As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Luke Abranches. The Walnut Creek, CA native shares some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how he always own the laughs.
Name: Luke Abranches
Hometown: Walnut Creek, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @abranchesluke
Years in Comedy: Nearing to 2 years (Est. April 2021)
Comedic Influences: Dave Chappelle, Dave Attell, Louis CK, Bill Burr, Wyatt Feegrado, Jessica Kirson, Patrice O’Neal, John Mulaney, Eddie Murphy & Greer Barnes
Favorite Comedy Album: Dave Attell “Skanks for the Memories”
Favorite Comedy Special: Dave Chappell “Killin’ them softly & Patrice O’Neal “Elephant in the Room”
Favorite Comedy Movie: White Chicks or Borat
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Psych, Master of None, or It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Favorite Comedic Character: Borat
Favorite City to Perform In: San Francisco, CA
Favorite Topics to Joke About: School Shootings and any issue that’s harder to joke about.
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: late 20s, 30’s and early 40’s. Also helps if they are diverse and love comedy.
Favorite Comedy Club: Cobb’s Comedy Club, Punch Line Sacramento, San Jose Improv
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
My brother has shown me stand-up comedy from age 6-7 and it subconsciously happened. I also was never really talented, everyone in my class was either good at sports, or music, or really smart and I was just funny but that just wasn’t a skill. So when I started to stand up at age 12, it felt like I finally found something that just worked for me. I realized that I was actually good at something. I had also always wanted to be an actor from a young age but my brother’s influenced me into becoming a comedian.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
It was during spring break of 2021 and my sister and I went to New York to visit my brother, who is also a comedian. I had been writing jokes and had been planning to go to an open mic in New York for about 5 months. When we got there my brother asked me and I was already prepared. So on Easter Day, we went to an open mic at Eastville comedy club and I was extremely nervous. I just rehearsed over and over and my heart was pounding. Then when my name was called and I walked on stage, I wasn’t nervous anymore. It felt natural. I did surprisingly really well for my first time and actually had some pretty good jokes and didn’t only get laughs because I was 12.
How would you describe your comedic style:
I’d describe my comedic style as insight into obvious or simple things. I point out things that are right in front of your face but no one realizes. I also obviously like doing serious jokes, while still adding a high school touch. I don’t think I’m set on my true comedic style yet but I hope to grow and for it to evolve with me.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
My process for comedic writing isn’t just sitting down and writing jokes. I usually write down premises as I think and experience them. Then I will think more about it later. I’m usually able to think more about it when I’m relaxing or in the shower. If I think the premise is good, I ask my brother about it or other comedians and then try it out onstage. I can’t sit down and write jokes usually it just comes to me the more I perform it.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
The comedy scene in my area is very much like high school. If you’re good at sports and are in the popular friend group, you’ll be able to go to the best parties. If you’re in the popular friend group and decide you will hang out with a less popular friend group then your social status goes down. Even with this, The SF comedy scene is amazing for starting out and probably one of the nicer comedy scenes. The bay area is a great place for comedy.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
I believe that there are multiple types of success in the world of comedy. I would mainly focus on two of them. You could be very famous, star in movies and tour around the world, or you could be revered as a genius and not be as famous. I believe that success is both of these combined but it could also be one alone. Either way, you should have a few comedy specials/albums out. The only way I can sum up true success is through a quote. “The Mark of Greatness is when everything before you is obsolete and everything after you bears your mark.” – Dave Chappelle (talking about Richard Pryor). That is true success in the world of comedy.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Wyatt Feegrado, Janesh Rahlan, Marty Cunnie, Aivy Cordova, Murahd Shawki, James Mwaura, Maxx Eddy, Sammy Obeid, Corde Snell, Iain Langland, Nick Scarpino, Daniel Lewis, Pam Benjamin, Tony Sparks, Joseph Anolin, Ashley Monique and the list goes on.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
Performing on the San Jose Improv showcase, the same day I started high school.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
I’ve learned that there will always be failures. It’s important that you accept these failures and know all the things that couldv;e happened if you didn’t fail. When I fail, I try to imagine all the things that would’ve happened if I didn’t fail, so that I try harder not to fail again. Use failure as motivation to succeed.
How do people react towards you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
When someone finds out I do stand-up, they usually ask me to “tell them a joke.” They also try to relate to me by telling me about comedians they’ve seen or jokes they’ve heard.
Describe what it’s been like building a career in stand-up comedy:
It’s hard but also fun. There’s two main aspects. Stand-up and networking. Both of these are key to success. Even if you’re amazing at networking, you still need to be great at stand-up and have experience. And even if you’re amazing at stand-up, that can only take you so far. It’s much harder creating relationships when you’re 14 because people don’t know how to talk to me. That’s why I really appreciate whoever actually tries to have a conversation with me.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
This isn’t a real change but more of an advancement. I think that comedy as an artform would advance heavily, if some of the best joke writers wrote a book with every joke structure they know in it. For example, if Dave Attell wrote a book with every joke structure he knows, newer comedians who read this book would be much more experienced and understand comedy much better.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
These aren’t his exact words but it has the same meaning, “Comedy is meant to make a point.” Wyatt Feegrado told me this when I was just starting out and it really helped me and shaped me into the comedian I am today.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“Luke Abranches: Judgement Day”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I went to see Dave Attell at Cobb’s Comedy Club and sat in the front row (since we bought the tickets before I became a comedian, otherwise we wouldn’t have sat front row but covid delayed it ) and he mentioned me over 20 times during his set. Then at the end of his set, while onstage, he pointed at me and said “Meet you in the back”. I got to meet him and he gave me a free signed poster. He’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met and my mom met him again 3-4 months later and he recognized her.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
The weirdest place I’ve performed was at a Michelin guide restaurant with a ton of aerialists. This was unusual because everyone was in heavy makeup and I was just in jeans and a sweatshirt. I was the only comedian there and all the other acts were mainly dancing. There was a burlesque dancer, which I later learned was basically a stripper. I went on stage after an aerialist dressed up as a zombie version of Michael Jackson in Thriller.
A Luke Abranches Fun Fact:
I do Cross Country and Track and Field in high school.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I want to have a stand-up special by the time I’m 18 and I hope for it to be on a streaming platform. I’d hope to have a comedy special on the biggest comedy streaming service at the time, like Netflix. I hope to be one of the youngest people to get passed at the Comedy Cellar and would love to go on an arena tour all over the world. My biggest goal is to hopefully reach the mark of greatness.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
I’d tell them that almost anyone can become a great comedian with enough determination. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that you aren’t funny enough to be a comedian because comedy can be learned. Just like any sport, practice makes perfect.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
I believe that the future of true comedy looks bright, joke structure is evolving quickly throughout generations and comedy that used to be called new and creative are now called dad jokes and new structures and comedians are revolutionizing the art form.
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’d want to write an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia but I’m not sure what it would be about.
If you could choose 1 comedy club and 3 comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
I’d want to perform with Wyatt Feegrado, Dave Attell, and Dave Chappelle at the NY Comedy Cellar.
What’s next for you:
I don’t have many big things coming up for me but I’m gonna continue to do shows, get better and try to get to the top of the SF comedy scene before I graduate high school.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
A person should always laugh at life because in this day and age tragedy happens so often, there’s not many other solutions to happiness. If you’re able to change grief into comedy then why not do it. Even if you’re depressed, if your friend does some really dumb shit, you’re gonna be happy for a few seconds.
Follow Lucas Abranches’ comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Luke Abranches
