She’s a mother and stand-up comedian who uses her unique life as a way to help you laugh at yours. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Linda Schwartz. 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: Linda Schwartz
Hometown: San Diego, CA (La Jolla)
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @sheshedcomedy
Years in Comedy: On and off since 2012, but time since being “ALL IN” almost 1.5 years.
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: Nope… unless you’ve seen one of my reels on the gram or facebook or youtube.
Comedic Influences: li Wong, Jo Koy, Kevin Hart, Dave Chappell, Chris Rock, Jim Carrey, Eddie Murphy
Favorite Comedy Album: Eddie Murphy
Favorite Comedy Special: Dave Chappelle: “The Closer” & Chris Rock “Tambourine” (I hate these questions, I have too many!)
Favorite Comedy Movie: The Original Kings of Comedy & Dumb & Dumber
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Seinfeld
Favorite Comedic Character: Lloyd Christmas
Favorite City to Perform In: San Diego
Favorite Topics to Joke About: My Family
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: Loose, Warm, & W(h)et like a Vegas Brothel
Favorite Comedy Club: The Comedy Store – La Jolla
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I got stoned one night with a black guy I was dating and he introduced me to Def Comedy Jams. We would watch the red and blue dvd over and over and laugh our asses off. That’s when I fell in love with comedy, but discovering my own passion for performing comedy came much later… in 2012.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
It was my 30th birthday, at a well known club in San Diego, and there was almost 300 people there. I brought 75 of my friends and it was the most exhilarting birthday I’ve ever had. I’ve been hooked ever since.
How would you describe your comedic style:
Hmm… I like accents and act outs.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I’ve kept a running list of things I find funny on my phone since 2018. I take some of those things that are “sticky” (bits I can’t stop thinking about) and move them to a Google Word Doc where I do a brain dump and write a first draft of the joke. I keep a running list of these jokes in the word Doc organized by it’s “working title”. When I’m ready to work it out, I take the bit and then rewrite it on a typewriter. (My brain gets hyperfocused when I write on the typewriter.)
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
San Diego is a great place to do comedy and watch comedy. We have so many great club and independently run shows all over town and there’s always an opportunity to sharpen the ax.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
At this juncture of my career, success is determined by how much fun I’m having and if I can make just one person laugh.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
One of my favorite people right now is Steven Briggs. He’s not only funny, but he’s incredibly generous and just an all around sweetheart. Lin Sun is a BEAST on the mic and the fact that she’s a single mom going after her dreams is majorly inspiring to me. Walter Ford’s energy on and off stage is unmatched. Lisa Gilbert is a fellow mom, but of triplets. If she can be as tired as she is AND still do great comedy, then I have no excuse. I only have one kid. I love watching all of these comics because they’re so dynamic and I love their jokes. I love that they’re all great joke writers and performers. No matter how many times I see them, I laugh like it’s the first time.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
The first time is the one I hold near and dear to my heart.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
ALWAYS BE PREPARED.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
They’re always surprised and then they become enamored and then they become my friend and then I invite them to a show. And they always work at Trader Joe’s.
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
It’s like a sales job. You have to wholeheartedly believe in your product and sell the shit out of it until you sell enough to be rich. And Rich in comedy means: rich in character, good jokes, and paid gigs. And like a sales job, a lot of it is about building good relationships.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
Young guys who only want to talk about their dicks at open mics.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
Work harder than everyone else.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“I’m Bad Bad Lady”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I was volunteering at a celebrity golf tournament and was manning a hole with a friend. The hole was sponsored by Dixon and we were supposed to hand out a sleeve to everyone who came through. She was a big sports fan and I am not. A famous baseball player arrived at our hole and she gets wide-eyed and twitchy and can’t get the words out of her mouth to offer him the sleeve of balls. So, I chime in and say, “Would you like some Dixon Balls?” and without missing a beat, he says, “Thanks, but I already have some.” To this day, I wish I was a sports fan so I could remember who that was. My friend has told me his name a thousand times but I keep forgetting it.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
Zoom
A Linda Schwartz Fun Fact:
When I went into labor, I drove myself to Trader Joe’s because I was more concerned about having snacks than having my baby. (It was a long 30+ hour labor, and I had him at home in a birthing pool.)
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
Around the World and a comedy special on a big streaming platform.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Work hard on yourself and your jokes.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
It’s a great time to be in comedy and the future is looking bright.
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 w/ Eddie Murphy, Ali Wong, Myself, & Jo Koy
What’s next for you:
Waiting to hear back from 4 festivals… fingers crossed.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Because it feels good to.
Follow Linda Schwartz’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Linda Schwartz
Youtube: Linda Schwartz
Personal Website: Linda Schwartz
