Coming from a place where there’s nothing but bright lights and big cities, this drama kid-turned-jokester used life’s teachings to develop a stage presence that leaves her fans constantly entertained with laughter. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Gabby Jordan Brown. The New York, NY native shares some of her favorite moments in stand-up comedy and explains how she always owns the laughs.
Name: Gabby Jordan Brown
Hometown: New York City!!!
Instagram/Twitter/Tik-Tok: @hipsoccermom
Years in Comedy: 6ish on and off
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: Amazon Prime
Comedic Influences: For me, the best comics have that “watchability” factor, where you could listen to them talk and think all day and never get bored. Nikki Glaser, Chris Rock, Tig Notaro and Mike Birbiglia are good enough writers to make you laugh but also smart enough to make you think about stuff in a completely new way.
Favorite Comedy Album: Rory Scovel’s “Live Without Fear” (it’s the one he entirely improvises)
Favorite Comedy Special: Maria Bamford: the special special special! (She performs it just to her mom and dad, in their living room)
Favorite Comedy Movie: Little Miss Sunshine
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Nathan for You
Favorite Comedic Character: Nathan Fielder in Nathan for You
Favorite City to Perform In: New York (I’m sort of a one-trick pony with how much I love New York).
Favorite Topics to Joke About: A bit of everything
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: I like a crowd full of dusty freaks. I don’t mean “weirdos” in that twee way where what we’re really talking about is young people with nose rings. I mean drag queens with criminal pasts who are banned from Uber.
Favorite Comedy Club: Whoever will book me
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I started saying really out-of-pocket stuff in 4th grade, and my teacher would crack up. I then used that humor to cope with the hate and bitterness in my heart.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I was at my elementary school talent show!!! It was so scary, but then I cracked a joke about the orthodontist. In retrospect, the feeling of trying to build momentum and keep it was very similar to how it feels now.
How would you describe your comedic style:
I have a goofy delivery, but all my jokes are sort of making fun of something, often myself. My best friend says I do a lot of “revisiting” — as in “not to be petty, but I did not forget this moment from 15 years ago.” So I’d say it’s a combo of being high energy, jolly, and round enough onstage to make you forget I’m kind of a bitch.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I walk around and talk to myself. Sometimes I take a walk in public and pretend I’m on my cell. On occasion, observers have looked at me sideways for yelling something like “do you guys fuck with bald men” into what appears to be a phone call.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
It’s so big!!! That’s something I love about New York. There are so many micro scenes that if one doesn’t fit your style, you can just pop over to another.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
I genuinely have no metric for what a successful comic or person is. I think everyone defines that for themselves. Not to be annoying sorry.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
I once got this piece of advice: “if you’re the best in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” When I taped my special, I tapped Lukas Arnold to host and then hired three openers — Dorian Debose, Clare Donaher, and Divya Gunasekaran. These guys could clear me, period. Each of them do something completely different that seemingly no one else can replicate.
When I was first coming up, I sought to emulate the goofy/witty blend of Ashton Womack and the tight writing of Jamie Wolf. Some killers who inspire me now: Salma Zaky, Jaron Young, Caroline Hanes, Mike McPartland, Meredith Dietz, Talent Harris. Alex Kim, Camille Roberts.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
The one that comes to mind is when I roasted my friend Irina Chelidze at New York Comedy Club. She beat me, but that’s not the point. There were three roasts that night and 5 female battlers. I’d been subjected to an absurd amount of rhetoric that day by a “friend” who told me the entire lineup had been booked just because we were women. All of us proceeded to destroy and it felt fantastic. Women are the best!!!
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
If you’re not excited for or about the show, you’re probably going to bomb.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
I don’t know. My charms don’t work on everyone.
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
If anyone else has the answer to this question, please let me know.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
I know this is a scalding hot take that no one has ever said before, but I would like to spend less time making clips and more time onstage.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
From Alex Babbitt: stay kind and funny. Make things with your peers.
From Neko White: if you’re a young comic, you’d better be having fun.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
I did release a comedy special recently! It’s titled “Drama Kid” so that’s probably what I would call it.
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I don’t find celebrities funny. They’re pathetic. Oh, you have to hide in your house in case an 8-year-old wants a selfie? Grow up. Perhaps my perspective on this is unusual because I went to a public performing arts high school, and while I was mostly dodging an eating disorder and a coke addiction, I did meet a few celebrities. They’re boring. One time I thought I saw Rachel Dolezal on the beach. Does that count?
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
One time I did an ambush show, which for the uninitiated is when the crowd really doesn’t want to be there. They think they’re going to a bar to have a fun night, and then they are subjected to a bunch of comedians following their dreams. It was the backyard of a bar, and it was fully a girl’s birthday party. They started singing Happy Birthday to her in the middle of someone’s set as an act of rebellion against stand-up comedy.
A Gabby Jordan Brown Fun Fact:
I’m in a group chat called “Notable Words Only.” You are only allowed to write in words that you deem to be notable. No other words. And you’re only allowed to thumbs up or thumbs down, no other reacts. This is the kind of stuff you find fun when you hit 30.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I love doing stand-up more than anything in the world, but in a shocking twist, I also write! My latest pilot is a half hour of magical realism about a lesbian who gets impregnated by immaculate conception. I’d love to make something wild and wacky like that come to life as a showrunner. I hope in my career I can try a little bit of everything and hopefully get good at something.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
You have to believe that you’re good. Even if you’re bad, you have to believe you can become good. You can’t fake it, either. Have a short memory.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
I think at its best, comedy can still be a unifying force. I still believe hundreds (or in my case, tens) of people can all sit in a room together and laugh at the same things, despite having different backgrounds and beliefs. I do, however, think the internet has made niche comedy more popular. If you like a certain kind of person or sensibility, you can find it online, and then you can go follow that person and see their shows.
I think both things will continue to exist, and both are good. But it will be confusing to watch them exist at the same time.
Optimistically though, I think it’s like 5 years until we get rid of crowdwork.
If you could write an episode for ONE classic TV sitcom, which show would it be:
The Big Bang Theory but they all genuinely believe in creationism.
If you could choose ONE comedy club and THREE comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
It’s 1963. I host a show at a tiny but packed out basement room. I do pretty well up top. I bring up Joan Rivers. She spends the whole set saying I am great and not that fat. She crushes. My mom comes onstage to do 5 minutes. She’s 9 years old. She bombs on material about how she hopes her daughter will be heterosexual. Everyone boos. I introduce a sexy male comic with reddish hair and a boyish charm. He crushes. His name is John F Kennedy. It’s November 22 and his life is spared.
What’s next for you:
I’m going to be writing and directing a feature hopefully soon! Stay tuned.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
I don’t know about other people, but it makes me feel less alone.
Follow Gabby Jordan Brown’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter: Gabby Jordan Brown
Youtube: Gabby Jordan Brown
