know what I mean they get people out.

[00:21:07] So the gap between when I shot that episode and when I aired was about two months so I've been talking about like winning a treadmill like I opened my ex with my friends and I just honestly thought it was going to be like oh this is a silly thing that me and my friends are going to think is funny.

[00:21:25] And it's like what was that like I mean you automatically your. You know catapulted into the spotlight you're on Jamie Kimmel. I watched it on my she's hilarious and she was meant to be on TV and do this thing so do you feel kind of like.

[00:21:40] It was like your indication that I'm gonna be big someday that you know something's going on here. I truly was so just like this is so surreal and so silly to me that I just.

[00:21:54] I think I just I couldn't even think that far ahead do you know what I mean? Like it was just so like this is so bizarre this is so wild like this is just so something out of like this isn't it didn't feel real.

[00:22:10] I guess like that's the thing it just like not real. It almost was like yeah this is I'm going through these motions, but it doesn't feel like.

[00:22:20] This is real it just is so surreal and so bananas like it I just I think it just was I mean I had only been doing stand up for maybe like six months if that.

[00:22:31] So when the producers of Kimmel who would like seen the clip like seen the episode they called me up and I'm like I'm a stand up and they're like that's normal.

[00:22:39] You know they're all okay, let's talk about you winning a treadmill and so it was just like this is just so it's silly like it's like you know people like I was interviewed by BBBBC you know what I mean like that's a crazy.

[00:22:55] CNN you know so it was just like this is literally the day after it aired inside edition showed up to my house trying to get an inner what yes.

[00:23:11] And so it was like what and I'm calling because they had to say they like told my roommate like oh we changed that he's like I thought we were going to the studio to do the interview and they're like oh no we're doing it here.

[00:23:23] He's like okay and I'm in the bathroom like calling the producers of extra and then we're like no they tried to reach out to us and we told them no you're not available for an interview like oh my god.

[00:23:34] But we're lying in our toilet. I'm just like you guys I don't know and so you know right my roommate is like you need to get off.

[00:23:41] We got to know Brilla so that we can get into like our Uber to go to the studio to do that interview and it's like oh my god this is like literally British mirrors like we have an.

[00:23:54] What's up Brilla to pop our off the block and they're setting up our cross history to try to get a shot like it's so you know that's not real life that's crazy.

[00:24:02] That's like whoa but that's why I said you know because it was you know people were looking like how do you go on you know the prices right and your debut and you would have tried to mail like really so you it was just like this moment that but you handle it so graciously you're like oh okay yeah it's okay you know.

[00:24:20] And I think that was probably why it took off but did that opportunity of getting your name viral in that extent open doors for you did you find it had any impact.

[00:24:30] I mean it definitely opened doors with stand up you know I have a TV credit I'm then on Jimmy Kimmel Live and so definitely help with getting booked around town getting spots on shows and you know people being like alright now is like you know she's just doing it.

[00:24:48] She's really like you know. I mean it was such a thing that just happened in the moment that was such a fluke but you know the reality is like yeah not everyone's great on the couch you know not.

[00:25:06] Everyone's like that fast on their feet and so I think it was definitely just I gave me that boost in that bump in the LA scene where were people just you were like okay yeah she's funny.

[00:25:17] Yeah because you I mean when I was watching you on Jimmy Kimmel you just roll with it you had your little joke yeah like what are you going to do with it what everybody does with it use it as a piece of furniture I was like okay.

[00:25:28] So it's like you just naturally you know when I watch that you naturally have that ability to entertain and engage and I could see how that like open doors for you and then you had another defining moment because you were a similar finalist on the NBC show stand up so tell me how did that happen to that come about some extent from the Jimmy Kimmel and all that exposure to be able to do that NBC has a lot of different programs for writers for standups.

[00:25:58] I think they have now for like directors and different things but so there stand up NBC competition is something that they they've been doing for many years they go to different regions across the US.

[00:26:12] And they do like a cattle call you got like a minute to oh no you get two minutes or year for Jesus yeah you get two minutes to tell jokes and literally it is.

[00:26:25] Oh man you have to stand in line it's first come first serve they only take the first hundred people.

[00:26:32] I think you just did did it's a real sleep on the street kind of situation you know how hungry how hungry are you for it and so like that but so I was some my finalists two years in a row but I so I was yeah some my finalists in Vegas and in Nashville.

[00:26:51] You yeah you do your material is just like you and those like other hundred comics and then two minutes and so it's like this very weird life.

[00:27:01] It's like the judges and then for the semi finals like from that they bring back they pick you know the final people they're going to have for the semi finals and show.

[00:27:10] And then that's like a real audience of people and you do five minutes set and then the people from all the different regions they get to compete in LA and so the thing that was always like really annoying about that was because I'm from LA so in order.

[00:27:24] So be part of this after going to like a different region in the country and I was like a little bit like.

[00:27:31] But did the no to rioty you think help at all or did they not know when you went in well I mean it's based on what you do in the room right based on you know what I mean I definitely they you know it's it's the kind of competition that there are so many great comics all over the country.

[00:27:49] I've done it I run into friends of mine and you know I'm like shocked by like makes it and it doesn't make it to the semi finals and ultimately the finals and you know it's just it's really about like what you do in that room.

[00:28:02] How the judges are was bonds into your material and I think also to it's like for me like I had done it three times so I like first year.

[00:28:15] I didn't make it to the semi finals my second year I did no my second year I did not make it to semi finals and then the last two years so I did it four years so it's like you know are you writing new jokes are you you know like how are you developing as a comic and stuff like that.

[00:28:32] And things like that yeah I think what has been like ultimately like helpful from that is like creating a relationship like with NBC. The executives there where it's like they are familiar with me they're familiar with what I can do.

[00:28:47] They know I mean it's just a thing about auditioning in general is you know they always say it's not about booking the role it's booking the room.

[00:28:56] So if you have fans in that room it's like people move on to different jobs you know what I mean like Michael Cox is the booker at Jimmy Fallon Karen Horn is no longer at NBC she's like somewhere else down you know what I mean it's like these people people.

[00:29:12] You know they move they go they go to different places and just because you are not right for this one thing at this one moment doesn't mean you aren't right for another thing at another time.

[00:29:21] That's definitely been I think that's like what I've taken away from it the most is like having that relationship having those fans having people didn't know my name know what I'm capable of.

[00:29:31] Well you know what I like about you too Danielle as you keep going like you try things you're like I'm a get up on stage I'm gonna try that I'm gonna do the prices right yes I'm gonna go and Jim Kim a lot yes.

[00:29:41] I'm gonna do it's like you keep putting yourself out there how what it did take for you.

[00:29:46] To always bet on yourself it seems like you just have the courage to bet on yourself and so many people don't but was that something that was like instilled in you from your family or is it just something that you developed over time to have this courage.

[00:30:01] I mean I think the honest truth is that you know I have wanted to be like an entertainer since I was a kid like I really you know want to be an actor and dancing and all that.

[00:30:15] But the truth is like I did not see myself on screen I didn't see myself in media and so it reading you know memoirs about like you know women who've entertained and comedians.

[00:30:30] And what I just like absorbed and heard from my people who have gone through this and are at the place that I want to be at is that.

[00:30:39] You know when you are not the norm when you aren't that one here blue line on Janel you have to create your own.

[00:30:48] You have to be the one to write the pilot or the show or the movie that you get to start in because only you can play it.

[00:31:00] You know what I mean like and it's annoying and frustrating and I'm like totally in that space right now where it's like oh I can't someone just you know like with audition it's like oh I got auditioned with this kind of character and it's like yeah you know because you got to make your own.

[00:31:16] You know. Girl but that's so good talking about being willing when you don't see the representation of yourself or what you want to do you have to sometimes create your own name.

[00:31:29] That is golden right there and I love that you're doing that because you know as we transition into talking about diversity in comedy.

[00:31:37] You are now some young girl will look at you or someone else and say wow I can do that wow she did that so you are like opening doors and being an example of what you didn't see.

[00:31:50] What does that feel like I mean is it you know when you think about it because you said I didn't see anybody like me. I can't think about that.

[00:31:58] I'm like that's I just know that there is such a long road to go you know what I mean well where there is like real like equity and equality in representation for disabled people for Afro Latino people you know for queer people like there's just.

[00:32:16] There's I'm glad that like we're in a place where you know those conversations are happening people are understanding like.

[00:32:25] You can't just tokenize us you have to you know have people behind the line you have the people you know we want directors we want editors we want sound mixers we want writers we you know what I mean we need to be involved in all aspects of production not just in front of the camera you know.

[00:32:41] I think like so much of what has helped me is that you know I have my best friend Madison like when I started I still have her and when we started stand up.

[00:32:56] You know she comes from theater and she comes from real kind of DIY spaces where it's like well we start we make the plays that we want to see so that we can play the characters we want to play so.

[00:33:07] Let's start a stand up show and so we started gentrification with I got comedy where it was like we are booking all the comics often get tokenized and now we're all in a show together.

[00:33:18] And you get you know what I mean it's like we are we can take multiple to you know what I mean we aren't interchangeable for each other our shows are really rich and they're fun.

[00:33:29] And there are place where you know comics who have been other can make some mingle and share resources because so much of that so much of like how we end up getting kind of like.

[00:33:40] You know siloed off is because we don't we we don't have the network the same network or we're all in the same spaces sharing you know but when we share because.

[00:33:52] We are each running individual races right the things that makes the success well is us we are not competition.

[00:33:58] I love that and the fact that you guys come together and saw that and say we are going to create our own way do our own things and open our own doors so that people see.

[00:34:08] You know that you're shining the light on this I think it's just huge and as I kind of wrap up the interview I want to talk about some of the wisdom from your journey you know we've seen how you've.

[00:34:17] You know gone through all this and just the things that you're trying to do in your career so when you look at your journey what do you hope people take from your story. What do you hope they learn from your story? Oh my goodness don't drink and drive.

[00:34:34] That's always true yes yes. Well um oh I don't know I feel like it's just it's truly I feel like maybe a chapter has been written if that I feel like it's just the up like the prologue you know what I mean I feel like.

[00:34:53] My story is really yet to be there's so much more ahead so yes but I still have to say the fact that you've been. I'm too old.

[00:35:06] Yeah but the fact that you've been on the stage the fact that you've done these things some people never make it that far they just don't.

[00:35:14] And I think what happens is it's so funny when you're in media you think everybody you know because you're surrounded by all these big names and be people so you think well everybody's like this.

[00:35:24] But then people are looking at you like what are you talking about you all my God you're on Jimmy.

[00:35:29] Oh my God you're staying in a comedian oh my God you don't you're doing this and that and they're looking at you but a lot of times because we're surrounded by all this greatness we don't even see it when we look back somebody is just you are somebody's big step.

[00:35:42] Oh that's good you are somebody's big step. So that's why I said when you look back and there's somebody just that's just starting out or just trying to find their path. What would you want them to know from your story?

[00:35:56] I mean that audio just truly like do you do you to you 110 percent like if you have an instinct to try something or go after something like honor that you know I think honestly.

[00:36:14] When I do look back there are a lot of things that I did because I thought like well real comics post-do X, Y and Z real you know like kind of being driven by like what other people think that I should be focusing on and doing but.

[00:36:33] I think that you know if you're creative like you need to follow your creative instincts so focus on that and if there were things that you think have made you a better comic.

[00:36:44] If you were to give somebody maybe two or three things that could help them to be a better comic what be some things that you think have helped you in the journey.

[00:36:52] Well I mean I'll say this like and I don't know how repulccable it is but I think the fact that I physically disabled has made me better comic if only for the fact that.

[00:37:04] After the accident I have to really contend with people just like staring at me and looking at me and being like very confused by my like physical presence is like a 20 year old girl like you know it's like you can't unsee the questions and people's eyes and people will come up to you and be like what happened and what's going on there and people are brave I can't believe people just I mean crazy for real.

[00:37:26] I mean you just come out to me trying to prey on me just a lot there is a lot people just feel really bold really brave.

[00:37:33] But when I first became disabled you know mostly I was just going to the doctor to physical therapy I wasn't really living the house of town and so I went out to lunch with my dad he's gonna let's get you out of the house it's I want you to just not be so depressed in your room all day so.

[00:37:55] I just I felt that I felt all these people looking staring questions and I realized it was like I cannot take this on like I have to let this go like this is other people's issue this is other people's problems and yes that is a some form of denial with that but I.

[00:38:12] I mean how to just like leave my life right and like get on with it and. I think that really helped me when I first started stand up because when you start stand up you are.

[00:38:24] Learning a lot you're learning how to tell a joke you're learning how to stage presence you're learning how to just get over nerves how to physically you know hold the mic move the mic stand I mean that sounds so basic and so obvious but like.

[00:38:37] I don't know what you're doing. I'm like you know how you have the mic. It's like and it's one of those things like because you see it as an audience member and you'll be like that looks so weird.

[00:38:49] But on stage you're not necessarily you know if you're getting your bearings you're learning a lot of things and so one of the things I didn't really have to struggle with was people.

[00:39:00] Looking at me you know what I mean like being the center of attention you know like I really was just on stage trying to tell my jokes you know what I mean I was on stage trying to just you know figure out like the physicality of like being on stage.

[00:39:19] You know things like that so I don't know how that is but that's just something that I kind of I would say you know if you want to be stand up just try it.

[00:39:34] You know how no fear show up that's all you can do is show up go to an open mic and you will see immediately some people are bad some people are good.

[00:39:44] And do you think it is a talent or do you think it's something you can home do you think you're born with the gift to be able to do it or do you think it's something that people can learn and get better at.

[00:39:53] I think it's a mix of both I think there's some people who are just have like an innate talent and a skill.

[00:40:02] You know some people are just like gifted in that way but also it's like are you in a kind of environment where that is nurtured where you are supported in like pursuing that are you in a financial situation where you can you know like.

[00:40:15] You know it's not a meritocracy unfortunately it's not the thing rises to the top there are so many barriers to being successful as a creative that have nothing to do with talent and you know some people.

[00:40:36] You know you know you know you know all this time and energy and they may not be the best of it but they have the time to really sit down and like work on things you know some people don't but I definitely think it's something that like yeah I mean if you love it try it.

[00:40:54] It's like it is it's work and it's not going to happen overnight and I think that like you know I.

[00:41:04] I love that it's like I hate my love it it's like I love that you can like go online and like you know share your comedy with people and create like fans.

[00:41:18] And just like you there are ways around kind of like the quote unquote gatekeepers you know what I mean like.

[00:41:24] So much of the industry has changed even in the short time I've been doing it like when I started like getting a late night set was like you got a late night set you are.

[00:41:36] And then it and then very quickly and like a few years it's like that's great you got to late night set that doesn't mean you're going to get a sitcom that doesn't mean you're going to get to tour all over the country all over the world to sold up shows like it just it's not.

[00:41:49] And those those goal posts aren't doing what they're they used to do you know having a set on late night maybe it maybe is not as impactful as having a viral video of you doing comedy you know either way it's like.

[00:42:06] You still have to like work at it and I think like that's the thing it's like there is no overnight success you know like you think like I think some people they look at see way and they're like she just started doing this talk show with a pandemic it's like no big that's just idea.

[00:42:20] She's had four years she's been working as a television writer for years she've been you know what I mean like that has been a concept that she is hot for a very long time.

[00:42:32] How videos of it how did on YouTube wasn't getting built you know and then was able to reform out it in a fun way in the pandemic. And now people are interested so it's like these things just it takes time.

[00:42:46] It's worth it and I think so well when you say you know because you said and I just have one other much of work because you said eight years you know you say I'm just getting started and people like what eight years is just getting started yeah.

[00:42:58] But I think that that is telling to the commitment of what you have to do if you want to make it big in the industry and if you really want this but as you said it's worth it. It is so worth it for you.

[00:43:12] Well, as your biggest aha moment from today show for me it was the importance of staying true to yourself and relying on your own unique qualities to achieve success. And I always said that no one can be you at being you.

[00:43:26] No two people have the same set of skills, experiences or talents and therefore no two people will achieve success in the exact same way. That's good. Very powerful.

[00:43:37] If you were inspired by the women you hear my podcast please share this with a friend subscribe to the show and leave a review. Your support will help more people to find us to learn more about our guests visit she's bigtimenow.com. Thank you for listening. Thank you.