Her energetic personality can bring a positive light to even the darkest rooms, but what she may fail to tell you is, she made the electric company cut the power off before she walked into the room. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Cayla Komarow. The McLean, VA native shares with us some of her favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how she owns the laughs.
Name: Cayla Komarow
Hometown: McLean, VA/Los Angeles, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @caylakomarow
Years in Comedy: Coming up on my two-year anniversary!
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: In your dreams.
Comedic Influences: I loved watching Kathy Griffin and Conan O’Brien because I identified with other gingers. Also, Robin Williams was everything to me growing up.
Favorite Comedy Album: John Mulaney “The Comeback Kid”
Favorite Comedy Special: Mike Birbiglia “Sleepwalk With Me”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Happy Feet
Favorite Comedy TV Show: The Office
Favorite Comedic Character: Jenny Slate as Mona-Lisa Saperstein on NBC’s Parks & Rec.
Favorite City to Perform In: Los Angeles, CA
Favorite Topics to Joke About: My Butt
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: A present one (maybe on the way to tipsy town?)
Favorite Comedy Club: Flappers Comedy Club feels like home, but I love the energy of The Haha Comedy Club
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
Making light of traumatic events.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
That I didn’t suck! And I also didn’t know why the host kept flashing a light at me so I went over by at least a minute.
How would you describe your comedic style:
Self-deprecating and honest. I like to think of myself as the friend your parents adore but would never bring around their friends.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I write down bits constantly but when I write- really write- I will sit down for 6-7 hours at a time and word vomit stories and memories. Then I take it to open mics and see what gets laughs where and then I get rid of the unnecessary stuff.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
LA has the most supportive stand-up comedy scene. I never could have imagined that.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
There are different measures of success to me. When I get laughs, that’s a win. When people keep booking me, that’s a win. Not falling down, huge win.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
I would not call her my peer but my mentor and the person I aspire to be would be Kaela Crawford. Bee Guiterrez is one of my favorites and shows up for comics like family.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
Getting 3rd place in a comedy contest at Flappers and winning a giant bowl of fries. They were delicious.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
When I took my first stand-up class at Pretty Funny Women Lisa Stundstedt said, “You never bomb, you gain information.” That has helped me from never feeling like a failure. I am a very knowledgeable comic.
How do people react towards you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
Whenever someone finds out I do stand-up comedy they say, “Yeah, tell me a joke.” Usually I’ll tell them an anal joke. Most adults can’t help but laugh at the word anal I don’t know why.
Describe what it’s been like building a career in stand-up comedy:
Weirdly welcoming. I think comedians are inherently masochists. Who goes on stage and is like PLEASE LAUGH AT ME. So there’s a common bond that I appreciate among comics.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
When people start a joke with, “You can’t say ___ anymore.” And then they say it. Don’t say it. There are so many other words to say. Whatever word it was. Pick another. It feels lazy.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
I wish I could remember the name of this comic and honestly it may have been at a We Own The Laughs show. One gentleman said he never makes people laugh, he gives laughs. It’s a shared experience with you and the audience. Also, don’t hold the mic stand, get it out of the way.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
The Chronicles of Cayla’s Colon.
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I used to work at the front desk of Equinox. The day after Halloween I was working the morning shift. I knew we had to dress up but I was naturally hungover. So I took a tip from a good friend and put on a brown shirt and wrapped myself around with tin foil. This particular morning Hilary Swank walks in with her boyfriend (who is not a member) so I have to sign him in. As he fills out the necessary liability waiver he looks me up and down and asks me, “What are you?” I said, “I am a baked potato sir please sign here.”
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
Zoom was definitely a new one for me this year.
A Cayla Komarow Fun Fact:
I decided I wasn’t ticklish in the 1st grade because I didn’t want anyone to have control over me and I haven’t been ticklish since.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
A talk show sounds scary, but so did stand-up comedy, so why the f*ck not?
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
If you have fun, they’ll have fun. So have some fucking fun up there.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
We will emerge like that phoenix image in Harry Potter and will take over the world like Tik-Tok.
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:
The Office: The flight from Scranton to Boulder with Michael Scott. It begins with Michael Scott asking a flight attendant if they know how much longer is left on the flight?
If you could choose 1 comedy club and 3 comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
Flappers Comedy Club.
Michael Che: To discuss the terror of drunk white women.
Me: To exhibit such portrayals and offer personal anecdotes.
Chelsea Handler: To provide liberal judgment like the fun aunt, not a priest?
Dave Chappelle: To shake his head in disappointment and then close the joke he made in the opening.
What’s next for you:
Polishing my 20, 30 and 40 min sets.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
.Because you could cry the next second.
Follow Cayla Komarow’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @caylakomarow
Personal Website: www.caylakomarow.com
