As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Adam Jay. The Portland, OR native shares some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how he always own the laughs.
Name: Adam Westfall (Adam Jay)
Hometown: Portland, OR/Phoenix, AZ
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @adamjayofficial
Years in Comedy: 1 year
Comedic Influences: Anthony Jesenik, Andrew Schulz, Daniel Tosh, & Patrice O’Neal
Favorite Comedy Album: Never listened to one.
Favorite Comedy Special: Anthony Jeselnik “Thoughts and Prayers”
Favorite Comedy Movie: The Big Lebowski
Favorite Comedy TV Show: South Park
Favorite Comedic Character: Randy Marsh & Peter Griffin
Favorite City to Perform In: Phoenix, AZ
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Things that I experience daily in work, relationships, family.
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: A paying audience who appreciates dark/intellectual humor.
Favorite Comedy Club: Stir Crazy Comedy Club in Glendale, AZ. That’s my home club and will always have a special place in my heart.
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
Ever since I can remember. My dad has always been extremely funny. Being voted class clown of my graduating class in high-school meant more to me than it probably should have.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I performed in a comedy competition at The Helium in Portland, OR in front of a packed audience. I remember getting that rush and from that point I was all in on stand up comedy and moved to Phoenix shortly after.
How would you describe your comedic style:
Sarcastic and dry yet somehow charming.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
Texting myself daily when an idea comes to mind.. could be something I observe, or something funny during a conversation. I expand on those ideas/premises by talking into a voice recording software alone or with other comedians to see where else we can find the funny.
Then I’ll write down 10+ new jokes from the free writing session while I’m thinking more critically. Take those new jokes to open mics and work through them.
I’ll record the audio and/or video from the set and see whats working, what can be tweaked and what I will set aside for later.
I write a lot of new jokes and premises daily and never feel like I’m out of material because I have so much saved from my free writing sessions over the past year.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
Large, very supportive, and filled with a lot of talent. There’s an abundance of opportunities and being around other very talented comedians makes my comedy better.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
The same way Kobe approached basketball. The process and working on it everyday is the dream.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Lamar Mitchell J.R., Aldo Compana, Matthew Delgado, Zaid Arikat, Xander Beltran, Joshua Harrison, and Keith Ellis.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
Winning Phoenix’s Rookie of the Year competition.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
To use it as motivation.
How do people react towards you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
It varies. But most people think it’s really cool I do comedy. People who know me from before I got into stand up are like.. “Yeah, Adam doing stand up? That makes sense.”
Describe what it’s been like building a career in stand-up comedy:
You better love it because it takes time to get good, and don’t quit your day job just quite yet.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
Higher pay for comedians.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
Write everyday.. Don’t start selling yourself for spots until you have 2-3x times the material necessary for the spot you’re seeking.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“Don’t Take Me So Jokingly”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
None I can think of.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
Hip Hop open mic.. I told them I was there to do acapella.. and then murdered a 10 minute set.
An Adam Jay Fun Fact:
I changed my name in comedy from Adam J Westfall to Adam Jay because I was blacklisted from the Helium in Portland for running the light. But, got back on the stage after I changed my name and I’ve ran with it ever since. Friends and family tease me a lot for the name change.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
To be doing it full time. I could have all the money in the world.. I’d still be doing comedy. It’s never been about the money, but any time not spending, writing, performing, acting, producing, doesn’t make me happy.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Study the craft like you would a business or subject in school. Prepare a 3-5 minute set and go perform at a club open mic for your first set. Bar mics usually suck.. and can be deflating. Let that high from the club carry you through the times you bomb.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
Honestly, it scares me to see where the world is heading. Comedy is the last hope for free speech. We saw how quickly live events can be shut down. Comedy has other outlets and mediums to produce content.. but there’s nothing like performing in front of a sold out crowd in a club or theatre.
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:
South Park. I just want to be around the geniuses who make that show. I’m sure I would learn a lot.
If you could choose 1 comedy club and 3 comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
Back home to the Helium in Portland with Keith Ellis, Mark Normand and Katherine Blanford.
What’s next for you:
Continuing to develop as a standup, writing and producing for “On The Mic with Lamar Mitchell J.R. A live comedy/sketch comedy show that we plan on launching on multiple streaming services.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
It always seems like we’re in a constant state of anxiety and depression and laughing makes it a lot easier to cope.
Follow Adam Jay’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @adamjayofficial
Youtube: Adam Jay Personal Website: Adam Jay Comedy
