He’s built for the VIP treatment at the gym and the standing ovation treatment after performing on the stage, and he can’t wait to become larger than life. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Nick Simmons. The New York native shares some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how he always owns the laughs.
Name: Nick Simmons
Hometown: New York
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @NotNickSimmons
Years in Comedy: 7
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: SiriusXM, On the hit podcast Sets N Reps (Doing the celebrity Natty or Nots)
Comedic Influences: Patrice O’Neal, Bill Burr, Jim Norton, Louis CK and Dave Chappelle
Favorite Comedy Album: Patrice O’Neal “Mr. P”
Favorite Comedy Special: Dave Chappelle “Sticks & Stones”
Favorite Comedy Movie: The Truman Show
Favorite Comedy TV Show: The Office
Favorite Comedic Character: Micahel Scott
Favorite City to Perform In: NYC
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Too hard to narrow down
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: Any that come to laugh
Favorite Comedy Club: New York Comedy Club is my home club, so I have to say them because that stage feels like home.
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
Listening to comedy (growing up listening to Opie and Anthony as a kid In the car) and I’d stay up way too late on school nights just to watch Tough Crowd and any comedy special I could find on tv. I’ve been in love with it for as long as I can remember.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I remember being so nervous I was physically shaking and it was blatantly obvious. My friends still remind me of it all the time!
How would you describe your comedic style:
Mix of Stories and observational humor.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I can’t just sit and write, I have to be inspired by something. So often my brain works backwards and it’ll come up with the punchline and then the process after that is how to set it up. For stories it’s just living and writing down absurd experiences.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
When I’m home in NY, it’s competitive but it pushes everyone to want to be better. (I just started coming back to NY. I was in LA for 2 years and it was great but NYC is it’s own beast).
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
When you find the people who want to come out and see you and love what you put out and want to keep coming back. Once you can do that everywhere I think that’s true success. It’s finding your audience.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Eagle Witt, Gary Leli, Max Kestenbaum, Lindsay Theisen, Kevin Mac, Fanto, Logan Quiroz. There’s honestly so many I could name that I love to watch.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
It’s hard to peg a specific moment but I’d have to say the first time I got my first comedy paycheck and actually made money for telling jokes. It was enough to get a slice of pizza and a drink but it felt great.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
If you never fail you’re not trying new things and not growing. Failure is a huge part of the process and you can’t be scared of it. That’s where the good stuff comes from.
How do people react towards you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
They’re shocked because of my build. I get told all the time after shows because I’m a bodybuilder “I saw you go up there and I thought there was no way you’d be funny and I was shocked”. And I like destroying that stereotype.
Describe what it’s been like building a career in stand-up comedy:
It’s hard. Very hard. No matter what comic you see they’ve spent countless nights questioning themselves it doesn’t matter how good they are. But A good set on stage is the most rewarding feeling in the world so you keep getting back up there and going no matter how you felt about yourself the night before. But it’s the most fun thing in the world and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
To be honest, with the world of social media all the old things that held you back that sucked don’t really hold as much weight. You can put yourself out there now and not have to rely on anyone else so I honestly can’t think of anything that needs changing.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
Comedy is a lot like tennis. The energy you give to the crowd comes back just as hard back to you so if you half ass is the crowd will give you a half ass response. Also get on stage as often as possible. Every chance you get to get on stage take it.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
I don’t want to give it away because this is something I thought of at length and I don’t want anyone to hear it till it comes out.
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
There’s a few that stick out but one that haunts me everyday is the time I was at a comedy club in NY and a waitress asked me to make room for her and the trays in the restaurant upstairs and when I backed up I felt my butt cheeks hit something and I turned around and it was Ray Romano while he was eating dinner. I’ll never live that down and it’s kept me up many nights.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
At a surprise birthday party (the room accidentally double booked us) and they didn’t care a comedy show was happening and we’re loud and literally partied while ignoring us until the birthday girl came and they told the comedian on stage to shut up while they turned the lights off to surprise her. It was one of those brutal ones I swear thinking about.
A Nick Simmons Fun Fact:
I was a really decorated wrestler in high school and had offers to wrestle in college but turned it down to work as an electrician’s apprentice. Also my day job when I started comedy was a bridge operator where I literally pushed the button so the bridge would go up so tugboats could get through.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
To sell out stadiums around the country is the ultimate goal.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
You’ll never be able to do it until you have done it and failed many many times. So get up there and eat it A LOT.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
I love the fact that comedians with social media can take control of their own career so I think the future looks great.
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 Sopranos. Years after Tony’s death, His son AJ takes over and being a vegan they’re no longer able to eat gabagool, only a vegan version and Pauly risks life and limb every day sneaking prosciutto sandwiches behind the bosses back. As you can see i’ve never actually thought about this question.
If you could choose 1 comedy club and 3 comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
Madison Square Garden w/ Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle, & Louis CK.
What’s next for you:
I’m on tour right now so I’m about to get on a plane to Chicago then Charlotte! All my dates go up on my Instagram!
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Because a life without laughter is a life of sadness without joy.
Follow Nick Simmons’ comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @NotNickSimmons
Youtube: Nick Simmons
