As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Celia Hervas. The Los Angeles, CA native shares some of her favorite moments in stand-up comedy and explains how she always owns the laughs.
Name: Celia Hervas
Hometown: West Chester, Pennsylvania/Los Angeles, California
Instagram/Tik-Tok: @celiaherr @celiahercomedy
Years in Comedy: 2.5 years
Comedic Influences: Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Jon Stewart, Steve Colbert, Daniel Tosh, Katt Wiliams, & Stavros Halkias
Favorite Comedy Album: Katt Williams: Katpaccalypse
Favorite Comedy Special: Tracy Morgan: Takin’ it Too Far
Favorite Comedy Movie: Your Highness
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Trailer Park Boys
Favorite Comedic Character: Eric Cartmen
Favorite City to Perform In: Bakersfield, CA
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Myself
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: The type of people who are excited to lose some tension and forget about what’s stressing them out today. I want everyone to feel like we are just hanging out.
Favorite Comedy Club: The Well Comedy Club in Bakersfield, CA
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I was in a pretty down place in my life, and I started doing stand-up during that period. It was the first thing that really made me proud of myself, so I didn’t stop.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I could seriously hear my heartbeat while waiting for my name to get introduced.
How would you describe your comedic style:
Oh man, it’s hard to describe your own self. I’ve been told I’m very blunt and don’t have much of a filter. I like stupid comedy, I like to write jokes that lean towards irreverence and nonsense.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I daydream and think a lot in my head. When I’m sitting and writing, I try to start with things that happened recently in my life. Other times I time myself on writing as much as I can about a random word. Sometimes I write on stage. Most of all, I enjoy writing with friends to test my material on and bounce ideas off of each other. Some of my favorite jokes would never have happened if a friend hadn’t said one thing, sending my mind in a whole new direction and creating a snowball effect.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
The comedy scene in LA is anything but scarce. We have people of all walks of life here. There is so much opportunity to stretch and practice in LA. I’m grateful to have come across some of my best friends here doing standup. I encourage any comic in LA or any comic anywhere to just try and work with as many other stand-ups as you can. Being surrounded by good, funny people who do what you do will really take you to where you want to be.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
I think I judge success by hard work that pays off. I judge success by if you’re spoken about in a way that is kind. I judge success by a comic’s attitude towards being able to do this awesome thing and being grateful for it.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Nina Dicker is really one of the best in the game. She is one of those people you just want to surround yourself with, so funny and fun to bounce ideas off of and just crack up with. My friend Leo Horta has been someone I am most thankful to work with. He features in a lot of my sketches. He is a great writer to have in the room and a friend to have in comedy. Mike Torres is another friend of mine and one of my absolute favorite writing partners. If I ever can’t work a bit out, I call Mike and by the end of the day it’s hashed out. Having good friends in comedy is seriously one of the most important aspects of the game, in my opinion.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
My most memorable moments in comedy have to be filming sketches with other comics. I think there is something so great about working with another comic on a project together because there are really no high stakes. It’s just an exercise to be funnier.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
The first time I bombed, I bombed hard in front of my friends, and it hurt. There is nothing like a silent car ride home after a good bomb. For a moment, I feel sorry, but you really have two options: quit or be better. This is one reason comedy makes me feel so proud: you keep getting back up and facing adversity.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
People love to hear you are a comedian, and then they ask you to tell them a joke, or if you know Kevin Hart personally, and you quickly look for any emergency exit nearby.
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
Building a career in stand-up is like following a rope that is tied to nothing. It is all about believing in yourself and being the right mixture of delusional and practical. If you think you won’t make it, well, then you certainly won’t. The only reason people are on TV or singing on tour is that they didn’t stop. There are loads of people who could do these things, maybe even be the best, but we will never know them because they never tried.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
I don’t think I’d change anything. Comedy is always going to be changing forever, and you just have to adapt to that.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
My friend Luis Moro told me to “Keep doing the work, practice, fail, bomb, rise, kill, repeat.”
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“Broad Stroke”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I do not know!
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
One of the weirdest rooms I’ve performed in I had a guy smoking meth in the front row. Surprisingly, a great audience member and I enjoyed talking to him.
A Celia Hervas Fun Fact:
I went to college for geography and dropped out to wrap cars.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I want to be in a place where I am getting paid to survive semi-comfortably and anything after that I’m grateful and welcome whatever else. I also want to be involved in more writing and filmed projects for my future.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
I would tell a comic to just keep going and putting yourself in rooms that scare you. Always say yes to something you don’t feel totally ready for, it will force you to be better. Collaborate with comics like you and find your people. Be nice and kind to everyone in the comedy scene and if you bomb do another set anywhere as soon as possible after.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
I think the future of comedy is going to be punk rock, man. It is going to keep changing; the world is going to keep changing. Comics have this unique opportunity to speak up for what’s right or take people’s minds off what’s wrong. Comedy is necessary, and I don’t think it’s going anywhere.
If you could write an episode for ONE classic TV sitcom, which show would it be:
I’d write an episode on South Park. Maybe Cartman gets an elf on the shelf before Christmas but instead of feeling enchanted he is disturbed and becomes deeply paranoid that the elf is a predator. “Kyle–I– I can’t talk right now Kyle– this sick freak could be anywhere–yesterday morning I found him in my sock drawer holding a sign that said ‘Is it getting hot in here or are these socks made from merino wool?’–kyle he is hitting on me, nobody believes me– I just – don’t call this line anymore– if you don’t hear from me by tomorrow morning then assume the worst.— perhap–perhaps if I didn’t have these perfect hips none of this would have happened in the first place–if only i was ugly and unremarkable like you Kyle perhaps I would be spared–bye kyle you were a shit friend,” Cartman tearing up on the phone with Kyle.
If you could choose ONE comedy club and THREE comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
I would perform at Zanies in Chicago (just always wanted to go there). Maybe with Stavros, Steph Tolev, and Lucas Mckray
What’s next for you:
I am currently working on some projects that I’m really excited about. I’m still doing sketch comedy and I’m working on getting into as many comedy festivals as I can for the next year!
Why should a person always laugh at life:
A person should always laugh at life because the best things we have are laughing and dancing. Life shouldn’t be taken too seriously. You don’t have anywhere you need to be. Life is about enjoying your way through and living here right now.
Follow Celia Hervas comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Tik-Tok: Celia Hervas
