He is a Mexipino comedian who has performed all over the United States at clubs, colleges, and theatres independently, with the Almost Asian Comedy Tour, and opening for acts such as Rex Navarrete and Jerry Seinfeld. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Erik Escobar. The Gardena, CA native shares with us some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how he owns the laughs.
Name: Erik Escobar
Hometown: Gardena, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @erikescobar
Years in Comedy: 13
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: I recently released a TEDTalk and have been featured on Last Comic Standing, BuzzFeed, EPIX, I Can See Your Voice on FOX, Game Show Network, You Bet Your Life with Jay Leno, Let’s Make A Deal, and have two specials coming out this fall with Funny Media Group and Golden Artists Entertainment!
Comedic Influences: Tom Clark, Emo Phillips, Maria Bamford, Anthony Jeselnik, Henny Youngman, Norm MacDonald, and Rex Navarrete
Favorite Comedy Album: Nickleback “Silver Side Up”
Favorite Comedy Special: Rex Navarrete “Hella Pinoy”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Mystery Men
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Arrested Development
Favorite Comedic Character: The Soprano’s Paulie Gualtieri
Favorite City to Perform In: Washington D.C. always buys the most merch.
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Poop, pooping, #2, diarrhea, professional wrestling, professional wrestlers pooping.
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: The “Down to Buy My Merch” type.
Favorite Comedy Club: Comedy Underground Seattle (RIP), Joke Joint Comedy Showcase Houston/Minneapolis (Also RIP), and Savage Henry Comedy Club (DON’T YOU CLOSE ON ME.)
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I did a lot of improv, theatre, and was in a lot of bands when I was younger. When I started doing stand-up in college, it felt the most me and had all the elements of what I enjoyed about performing. I also have a huge passion for never wanting a day job.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I was an RA in college and one of my residents asked if I wanted to join him to do this “stand up thing.” We took a bus, got to the club, then proceeded to camp out for two days and do the Last Comic Standing season 7 auditions. Fun first time.
How would you describe your comedic style:
Silly, wacky, let’s have a party.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I put notes in my phone and don’t look at them until I have to do an hour and then try to decipher what “sex machine belt” and “Hakuna Matata Dinosaur” mean.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
Every comic or artist that performs deserves to get paid, so stop paying for stage time, doing your work for free, and undervaluing your amazing self.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
We got in this to have fun. Are you having fun? Hell yeah. You win.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Dan Nainan.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
I was working in Detroit a few months ago and they accidentally comped me two orders of chicken wings when I just ordered one and they were delish and I ate every single one.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
Focus on you. It doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing and doesn’t get caught up in all the drama. Be the best you that you can be.
How do people react towards you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
Sploosh.
Describe what it’s been like building a career in stand-up comedy:
It’s been the best job in the whole world. It can be hard and inconsistent and full of ups and downs, but I get to travel the country nonstop, connecting with people, telling my bits, eating exciting regional food, and hanging out at theme parks and zoos during the day. It took a lot of time and sacrifice to get to this point, but I’m loving it. Be nice. Work smart. Don’t wait on signing up for airline points.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
Every comic deserves to get paid. Don’t pay for stage time. Don’t work just for “exposure.” If any audience is buying a ticket or if a producer is making money, you should also be making money. Don’t undervalue yourself. This game is hard and you deserve to get paid in cash and comped chicken wings.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
If you work in Tucson, take the 10 west into Phoenix then head south. Don’t take the 5 from LA to San Diego and cut across through the 8. There’s more traffic and the state line is way stricter and weirder and like take out your seats to search your car and they make you put your seats back and it’s a huge delay and just take the 10.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
I have one coming out this week! Check out Mexipino Millenial this fall.
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
Leah Remini cheered me on as a wrestled sex doll.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
Some highlights include a neon sign factory in the backwoods of Oregon, I once got booked for a college and they made me perform in the hallway of a dorm, a church basement where the stage was a pool table you had to stand on, and zoom.
An Erik Escobar Fun Fact:
I get a tattoo in every state and country I perform in. I’m ink’d up from about half the country and have 25 more states to go.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I just want to keep working fun and weird shows, pay my bills and be the most successful half Filipino, half Mexican, bearded comic in the game.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
If you’re having fun, they’re having fun.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
It’ll always be around in some form. Traditional stand-up and comedy are dying, so let’s ride this wave and enjoy it while it lasts.
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:
30 Rock: Liz Lemon and the bulletproof vest.
If you could choose 1 comedy club and 3 comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
Either the Improv or Porky’s Comedy Club in Orlando/St Cloud. Steve Martin, Mikey McKernan, Wanda Sykes. It would be a good show, but Steve or Mikey or Wanda would have rented a car then afterwards we all go to Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure. We could split up and not have to hang out together, but we’d do Islands of Adventure on the first night and then the next day we could do Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom in the morning, Epcot at night, do the second run of shows, and if we don’t have to fly out super early that Sunday, we would try to hit Hollywood Studios/Magic Kingdom. It would also be super sweet if the day before the shows, we got in early to do regular Universal Orlando for all the Diagon Alley stuffs.
What’s next for you:
Comedy and more comedy! Very grateful and lucky to be pretty much fully on the road through mid-2022! After that bookings get light and I restart my crying in the shower ritual. I just released my TEDTalk, have a couple of specials coming out this fall, and some fun other projects I can’t talk about, but it’s going to be a great year and I’m always grateful and lucky for you! Come check out a show by seeing where I’m on Instagram at instagram.com/erikescobar
Why should a person always laugh at life:
It’s short. We can all die tomorrow. Let’s make this a fun one while we’re here.
Watch Erik Escobar at Jokers Comedy Club in Richmond, WA:
Follow Erik Escobar’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @erikescobar
Youtube: Erik Escobar
Personal Website: www.ErikEscobarComedy.com
