While other women discuss their miserable dating life on tik-tok, she managed to turn her not-so-good relationships into a very good laugh. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs while getting to know comedian Lauren Ybarra. The Delano, CA native shares with us some of her favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how she owns the laughs.
Name: Lauren Ybarra
Hometown: Delano, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @la.bonita661
Years in Comedy: 1 and a strong 1/2 years
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: Crazy Woke Asians Comedy Festival
Comedic Influences: Tom Segura, Angela Johnson, Kevin Hart, & Derek Seguin
Favorite Comedy Album: George Lopez “Team Leader” This album is a staple of my childhood memories
Favorite Comedy Special: Taylor Tomlinson “Quarter Life Crisis”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Mean Girls, Step Brothers, & Team America
Favorite Comedy TV Show: MAD TV
Favorite Comedic Character: Little Stewart and Mrs. Swan from MAD TV
Favorite City to Perform In: Santa Maria, CA
Favorite Topics to Joke About: My dating life
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: A crowded one!
Favorite Comedy Club: The Comedy Store. I haven’t performed there or anything. It’s just the only one I’ve ever been to. So I hope that’s not terrible to say.
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I needed to find a life after my divorce, so naturally, I started hitting up comedy open mics, and after seeing so many people go up there, I was like, “I can do that!”
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I remember thinking, “Oh, thank God they are actually laughing.”
How would you describe your comedic style:
The best words I can think of are raunchy and deceptive.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I stand in front of the mirror with a mic from my daughter’s karaoke set and start talking to myself. Then, when I find the material I like, I’ll write it down or try to record it.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
I actually really love and recommend anyone trying comedy for the first time to hit up anywhere in the Bakersfield scene. I think the comedians here are pretty great on top of most of them being really cool humans. Plus, the first time I bombed, I literally had a few of them cheering me on to keep going, and even though I still ran off stage, that always stuck to me, and it has been appreciated since.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
If I can tell, they are having fun when they are on stage.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Mar Haggard, she’s a comedian out in Bakersfield, and I get so excited anytime I get to see her perform. She is so hilarious and a treat to watch every time.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
Performing my first We Own The Laughs show in my hometown.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
I am crazy to keep going back.
How do people react towards you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
Most people get excited, and a good chunk starts giving me unsolicited material.
Describe what it’s been like building a career in stand-up comedy:
I feel like a career is a pretty generous term for me, but it has been an exciting experience. I’ve bombed in front of some really cool people, and I’ve recovered from it. I can’t wait to see what else is in store for me.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
Hecklers, if we could do without them, that would be cool.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
Just survive. It still feels as intense as it was when I first heard it.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
Like, for real tho?
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
Once Chris Crooker or this guy who looked exactly like Chris Crooker complimented me on my lipstick at a mall in Burbank.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
In the back alley of an arcade-themed bar, basically on a homeless person’s bed.
A Lauren Ybarra Fun Fact:
I once paid money to see Lizzy Mcguire’s best friend Miranda do a concert in the auditorium of our local high school, and I cried when I couldn’t go.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
Netflix, duh. But if that doesn’t happen because this comedy stuff is fun but hard! I’d hope to hear someone repeating one of my jokes out in the wild one day.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Have fun and embrace the cringe.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
It’s looking more female, and I am here for it!
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:
Okay, this was hard for me because I watch so many Sitcoms, but I would choose Community because it’s the one I could relate to the most, and I’d do anything to work with Donald Glover.
If you could choose 1 comedy club and 3 comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
Angela Johnson, George Lopez, & Gabriel Iglesias at The Comedy Store
What’s next for you:
I am not sure. For now, I’m working on material and time; my next goal is to headline a show one day.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
.It’s a hell of a lot better than crying about it!
Follow Lauren Ybarra’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @la.bonita661
