Home Comedian of the Day Comedian of the Day (4/19/22): Amanda Van Nostrand

Comedian of the Day (4/19/22): Amanda Van Nostrand

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Mindy Tucker

As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Amanda Van Nostrand. The Brooklyn, NY native shares some of her favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how she always owns the laughs.

Name: Amanda Van Nostrand
Hometown: Denver, CO/Brooklyn, NY
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @amandavannos
Years in Comedy: 12 (Jesus, is that right?)
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: Amazon Prime (Timing), TruTv (Hack My Life), and I’ve been a podcast guest on There Will Be Drinking, Alone at Lunch, Koppen with Comic, The Virgin Chronicles, & Love Gurus.
Comedic Influences: Gilda Radner, Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Maria Bamford, Gene Wilder, Madelin Khan, Cloris Leachman, Elanie Stritch, & Bridget Everett
Favorite Comedy Album: The first Tenacious D album – what a time of discovery for me. It was so inappropriate and so fun, I remember thinking “This is a thing we can do?!”
Favorite Comedy Special: The one that really punched me in the gut most recently was Hannah Gadsby’s Nannette. Not only did it get people talking about what “comedy” means to them, but it was also an examination of how we use comedy to understand ourselves better.
Favorite Comedy Movie: I stand by “The Sandlot” as being fucking hilarious.
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Cheers, Schitt’s Creek, Fleabag, PEN15, & The Golden Girls
Favorite Comedic Character: So many Chris Lilley characters
Favorite City to Perform In: Any city that will have me, I would gladly perform in. I love performing in New York because every venue and every neighborhood presents a completely different demographic.
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Evolution is necessary, but many things are evergreen and good throwbacks. For example, my relationship with my body has changed over time, and it’s nice to be able to give context to a place that I used to be, or how I used to think of myself and process emotions. Depression, anxiety, my relationship with my family, and a lot more female-centric issues have been making their way in lately (which I’m not mad about), and human interaction is always funny.
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: When you can walk into a room or onto a stage and know that the audience is game and ready to go wherever you want to take them, that is magical. Let’s have a good time!
Favorite Comedy Club: Anywhere that feels welcoming. I’ve performed in a lot of back rooms of bars and people’s living rooms, which I love. Other spaces I’ve been fortunate enough to perform in: West Side Comedy Club, Grisly Pear, Comix, UCB, The PIT, Broadway Comedy Club, and Under St Marks.

How did you discover your passion for comedy:
It took a while to take stand-up seriously; I’ve always performed though. All through my childhood, high school, college, and afterward, I had always gravitated toward comedic roles – I loved making people laugh. To see people enjoying themselves because of something that I had done was intoxicating. I also thought that being funny made me stand out, especially as a girl growing up. There was a lot of deep-seated insecurity there where I felt like if I could be the one to make fun of myself first, then no one could get to me because I’d already addressed it.

I was more interested in being goofy because I really felt like that was my superpower when so much of the focus at the time was on being pretty–I also felt like if the boys could do impressions of Ace Ventura and get laughs, why couldn’t I do the same? Obviously, the intention has changed over time, but that’s been a really interesting thing to observe and talk about, especially through a comedic lens.

In 2009, I did stand up for the first time in New York because I was applying for a comedy scholarship at one of the improv schools, and they wanted me to film a sketch. I didn’t have any friends at the time, so I thought, “What can I do myself that shows comedic chops?” So I reached out to a booker and he put me up. I totally ran the light to get through my whole set, but I had a blast.

Pretty early on, I opened for Nate Bargatze and Yannis Pappas (both hilarious, nice guys) and I wish at the time I would have recognized the gift I had been given, but I was so fucking clueless.

It took a few more years to really get into it because I still considered myself more of an actor, not a comedian. Finally, I started producing my own show with a couple of friends called Wine and Sleaze and started to get more involved with the scene and really started to lean into it and I am so happy with where I am with it now.

What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I was so nervous! People from my office came to watch and I was making jokes about my own virginity and things like that (I think there’s a tape somewhere that no one should ever find), but damn it was fun.

How would you describe your comedic style:
Dark, dry, honest, paired with impressions and voices–I try to keep it as authentic and genuine as possible.

Mindy Tucker

Describe your process for comedic writing:
I have notebooks full of thoughts/topics/ideas and sets. When I’m working on something new, I go through them to see what I could connect to another. It’s like a puzzle and then you try it out and see what happens. I talk to myself a lot, too.

Describe the comedy scene in your area:
Robust. People are coming out in droves to pursue their comedy–it’s great, but also overwhelming. There is so much going on all the time that it’s important to me now to pick and choose what would best serve me.

How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
Such a good question! It keeps changing, honestly. Post-lockdown there has been a complete reevaluation of what is important to me and how I want to spend my time. It has become more about being able to participate in my world creatively and less about seeing one thing as the be-all/end-all. There are so many outlets for self-expression nowadays; if I can find what feels good to me, then I think I’m doing pretty well.

Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Honestly, anyone that is out there that is having a good time
inspires me. Killing yourself to get from spot to spot is one thing, but if you’re having a blast while doing so – I love that for you. I also love hearing about when people are nice and professional to one another, there’s no bigger turn-off than being someone that pretends like they don’t know someone. I love those people that are always willing to say hello.

What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
I love the moments where I’m able to get people on board with me – that always feels great – and we really start interacting with each other. People have a perception of you as soon as you hit the stage, and if you can get them to look past that you’ve got yourself a party, and that’s the best kind of party.

What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
That they’re inevitable. What are you learning if you aren’t failing? Those experiences are so necessary for growth and evolution. They are painful and totally suck…but necessary.

How do people react towards you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
Sometimes people are surprised, or tell me I’m ballsy (they’re usually older), some just look at me and say, “I knew it.”

Describe what it’s been like building a career in stand-up comedy:
I think building a career in stand-up is challenging because there is no road map to success, which is why you really need to be having fun while you’re doing it or have other interests. Other interests make your comedy better–but I have to make sure I’m checking in with myself regularly. Am I getting what I want out of it?

If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
Can we get rid of bringer shows, please? RARE TEN-PERSON BRINGER! Who has that many friends?

Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
Write what’s funny to you.

If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
I love that for you OR A Fucking Delight!

Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I was bartending and John Hodgeman came in, I didn’t recognize him, and I invited him to my comedy show.

Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
Ambush improv show at a coffee house. Can I get a suggestion of anything that doesn’t make us look like assholes? Ten out of ten do not recommend it.

@moreguinness

An Amanda Van Nostrand Fun Fact:
I love manners and I hate rude people. I speak Spanish.

Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I am willing to let it take many forms (writing/performing/producing) and make a living doing it.

What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Don’t be afraid to reach out to people and ask them questions. Always say hello when you see them, even if it means you have to reintroduce yourself and do your research before being asked to be considered for a spot on a show. Don’t be a dum dum.

What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
I love the awareness of current issues, and I hope that we can find a way to enjoy each other again.

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:
I always thought that Roseanne was so good at dealing with issues that are still happening today; I would write an episode about consent and removing ego from the word “no”.

If you could choose 1 comedy club and 3 comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
There used to be this great bar in Brooklyn called Bar4, there were couches there and it was always nice and dark but electric…I’d have Maria Bamford, Drew Lynch and Flame Monroe. That show would be a fucking blast.

What’s next for you:
I’m shooting a feature film and currently shopping a new animated series, I’ll keep working on my podcast I have a question! And I’d love to plan a trip to Belize.

Why should a person always laugh at life:
If you take yourself so seriously that you can’t find joy, you need to reevaluate..

Follow Amanda Van Nostrand’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @amandavannos
Youtube: Amanda Van Nostrand