As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Angela Joy. The Tukwila, WA native shares some of her favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how she always owns the laughs.
Name: Angela Joy
Hometown: Tukwila, WA/North Hollywood, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @angelajoycomedy @angelajoydubnow @dailyshittalk
Years in Comedy: 8 in comedy, 1 in stand-up comedy
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: I was an episode of Spike TV “Tattoo Nightmares” Season 2 Episode 24 “Dr Death”
Comedic Influences: Dick Van Dyke, Carol Burnett, John Cleese, Zooey Deschanel, Will Ferrell, Chelsea Handler, Jim Jeffries, Atsuko Okatsuka, Ali Wong, Amy Schumer, Sandra Bullock, Kristen Wig, & Kevin Hart
Favorite Comedy Special: Chelsea Handler “Uganda Be Kidding Me” & Jim Jeffries “High & Dry”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Oh man…so hard to choose. Probably Bridesmaids, Step Brothers, & The Other Guys.
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Again, so hard! It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Schitts Creek, New Girl, & Friends
Favorite Comedic Character: Jess from New Girl, I’ve been told I remind people of her.
Favorite City to Perform In: Los Angeles, CA
Favorite Topics to Joke About: My family, specifically my mom and my 4 sisters.
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: An enthusiastic audience who is having an amazing time and that you can feed off their energy and connect with.
Favorite Comedy Club: The Comedy Store
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
Ever since I was a kid, I was making people laugh. I would perform for my family and when I was 11, I wrote, produced and starred in my own play called “Rumpelstilskin, The Musical.” It was a comedy and the audience loved it so much, they asked for a second performance. We raised $600 to donate to charity. Then in 2016, I was part of a Sketch Comedy Troupe called “Hilarity Over Therapy” and that was where I really fell in love with live comedy and making an audience laugh. I’m also part of “The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery” Company that performs in Los Angeles and is a comedy show- I really found joy in that and it made it an easy transition to Stand Up. It involves a script but also a lot on improv and playing off the audience interactions.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I remember being absolutely terrified but then as soon as I got that first laugh, I was suddenly filled with peace and knew I could take it from there.
How would you describe your comedic style:
I would say it’s very much an essence of myself- awkward, self-deprecating but also confident in who I am – flaws and all.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I take a lot from just my daily life. If I say something that makes someone laugh, I write it down. Chaos kind of follows me everywhere, so I have a lot of material to pull from. I also sit down and jot down memories from childhood or if I’m telling friends a story about my childhood/family, I tend to notice people find it interesting and humorous so I’ll write it down.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
LA is big but also small. You start to notice and see the same people at open mics, so it’s kind of like this little club that you are all in together, just trying to support one another and help each other along this journey. We are all in the same boat and it’s important to find your tribe and people you can go with places. A lot of open mics however, are very male dominated. So it can be tricky as a woman to find the right places to test out material and get authentic results/feedback. But I have a really solid group of friends I can rely on.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
A teacher once said to me “Every time you are behind a microphone, you are living someone’s dream.” So to me, success is just getting up and doing it. Whether it’s an open mic or show, whether you bomb or have a great set, it’s just getting up on the stage and behind that microphone.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Tara Daly, Rick Martinelli, Andrew Dean Pearson, Sarah Garofalo, Shea Freeman, Joel Ingram, Kelly Shanley, Zeke Rodriguez, Nicole Casaletto, Paul Costabile, and so many others- this list is too long!
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
I performed at a CMA Event- Not Country Music Awards but Crystal Meths Anonymous ???? It was my first time performing for over 100 people and the crowd was absolutely AMAZING. It was an anniversary event and the whole experience was so special to be part of. I am 3 years alcohol free but they allowed me to still perform even though I am not part of the CMA Community. They were so welcoming, kind and afterwards, so many people came up to me to tell me how much they needed to laugh. Sobriety in any form is one of the hardest journeys to take and I think it’s important to find joy and laughter through it.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
That it’s just part of the journey. Nobody is perfect and EVERY experience is a learning experience. You can’t get discouraged or lose faith because of a bad show. Just keep believing in yourself and have a strong foundation in who you are as a comic and just know that you are going to fail. But it’s part of the journey.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
They laugh! And usually want to hear me tell more stories of being homeschooled, my wacky family and having a different type of upbringing than a lot of people.
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
I think consistency is the key. Just keep doing it and also, create your own opportunities. I have started producing my own shows because I figure that there’s no point in waiting around for people to hand you opportunities. You have to and CAN create them yourself.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
Women, women and more women. I hate the stigmatism that “women aren’t funny” or that we as women can only get laughs if we are crass and talk about our vaginas. I think there needs to be more opportunities for women to prove how funny we all are. I love when I see a lineup that has more women than men. We need more of that. And also, I’d love to change the competitism of the bigger clubs.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
Don’t go to open mics to get laughs. Go to just get up on stage, work on your rhythm and gain confidence. And also, come from a place of TRUTH not FUNNY. So many comedians try to just BE funny but it doesn’t feel authentic or real to them. I think it’s important to bring your own vulnerability on stage, your own truth and the funny will flow from that.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“Almost Angie”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
Oh boy, so many. I wasn’t going to let Nelly into “Lucky Strike Bowling Alley” where I worked because he didn’t have his ID. ???? And David Spade used to call the restaurant I worked at and he ALWAYS said “Hey, it’s me, David Spade.” So one day I decided to mess with him, so when he said “Hey, it’s me, David Spade” I was like “I’m sorry….who?” And he was like “ummm…David Spade…” and I was like “I’m just f***ing with you” and he was like “You asshole! I’m a superstar!” And we were both laughing and I was like “So your usual table?”
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
This place out in Inglewood, that was literally in the back of a warehouse, had cardboard boxes everywhere, and like 3 people in the audience. We were performing sketch comedy but other people were doing stand up, slam poetry, and songs. It was the most awkward experience ever.
An Angela Joy Fun Fact:
I was homeschooled from 3rd grade to 9th grade and lived in the second most dangerous city in America (Tukwila, you can google it ????)
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I’d love of course to get a stand up special but I would also love to have my own tv show on comedy central like Key & Peele.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Just be true and be YOURSELF. Don’t try to be funny and I highly highly recommend taking classes at Gerry Katzmans “Learn Stand Up Comedy” and Flappers University.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
I think it’s heading in a positive direction by having more diverse comedians and female comedians. No offense to the white male comedians, you still have a spot, but it’s great to see comedians like Jerrod Carmichael, Atsuko Okatsuka & Jason Cheny stepping into the spotlight.
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:
Friends & it’d be “The One With The Homeschooler” and it’d be a young christian homeschooled girl ran away from her family and they have to show her the big city and real life.
If you could choose 1 comedy club and 3 comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
The Comedy Store, Tara Daly, Rick Martinelli & Andrew Dean Pearson. If it’s big names (which my friends will be one day), it would be Atsuko Okatsuka, Chelsea Handler & Jim Jeffries.
What’s next for you:
I want to start producing a monthly show, open up my own comedy club for open mics and start filming our own specials!
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Because life is WAY too difficult and dark already, we have to laugh to survive.
Follow Angela Joy’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Angela Joy
Youtube: Angela Joy
Personal Website: Angela Joy
