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People are always asking me this question. "Why did you become
a standup comic?" I always had a dream of going into show
business ever since I was a kid playing air guitar to KISS's "LOVE
GUN." Even when I was 10 years old, I would grab an almanac
and plan my world tour.
I always thought
I was funny when I was a kid. But I've never been that crazy guy
that people associate with comics. In fact, I'm really not funny
off stage. Around other comics, I'm even more not funny. People
I grew up with always saw that side of me. So it was a shock to
them that I do this for a living.
During the
summer of 1996, I went to the Capital City Comedy Club in Austin,
TX. I don't remember who I saw, but I remember that I thought
all 3 comics sucked. If I knew then what I know now! These guys
just had a bad night. But like a badass, I told a buddy of mine
that worked at the club that I could do a better job than that.
He turned me on to Sam Cox of the Comedy Gym.
I started
going to open mikes at the Fabulous Velveeta Room in Austin. This
is a notorious room in comedy circles. If you can do good at the
"Velv" then you can do good almost anywhere else. Eventually
I became a Velveeta Room regular. I also performed in the "Funniest
Person in Austin" contest, where I made the finals all 5
years I was in the contest.
I became a
house emcee at Cap City, as well as her sister clubs in San Antonio
and Tulsa, OK. I made it into the Latino Laugh Festival and got
my first TV spot on a show called "Funny is Funny."
This was where I met Carlos Mencia and Chris Fonseca. Carlos and
Chris have helped me more than any comics I've worked with.
When I got
my first 40 minutes, Margie, the manager at Cap City began helping
me get into other rooms as a feature, or the second comic in a
show. I developed my own website and even recorded a CD. This
little hobby of mine was quickly becoming a business. In fact,
it was interfering with my day job.
By the winter
of 1999, I had some serious choices to make. I was getting gigs
all around the country. Working for the IRS and being a comic
was not going to work out. I had to choose. The IRS had all the
benefits that a good government job provides. At the same time,
being onstage was all I was thinking about. It was becoming my
drug.
The choice
was made. After 12 years with Uncle Sam, I called it quits. A
lot of my family thought I was completely nuts. Some of my friends
as well. But big rewards don't come without big risks. My last
day at the IRS was April 30, 2000. The very next day, I left Austin
for a four week run on the road.
Things picked
up when Carlos Mencia asked me to host his theater tours. Featuring
is cool, but emcee skills are important to have. Suddenly I was
performing in 2000 seat theaters rather than 300 seat clubs. But
I wasn't always working with Carlos. I still had to put SPAM on
the table. So I still do one nighters in glamorous locales like
Aberdeen, SD and Brimley, MI. But I still love what I do.
Regrets? Not
in the least! I do temp jobs when I'm home in Austin and not on
the road. But comedy work always manages to find its way to me.
Would I recommend comedy to others? Road life is hard, but I recommend
being happy in what you do. I'm truly blessed because I love what
I do. I hope it shows.
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2002-2004 LatinoStandup.com
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