Fresher than newly picked fruit from the garden, her talent can’t be denied as she’s set to headline one of the biggest comedy clubs in the country, and this is just the beginning. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Emily Rudolph. The Phoenix, AZ native shares some of her favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how she always owns the laughs.
Name: Emily Rudolph
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ/San Francisco, CA
Instagram/Tik-Tok: @emilyrudolphcomedy/@emilydoescomedy
Years in Comedy: 1
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: No TV or digital streaming yet, but I was an Acquisitions Editor & Creative Writer for CREATIV Magazine from 2012-2015.
Comedic Influences: Oh wow. I used to listen to A LOT of Demetri Martin, Robin Williams, Ron White, all the blue collar comedy guys, Jim Gaffigan, Bill Bur, Luis C.K. and especially Mitch Hedberg on repeat. Just a playlist of bits one-after-another for years, until I knew them all. At the time I just enjoyed this and had no aspirations of doing comedy. I would say I am or have been pretty influenced by Bernie Mac, Zach Galifianakis, Kate Mckinnon, Tina Fey, Betty White, Dave Chappele, Paula Poundstone, Wanda Sykes, Amy Poehler, Theo Von, Joan Rivers, Richard Carlin, Eddy Murphy… there are so many.
Favorite Comedy Album: Probably “Standup Comedian” by Demetri Martin. I can still remember those one-liners 10 years later and that is pretty incredible.
Favorite Comedy Special: My family and I all LOVE Ron White’s “A Little Unprofessional” special.
Favorite Comedy Movie: “Patch Adams” with Robin Williams
Favorite Comedy TV Show: I don’t watch a ton of TV but I was/am a bit obsessed with the “Close Encounters” skit/series that SNL had going with Kate McKinnon. I also really love Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis.
Favorite Comedic Character: Kate McKinnon as Colleen Rafferty… and McLovin’
Favorite City to Perform In: San Francisco has been my hometown of comedy and I love it for that but Phoenix, AZ is where I’m from. And I love going back and performing there. It just fits, you know?
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Family stories, for sure. I do best riffing off of real life scenarios and am lucky to have truly unusual family dynamic to draw material from.
Favorite Comedy Club: I’ve yet to visit a lot of the great clubs out there but I’ve got to say, I do enjoy Alameda Comedy Club quite a bit. All the clubs in the Bay Area are really fun but I lived in Alameda first when I moved here, for 5 years. I saw the place open and attended the open mic for a while when I was still too scared to sign up. Now, going there and performing–having a super great relationship with the staff and ownership combined with the cozy vibe and killer food, it’s one of my favorites for sure. Of course, I also love performing at Cobb’s. Who doesn’t?
I will be headlining Cobb’s Comedy Club on February 4th, 2024.
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I never realized that I had more of a love for comedy than anyone else, to be honest. I grew up with a very comedy-forward family. We make ill-humored jokes and are constantly roasting each other in good fun. I also spent hours on the road with my dad, a general contractor, riding with him to construction jobsites with Raw Dog comedy playing on SiriusXM. My and my two, much younger sisters, and my parents knew every available Ron White special by heart. Comedy was always a part of what family meant to me in my life. It’s at the heart of how I’ve always expressed love towards those I care about, and how I’ve worked through hard things. Even as a teenager I would listen to comedy playlists on Spotify–on repeat. I just thought everybody did that. Finally after years of writing for work I got into standup. This past year has really brought to light how much standup has always meant to me but also how much joy it brings me personally to perform it.
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: Not too drunk but not too reserved either. I think everyone wants an audience that is ready to laugh but also has a healthy respect for whoever is on stage.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I remember being so pumped that what I’d written actually played well to the audience. And I remember feeling immediately addicted to the rush of everything, wanting to find the next place I could go to get a laugh.
How would you describe your comedic style:
Rooted in storytelling. Casual. Not dirty but not clean either. Approachable for everybody, offends my mom.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
Oh boy. Well, honestly I’m a year into standup. I would say so far it’s been a good run and is culminating well with my background in writing but I am still figuring out what my comedic process looks like.
Generally, I will jot down ideas or bits of something funny. Then revisit it later. I don’t do something on stage until I’ve sat with it and identified where my punchlines are and performed it to myself loosely at least once or twice. Then I’ll give it a try at a few mics and see if I can get any traction with it.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
San Francisco is booming with comedy opportunities. There is stage time everywhere and I’m really grateful for chance I’ve had to grow rapidly through that opportunity. There’s also a deep history of comedy here and so much to learn. I really enjoy the culture of it all.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
I try not to compare myself too much to others. There are a lot of factors in why people get booked, when they get booked, what they’re booked on… stylistically I will look at other similar, great comedians and compare how many punchlines I have in a particular joke… or its consistency when doing it regularly, on multiple shows. For me personally, where I’m at right now, consistent weekly bookings and semi-regular performances at clubs along with some level of regular side income from comedy feels like success to me. My expectation would be to see myself continue to scale that as my bits improve and expand.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Oh gosh, that’s so hard! The Bay Area is full of talent. Just a FEW Bay Area comics that inspire me, because there really are so many, are… Emily Catalano, Ashley Monique, Emily Van Dyke, Iris Benson, Alejandro Ochoa/”Dro Knows”, Dvontre Coleman, Stroy Moyd, Allison Hooker, Loren Kraut, just to name a few.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
I have two. Hosting Cobb’s Comedy Club for the first time, at Who’s That: Mark Noyer in August (2023) and working a weekend at Alameda Comedy Club with Alex Hooper in November. I remember thinking both times—wow, how lucky am I to be here right now.
Working with Alex Hooper was a really cool experience not only because he is noteworthy, but also has just gone through some really incredible life transitions which he has worked into his current material. He was very enjoyable to work with and had a super refreshing perspective.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
Embarrassment is also subjective. Just keep going. If you got a laugh, you did your job. If not, better luck next time. Learn from it and move on.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
I guess it depends on whether or not they appreciate my humor–ha! In general, I try to insert
laughter into most conversations. Even if I’m the only one who thinks it’s funny. Sometimes it
works… sometimes it doesn’t.
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
Well, I’m still building it so I guess we’ll see. I’m hopeful to explore writing and potentially even some on screen opportunities in the future. I see a career in standup comedy being something that allows me to work for myself and earn a substantial amount of my main income from performances or related opportunities.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
I know a lot of incredible comedians who barely make ends meet. Some have lived on the street or reside in shelters while they hone their craft. The drive it takes to really pursue comedy is incredible. People who are doing their passion, honing their craft, and pumping out performance after performance should be compensated fairly for that. So, I guess I would change that.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
“I don’t call out from comedy.” It pretty much speaks for itself. While you’re resting, somebody else is getting that stage time. Although, I do still think prioritizing self care and mental health is equally important.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
Probably “Redheaded Revelry” which is the name of my upcoming show in February or something like
“Abrasive Family Stories”…
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
Years back when I was still doing concert journalism, I covered the band OTEP at a sort of underground venue in Phoenix, AZ. About a year later, I’d moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and was working at a diner in Alameda while looking for jobs. Turns out, I had been delivering food to the bar across the street for the bassist from Otep. Once he discovered this, he started walking over to pick-up his food, have a chat–and from then on, he tipped me in Jameson mini bottles.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
The basement of an empty bar. It was about the size of a closet. We sat on boxes/coolers and other nonsense and took turns standing in the corner with the mic. I did once also wakeup my entire family with jokes and a cordless mic, which was fun–for me.
An Emily Rudolph Fun Fact:
I’m also an illustrator and have always wanted to expand that into a side hustle with a focus on comingling humor with design. This is something I’m now bringing back into the forefront of my life as a parallel to comedy. I’ll have some new designs to share at my show on Feb. 4th!
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
To becoming a full-time comedian, touring or writing or both with my sole income being from comedy-related gigs. I really would love to explore merging my journalism experience with comedy the future.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Be authentic. Don’t change who you are to reach for laughs, find the laughs that only you can conure up and bring that to the table. That’s your essence.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
I’m hopeful for the large amount of opportunity there is right now and hope to see that continue/not taper out over time. Comedy will always be important so, I have no doubt that there will always be a place for it in people’s hearts.
If you could write an episode for ONE classic TV sitcom, which show would it be and give a brief detailed sentence on the episode:
In a modern take on Roseanne… Watch as a tough-as-nails, lady construction worker navigates the wild world of dating, attracting men smaller than her while braving bizarre encounters from aliens to trailer thieves, on a quest for love in all the wrong places.
If you could choose ONE comedy club and THREE comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
Oh probably The Comedy Cellar. I’d love to perform with Steph Tolev, Matteo Lane and Taylor Tomlinson.
What’s next for you:
I’m working out new material currently that I’m excited about for February. So, there will be a mix of existing and totally new jokes. I’m also focused on roast battles currently and am excited to see where that takes me in 2024. Hoping to do more work in clubs as that kind of stage time made a huge impact on me in 2023.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Laughter is healing… for comedians, for the audience, for people who may not think that joke they just heard is funny. Laughter breaks down barriers and lifts people up.
Follow Emily Rudolph’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Emily Rudolph
Youtube: Emily Rudolph
Personal Website: Emily Rudolph
