A comedy career can be one hell of an epic journey filled with many different forms of laughter. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Luke Soin. The Sacramento, CA native shares with us some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how he owns the laughs.
Name: Luke Soin
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @epictiki (Instagram/Tik-Tok) @epictikicomedy (Twitter)
Years in Comedy: 9.5 years
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: I have a YouTube channel… (Laughs). youtube.com/epictikicomedy
Comedic Influences: Mark Normand, Sam Morril, Nick Mullen, & Dave Attell
Favorite Comedy Album: Hampton Yount “Bearable”
Favorite Comedy Special: Anything by Dave Attell, Dave Chappelle or John Mulaney. Bumping Mics was also so good.
Favorite Comedy Movie: Old School
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Seinfeld
Favorite Comedic Character: Kramer or Charlie from It’s Always Sunny
Favorite City to Perform In: Only been there once but Vancouver was a real good time.
Favorite Topics to Joke About: My dad and dating/my girlfriend.
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: One that isn’t uptight or afraid to laugh at anything.
Favorite Comedy Club: Laughs Unlimited
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I originally had no plans to be a comedian but a friend of mine made me try it once at an open mic and I just sort of never stopped. He, however, did not continue to do stand-up, of course.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I remember it was an awful open mic at a bar where they let people play pool right next to the stage. So while I was telling my awful jokes, there would be loud cracks as the balls on the table got hit. I also had an appalling “joke” where I just did impressions of famous people’s laughs. Two of the three laughs I did were the mom from That 70’s Show and Denzel Washington, which just ended up sounding more like Eddie Murphy somehow.
How would you describe your comedic style:
I would say irreverent and (hopefully) witty. I like to ride the line of saying inflammatory things but make it funny so you can’t help but laugh even if it’s awful. I have a bunch of jokes about my dad being dead, so when I get laughs about things like that it’s like a weird way for me to feel catharsis about him and how strained our relationship was. Comedy really is therapy.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
It sounds weird but I like to watch a comedian I like, usually someone with a very tight joke writing structure, hence Morril and Normand and Attell. Real setup-punch types of stuff. It’s like a way of taking my thoughts and forming them into the proper wavelength to be jokes. I also write out setups and try to make punchlines for each one. So if I’m telling a story I’ll write the beats/main points out and then try to add punches and tags to all of them.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
I think Sacramento is innovative and upcoming. We have a lot of great comics no one knows about, but we also have a few with great TV credits. People like JR De Guzman, Kiry Shabazz, Ellis Rodriguez, and Stephen Furey are all doing really cool things. But we have more that haven’t broken through to higher levels of being on TV all the time or whatever.
We also have a lot of great indie types of shows. The Moving Van show, which is held in parking lots all across Sacramento as well as several backyard comedy shows. I do run a backyard show myself at my house with my co-producer Drew Absher. It’s called Corner House Comedy and we have shown it generally every other week. Instagram is @cornerhousecomedy.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
I think the main measure of success for me is whether or not you can pay all your bills from only doing comedy or comedy adjacent work. If you’re working enough to be able to afford your home/apartment/whatever but you don’t have to clock into work at an office or a retail store or a restaurant job, you are successful. That’s always been my goal, to not have to work a “typical 9-5.”
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
I have so many. Anthony K, Emma Haney, JR De Guzman, Kiry Shabazz, Ellis Rodriguez, Melissa McGillicuddy, Robert Omoto, Drew Absher, Dejan Tyler, Alfonso Portella, Carlos Rodriguez, Parker Newman. Among others.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
I got to do a Roast Battle in the Belly Room at the Comedy Store with my friend Saul Trujillo and I WON. It was hands down one of the top five coolest moments of my life. I got shit on by “The Saudi Prince” and Jeff Ross was there and Brian Moses raised my hand in the air when I won. It was so cool.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
To relax. The more you bomb the more you realize it’s ok and it’s normal. The good sets will come more often once you relax and just try to have fun.
How do people react towards you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
They say “tell me a joke funny man!” or some such thing. But if they just think I’m funny they just like me I guess.
Describe what it’s been like building a career in stand-up comedy:
It’s been a long road of self-delusion and fear. But it’s always getting better and more fun. So I am optimistic about the future. I try to be realistic too. I have friends that can murder for an hour who are barely recognized by any normal forms of measurement, so I have to remember I need to work real hard. And then of course, I still may not find the success I am hoping for.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
I would like people to not take everything comics say so seriously. Sometimes we make jokes or try jokes and they aren’t meant to be taken as literal things we think. If I make a joke about a group it doesn’t mean I believe that joke or think those people are like that.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
Ellis Rodriguez told me once to, “be confident and KNOW you’re going to kill. Know it all day long. Then when you get on stage you SMASH.” I’m still trying to live this… I have self-confidence issues sometimes.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
Daddy Issues or Awkward or something like that.
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
In college, I interviewed writer/director Tony Gilroy, for the Sacramento State Hornet. He wrote for the Bourne movies, Rogue One: a Star Wars Story, and he directed Michael Clayton. I saw Michael Clayton a week before and went to do the interview in SF with my friend Adam. But Adam hadn’t seen the film. About three-fourths of the way through the interview, which is going very well, Adam just breaks the rhythm and says, “God I just, I just wish I had seen the movie.” And Tony Gilroy just gave him daggers, it was so uncomfortable. And I had to awkwardly just start asking more questions. But it’s so funny to me now.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
I performed in old folks home once for a very bad show. And lately, I’ve been doing lots of weird venues because of COVID-19. I’ve done shows in parks and parking lots a ton.
A Luke Soin Fun Fact:
I love comedy, but I love the film even more. I’m a self-taught video editor and director. I recently shot and edited my first short film called Canceled. It was super fun and I’m working on a sequel now, hoping to slowly increase my skills with that and pursue a career in film as well as stand up.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I want to be able to headline comedy clubs. Theaters would be nice but I’ll be happy if I get to a “touring clubs” level.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Just get up often, write, rinse and repeat. It’s going to take time and effort. There are no shortcuts.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
The future is bright I think, especially right now because people are thirsty for live experiences after being shut in for so long. Plus the internet makes it so easy to post and share your stuff. People like Joe List and Mark Normand, and even Russell Peters have shown how successful you can be by just sharing your comedy specials online. With Peters of course that was not his YouTube channel. But it worked! He’s one of the most famous comics on the planet now.
If you could write one episode for one classic TV sitcom which show would it be and give a brief detailed sentence on the episode:
Seinfeld for sure. I would love to do a “modern” episode where they’re all still in their 30’s but they’re alive now in present day New York. So they’re all navigating social media and dating apps and everything.
If you could choose 1 comedy club and 3 comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
I would love to do a show at the Comedy Cellar in New York with Dave Attell and honestly just anyone else who is there. Rich Voss, Big Jay, Bonnie McFarland, whoever. Todd Barry. That would be an amazing time. Amazing despite the impostor syndrome I would be feeling the entire time.
What’s next for you:
I’m going to keep hosting Corner House Comedy (@cornerhousecomedy) at my house with Drew Absher (next shows are June 3rd and June 17th). I’ll also just keep writing and working on my film stuff.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Because life is fleeting, and we ALL die. We all are specks of dust on a speck of dust that’s floating in a vacuum. Whatever bullshit you think is important is NOT important. So have fun and take care of each other. Also love each other. Be nice to people. That IS important.
Watch Luke Soin @ Yuks Yuks Comedy Club in Vancouver, CN:
Follow Luke Soin’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Tik-Tok: @epictiki
Twitter: @epictikicomedy
Youtube: youtube.com/epictikicomedy
Checkout Luke Soin’s Epic Tiki Original Short Film “Canceled”:
