As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Lourdes Ayon. The San Diego, CA native shares some of her favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how she always owns the laughs.
Name: Lourdes Ayon
Hometown:San Diego, CA/Tijuana, MX/Sacramento, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @lulu_ayon
Years in Comedy: 2.5 years, consecutively since mics opened fall of 2021 (but really started in 2014 and was on and off since then)
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: STAB! Comedy Theater, Digital Streaming Appearances on various shows.
Comedic Influences: Sam Kinison, Cantinflas, Bernie Mac, Tiffany Haddish, Felipe Esparza, Ali Wong, Bill Burr, & Charlie Chaplin
Favorite Comedy Album: Weird Al Yankovic “Eat It”, Sam Kinison “Have You Seen Me Lately?” & Flight of the Concords “Distant Future”
Favorite Comedy Special: Louis C.K. “Shameless”, Eddie Murphy “Delirious”, The Original Kings of Comedy, Sam Kinison “Breaking All the Rules”, & Ali Wong “Baby Cobra”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Tropic Thunder, Naked Gun (all of them!), Airplane (all of them!), Knocked Up, 40 Year-Old Virgin, My Cousin Vinny, Young Frankenstein, Wedding Singer, & There’s Something About Mary
Favorite Comedy TV Show: El Chavo del 8/Chespirito, Three’s Company, What We Do in the Shadows, Flight of the Concords, 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm, I Love Lucy, Will & Grace, & Bugs Bunny
Favorite Comedic Character: El Chavo (El Chavo del 8), El Chapulin Colorado (Chespirito), Michael Scott (The Office), Bugs Bunny, Mr. Furley (Three’s Company), & Cheech & Chong
Favorite City to Perform In: Sacramento, San Diego, & Oregon
Favorite Topics to Joke About: I like to make fun of myself, growing up poor, Being Mexican, Age, & Relationships
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: My favorite audience is one that is there to laugh and have a good time with me. When I’m on stage I want to connect with people and make them laugh. Nothing is more fulfilling than getting a laugh from something I say on stage because it resonated with another person. This is connection. Connection through laughter is fun and therapeutic. Life is rough, now let’s some have fun and laugh about it.
Favorite Comedy Club: Laugh Factory, Comedy Store are good ones. There’s always a guaranteed laugh there. However, in Sacramento I absolutely love STAB! Because it’s so intimate and Laughs Unlimited because it’s the realest stage we have in the city in my opinion.
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
My family has always had a good sense of humor and as a kid I remember watching lots of comedy shows and movies with my parents. The passion trigger for me was watching the reality show Last Comic Standing with my ex-husband. I was so impressed by all the comics and their process that I excitedly told him “Oh my God, baby, I think I can totally do this!” and he responded “Oh baby, I think you’re funny, but not funny enough for stand-up.” [Awkward pause to process the pain from his comment…then the quiet acceptance of the challenge set it.] I had to somehow prove him wrong, but didn’t know how. Soon after that I was driving down J Street in Sacramento and saw a small sign that read “Comedy 101 Classes.” I immediately pulled over to enroll. Then told my husband that for the next three weeks on Mondays I would be working late.
At the end of the three weeks there was a show to which I invited all my friends to come see his face, not to come see me, but to come see his face because I was going to do stand-up to surprise him. So the day of the show, he and I sat in the audience and before it’s my turn, I say to him “I’ll be right back, I’m going to use the bathroom.” Then to his utter surprise, I popped up on stage and was like “Hey, you didn’t have a clue. I’m funny, now I’m divorcing you.” Yeah, turned out he wasn’t funny enough for me, so I left him.
Okay, so the last part with the rhyme and divorce announcement is a fantastic lie, but the everything else is true. Friends came out and enjoyed themselves. He was indeed surprised and I proceeded to perform a funny eight minute set. That was the most incredible experience of my life! I was hooked after that. Oh, and I really did get divorced, but that happened a few years later and wasn’t funny at all.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
As previously described, my first time was a surprise performance for my then-husband. I remember the car ride to the comedy show and my sweaty palms. I was so nervous. But I mostly remember the fun, the laughter and the smiles from friends and audience members – everyone sharing and contributing to a very important and special moment in my life. They had no idea how important each and every one of them was to me at that moment. Their support meant a lot to me. It was the beginning of an amazing ride for me in comedy.
How would you describe your comedic style:
I’m an animated storyteller. I take personal experiences and translate them into jokes on stage.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I start with a premise/concept or a personal experience and I write about that. Then I perform what I wrote, but end up ad-libbing while on stage. The ad libs are usually funnier than what I wrote, so I incorporate those into the joke and refine the performance (the energy of the audience helps me perfect my writing/joke). Then I wash, rinse and repeat.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
Sacramento has a very active and supportive comedy scene. There’s tons of open mics and lots of opportunities to showcase your talent. I find that comics in Sacramento hustle hard to find gigs and shows. They are smart, entrepreneurial and have great respect for the craft. I enjoy watching everyone do their thing in a way that is very unique to each individual.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
There’s many ways to define success in the world of comedy. Finding your voice, settling into a strong sense of self and fully accepting who you are through the vulnerable process of comedic discovery is how I define success in comedy. The high profile shows, money and respect from your peers comes after that. This last part, however, cannot be fully enjoyed without a grounded, real you in place.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
There’s a big group of amazing local comics that work hard to elevate the Sacramento comedy scene. The following comedy hustlers have permanently imprinted on me: Tess Frey (Tess Tickles), Jesse Rivera, Jess Harding, Gabriel Alexander, Michael Calvin Jr., Julien Thomas LaCrosse, Raedene Harborth, Marcien Evans, Danny Luna, Pej Ahmadi (Pej The Maniac), and the Angels – Angel Castro and Angel Lopez.
Comedy is hard. Comedy is vulnerable. Comedy is art. All these comics are leaving their mark. They make me want to do better. They keep me motivated and continue to inspire me.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
My first time on stage – a surprise comedy performance for my skeptical ex-husband. I was on such a comedy high after that. Best experience ever!
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
Comedy has taught me to be persistent and resilient. It is hard to go far in comedy without either of those skills.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
Surprised. I’m a lobbyist by day. I work in politics, so that’s a pretty serious career. I’m established, older and for all intents and purposes should be getting ready for retirement at some point. However, here I am grinding out late nights (which most of my peers can’t do) at open mics and competing for showcases against people half my age and with a shit ton more energy than me and I fucken love it!
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
It’s important to find your unique voice as a comedian and to put in lots of hours on stage to perfect it. Networking and collaboration with others is also incredibly helpful. No one does anything of significance on their own. We need others to inspire us, help us grow and open doors. Diversifying your skills as a writer is also helpful in this industry. While writing stand-up jokes is great, delving into acting, online content, sketch comedy, improv, and hosting is a great way to develop your skills and establish your career as a comedian. But what do I know, I’m just a lobbyist. 😉
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
Access. It would be great if all comedians (good or bad, old or new, aspiring or hobbyists) could have the same opportunities for exposure or showcases. Then everyone can move up along the ladder accordingly.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
“Have fun on stage.” Honestly, the best advice. At the end of the day, having fun is what comedy is all about.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“All The Things That Go Unsaid.”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
Honestly, none. No funny encounters with celebrities. Ever. And I have met a bunch of them. Celebrities are weird. They have either come on to me or have completely ignored me. I just haven’t met the right one to give you a good, funny story about.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
A church in Chico.
A Lourdes Ayon Fun Fact:
I’m an immigrant from Mexico. English is my second language (learned to speak it at age 11). I work in politics and have had many high-ranking California elected officials (with security nearby) attend my shows in Sacramento. I never say who they are or when they attend though. Comedy is the great equalizer.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I want a televised special. This way, the next time you ask me “where have we seen you before?” I can say, Netflix, HBO or some televised special that gives me comedy cred. 😊
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Be yourself. Be authentic. Bomb on stage, it makes you better.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
The future of comedy can feel a bit uncertain given all the recent societal changes, funky political discourse and the risks of getting punched in the face for saying the “wrong thing.” Therefore there’s a potential for comedians to feel more restricted on what they can say stage given the current social paradigm shift. However, I think this change is a fantastic opportunity for comedians to grow and expand on the definition of comedy by introducing more inclusive and self-reflective perspectives into their comedic work. The use of digital media and live streaming content can also help comedians reach wider audiences. Trends can (and will continue to) change all around us though, but the root of comedy – being real and making people laugh – will always stay the same. So long as we are authentic and true to our unique experiences, comedy will always be the best tool to bring us together, help us feel better about life and ourselves.
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:
Three’s Company. Jack and Mr. Furley go out to dinner on a double date. Furley’s date, Jill, is really Jack’s hot female date. Jack’s date, Rob (a gay friend used to keep up the farce of Jack’s sexual preference so he can keep living with his female roommates), flirts with Mr. Furley all night long to distract him from Jill, Jack’s real date. There’s all kinds of antics in the flirting and uncomfortable situations in which Mr. Furley is put through during dinner (under-the-table-footsies, light hand touching, excessive eye contact while sexually into a piece of bread, etc). Mr. Furley’s homophobic reactions is what makes the dinner scene come to life (Don Knotts had the best expressions). I don’t know if in this day in age such a scene would hold up, but it’s always funny to see a homophobic man squirm when the tables get turned on him and he’s being sexually harassed by another man.
If you could choose 1 comedy club and 3 comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
It would go great! I would headline, would have one feature, and two openers in San Diego. Ideally, it would be at Hoppy Daze Tap House in South San Diego or Mad House Comedy in Gaslamp (downtown San Diego).
What’s next for you:
I’m looking to perform more in San Diego and Los Angeles. I’m excited about the prospect of increased exposure and performing in larger venues.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
First of all, there’s evidence that proves that laughter helps you live longer, improves mood, reduces stress, burns calories and makes you more attractive. So laugh, relax, have fun, and have fun.
Follow Lourdes Ayon’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Lourdes Ayon
Youtube: Lourdes Ayon
Personal Website: Lourdes Ayon
