Drake has always emphasized, if you’re good enough, your idols immediately become your rivals. In comedy, if you’re good enough, you share the stage with your idols and they become your friends. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Marcus Mangham. The Salisbury, NC native shares with us some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and why he owns the laughs.
Name: Marcus Mangham
Hometown: Salisbury, NC/Sacramento, CA
Instagram: @marcusmanghamcomedy
Years in Comedy: 3 1/2 years
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: Ball Busters(Film)
Comedic Influences: Redd Foxx, Chris Tucker, The Simpsons and Seinfeld
Favorite Comedy Album: Martin Lawrence “You So Crazy”
Favorite Comedy Special: Dave Chappelle “Killin’ Them Softly” and Chris Rock “Bigger and Blacker”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Rush Hour
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Sanford And Son
Favorite Comedic Character: Jackie Moon (Semi-Pro)
Favorite City to Perform In: San Francisco, CA
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Everyday life and any mistake or mistakes someone has made.
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: A crowd that listens and appreciates the art of comedy.
Favorite Comedy Club: Punchline Sacramento
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
People told me that I was funny, so I challenged myself to go on stage and see if they were right. It’s working out great so far!
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
It was an open mic at Laugh’s Unlimited in Sacramento. The last time I was that nervous was in the 6th grade performing in front of the school. I only told three people about it, just in case I bombed, I didn’t want too many witnesses.
How would you describe your comedic style:
Observational and story-telling with sarcasm.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
First, I record the joke on my phone. Then I write the joke down how I think I would say it, then I say it out loud to correct/edit. I also use open mics to work out my material.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
The Sacramento comedy scene is alive and well! We have a very underrated scene that I wasn’t unaware of until I started doing comedy.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
I judge success by how funny you are and how much money you make from it. I look at comedy as both an art and a business.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Lance Woods: He’s amazing with crowd work. I was a newcomer in comedy and I watched Lance grow. Within 3 years he was starring in a movie and filming his own comedy special.
Edwin San Juan: He showed me that comedy can be structured. He has a normal life and has a residency doing comedy 7 nights a week, in Las Vegas, which is the town he lives in. He also let me perform on his show in Las Vegas which was one of my biggest shows.
Tony Roberts: He is one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. He and I became friends outside of comedy and he took me under his wing for no reason other than he saw potential.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
I hosted Tony Roberts at Cobb’s Comedy Club in San Francisco on Labor Day. It was a sold-out show and I was able to record and S/O my hometown of Salisbury, North Carolina.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
I’ve learned that I hate losing, but it makes me come back stronger. I’m a sore loser, anytime I lose it sticks with me, but it also inspires me to focus, grow and become better.
How do people react towards you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
Usually, they’re surprised because I’m quiet, but then they start looking at me like I’m a mascot, waiting for me to tell a joke or make them laugh.
Describe what it’s been like building a career in stand-up comedy:
Right now, it’s very difficult because of COVID. I picked a terrible time to quit my day job, but the freedom that comes with doing what I love to do is unmatched. On the flip side, the insecurity of not having a steady paycheck is also unmatched.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
People’s sensitivity level. Sometimes an audience can be like telling jokes on a verbal landmine. Everyone gets offended by everything, but if you’re a good comic you’ll figure it out.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
I’ve received a lot of good advice, but one that stands out to me came from Dave Lawson, he’s a comedian from Texas. He told me that it’s much easier to tell jokes about your real life because you’re not going to forget about things that really happened to you. Another bit of advice I received came from Lance Woods. He encouraged me to “just try it” because you never know what type of reaction you might get.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“Are We There Yet” because they said that this pandemic would last two weeks and we’ve been shut down for damn near a year!
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
Me asking Chris Webber what he thinks about me kicking his ass? (Don’t worry it didn’t lead to a fistfight, that’s my homie, so I can get away with it).
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
Bambi Inn, about 30 minutes outside of Chico, CA. It’s a campground in the middle of nowhere, when I say nowhere I mean no cell phone service, no gas stations, stores, or anything. I performed at a biker bar in the middle of the campground. Just imagine a black guy telling jokes to a group of bikers in the middle of nowhere, at night. Yeah, it was weird but the crowd was great and it was a lot of fun.
A Marcus Mangham Fun Fact:
I have a love for underground mixtapes from the 90’s/2000’s. I have a huge collection of mixtapes including DJ’s like DJ Clue, Ron G, Funk Master Flex, DJ Juice, and basically any DJ that was making noise in New York in the 90’s and 2000’s.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
Around the world. I’d like to make enough money to support my family while doing what I love to do.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Treat it as a job and not a hobby. But first, make sure that being a comedian is what you want, and if the answer is yes, treat it like a job.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
The future of comedy right now is undecided. With the COVID shutdowns we’re trying to combine comedy with technology, doing Zoom and online shows. No matter what though I think that there will always be a demand for one person and a mic, it’s the most simple form of entertainment.
If you could write one episode for one classic TV sitcom which show would be and give a brief detailed sentence on the episode:
I would write an episode for the sitcom Alf where Willie goes out of town on vacation and leaves Alf in charge. Alf finally eats the cat which unknowingly causes a new wave of COVID, COVID-20!
If you could choose 1 comedy club and 3 comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
It would have to be the Comedy Cellar in New York and it would be Myself, Thai Rivera, Lance Woods, and Tony Roberts.
What next for you:
At this point, as soon as the world opens back up I’m ready to hit any stage available. I’ve been writing a lot during the pandemic and am ready to share what I’ve come up with.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Because a lot of what happens in life is funny if you slow down and analyze it. What makes comedians special is that they have the ability to find the funny in life. There is plenty of darkness in the world so if you find light, enjoy it.
Watch Marcus Mangham at Sacramento Punchline in Sacramento, CA:
Follow Marcus Mangham on all forms of social media at:
Instagram: @marcusmanghamcomedy
