As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Shaena Rabbani. The Toledo, OH native shares some of her favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how she always owns the laughs.
Name: Shaena Rabbani
Hometown: Toledo, OH/ Los Angeles, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @shegoesbyshaena
Years in Comedy: 4
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: You’ve likely seen me performing at the Hollywood Improv OR maybe you played the Board Game I wrote! (Joke King-Available at Target).
Comedic Influences: Name any comedian (that I’ve heard of heard of) and I can tell you how I’m spired by them/ their career.
Favorite Comedy Album: Jimmy Pardo “Sprezzatura”
Favorite Comedy Special: Tom Segura “Mostly Stories”
Favorite Comedy Movie: I haven’t seen that many movies- it wouldn’t be fair. (not because I’m better than you and don’t watch movies but because my mom didn’t let me watch movies as a kid and now as an adult I have no attention span)
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Attention span is better for TV shows so I’m working on watching more- I’ll update this answer in a year.
Favorite Comedic Character: I don’t feel like you’re really listening to me…
Favorite City to Perform In: I seem to have had the most fun so far in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Favorite Topics to Joke About: The ones from that fun show in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: I love commenting on what “modern day” life looks like.
Favorite Comedy Club: I feel like I’m doing a lot of the talking, can I ask you some questions? (I love Go bananas and The Attic in Columbus, Ohio.)
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
When I was 3- I made a whole room of people laugh with one word & I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I really don’t even think we can classify what that was under the title “Stand-Up Comedy.”
How would you describe your comedic style:
I would say… funny.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
Living Life- I get so much material when I’m working less and going out more.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
There’s a comedian in LA for any person’s sense of humor.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
Genuinely liking what you’re doing.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Follow me on Instagram- I post about my peers often. @shegoesbyshaena
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
Winning LA’s Got Talent.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
Define the word failure.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
They immediately start laughing at every word I say and they try to make me laugh. Once I laughed at something someone said and the next day they added “made a comedian laugh” in their bio on Instagram.
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
It’s a lot of work and a lot of fun too. A ton of Writing & getting on stage but also a lot of making friends and hanging out with usually really cool people.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
“Never take advice from anyone” best advice I ever received.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“Not Hard To Look At.”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
One time I left my friend with Robert Kelly and he said “Hey!! You’re just going to leave me here with some dude I never met?!?” (It was really funny) (maybe you had to be there)
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
I did a corporate gig once in front of a mechanical bull. I couldn’t compete so I just started commenting on the bull riders. “3 seconds AND SHES DOWN”
A Shaena Rabbani Fun Fact:
I go on silent retreats twice per year- I go a week without talking & all my friends and family wish I could sometimes practice around them. (But I don’t)
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I hope my laughs can take me to a place where I can help people the way people have helped me- to be in a place where I can reach down and pull people up the way comics have done for me. I want to be as good as I possibly can be at telling jokes- be happy with where I am AND be able to buy a monkey one day.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
I would send them to my cousin who is a trademark lawyer- own the laughs? Is that considered intellectual property?
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
When I think of the future of comedy I think of: Comics that push boundaries, embrace diverse perspectives, and are able to resonate/ keep up with a constantly evolving audience.
If you could choose 1 comedy club and 3 comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
Go Bananas Comedy Club: Dave Atell, Theo Von, & Taylor Tomlinson and myself.
What’s next for you:
For me, what’s next is to continue working on getting a really strong hour of material together and In the meantime hopefully a new podcast will be coming out soon. Also for the record I don’t love this question- Can we just take a minute to be happy where I am? People are always asking “what’s next” after people hit big milestones. You just graduated?! What’s next! You just got married? What’s next?! Let’s just be happy here for a minute! (Happy not complacent)
Why should a person always laugh at life:
I’ve come to realize humor has the ability to lighten burdens, ease stress, and it feels so good. Do me a favor and go to a live comedy show.
Follow Shaena Rabbani comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Shaena Rabbani
Youtube/Patreon: Shaena Rabbani
Personal Website: Shaena Rabbani *Also add me on Patreon: for $7 a month, you get a very intimate view of my day-to-day life and how my comedic career is unfolding week by week.
