Get a Mentor…Now!

I have countless comedian mentors from all different scenes that I have met while doing both open mics and shows around the United States. I cannot stress the value of a mentor enough, and it’s great to have both formal and informal mentors.

Informal mentors are often peers or people you feel that can teach you a lot of what you need to know, you can bounce ideas off of, and there is not a lot of pressure around. A more formal mentor might be the head of a local comedy club or someone you are really looking to solidify a connection with in order to get more involved in the local comedy scene. Simply absorb all of the information thrown at you and don’t be afraid to ask questions. I have learned countless tidbits from Denver comedians Paul Berlute-Shea, Matt Baca, Ron Ferguson, Elliot Woolsey, Jordan Zuckerman, and Deacon Gray. I can’t even begin to tell you.  Get some peer mentors as well, people your own age and those you can grow with. Chad Neidt has to be one of my favorite comedians to simply sit and talk about comedy with. (Yep, ended a sentence with a preposition - by choice.) That can prove to be invaluable in the growth of your comedy career.

Establishing a mentor also puts you into a grander network of comedians, both local and nationwide. It was through establishing my mentors that I have been able to find the right people to answer my questions about certain shows I might be interested in doing, venues at which I am looking to perform, etc. Your first time on stage, you should look to meet as many people as you can, and the second time on stage, you will likely see those people again and begin to establish that relationship. I make it a habit to sit next to a new comedian or two at every open mic I go to, not because I dislike the other ones that I’ve already met, but just because I am looking to meet new people, learn new things, and gather new perspectives.