She’s still a very fresh face in the world of comedy but has already built quite the following and only plans to become one of the most recognized new stars in the next few years. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Srishti Sharma. The Seattle, WA native shares some of her favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how she always owns the laughs.
Name: Srishti Sharma
Hometown: Mumbai (India)/Seattle, WA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @srishti7337
Years in Comedy: 1
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: Only on Instagram reels at the moment
Comedic Influences: Jerry Seinfeld and Taylor Tomlinson
Favorite Comedy Special: Taylor Tomlinson “Quarter Life Crisis”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Hera Pheri
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Seinfeld
Favorite Comedic Character: Miriam Maisels
Favorite City to Perform In: Seattle
Favorite Topics to Joke About: My mental health and Tik-Tok addiction
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: Woke + Drunk!
Favorite Comedy Club: Club Comedy
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I can spend hours watching standup comedy sets and have my comfort moments from many shows. My life has always been very dramatic, and I cannot live without oversharing. My coping mechanism through all the chaos has been making jokes about it. I have been able to perform a new set every week, drawing in from these life experiences every week since I joined comedy. It has only been four consistent months in comedy for me, to be fair.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
It was in 2021 when my ex-boyfriend encouraged me to try it out after a comedy show. It was completely improvised and yet full of consistent laughs. I did not do comedy for almost two years after the breakup till I tried it again this year.
How would you describe your comedic style:
Conversational, sometimes dark, intellectual, and Gen Z friendly. It’s highly personal, and I like being as authentic as possible on stage. I love leaving room for improv to make my delivery natural, like I am talking to my friends.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I write throughout the day, even during my day job as a software manager at Amazon. Every time I think or say something funny, I write down the punchline. Every week I go through the list and reflect on what overarching experience impacted me the most that week. I chose themes like breakup anniversary, anxiety, addictions and quitting, dating, and situationships for the set, and found matching jokes from all times in my life. This is my current process to produce short 3-4 mins sets. For the paid shows over 6 mins, I combine my best jokes so far by reviewing old videos. I try to keep a natural flow between switching themes in longer sets. I always try to have a funny segway between these if possible.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
Seattle comedy scene has been incredibly supportive in my journey to become a comedian. Most producers and club owners are very welcoming to newcomers and provide opportunities early on based on your talent and consistency. I have also made very good friends through improv shows I try to do over the weekends.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
As I am no close to quitting my day job just yet, my biggest metric is my own artistic expression and connecting with the crowd. If someone reached out to me, they related to something in my set and felt seen; that is my biggest happiness.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Bo Johnson, Juno Men, Jesse Warren, Zahnae Acquino, & Danny Meyerend
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
When I performed in my regional language for the first time, my parents could understand my set completely without me translating. They were really proud of me, and it was also my first set. I felt connected to my Indian roots.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
I have been trying to learn how to handle smaller crowds with 0 to fewer laughs. I tend to lose my rhythm, and I hope more experience and stage time will toughen me out to rejection.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
Most people who know me well are really encouraging and supportive. If they are distant friends, they are taken aback, given my shyer fake personality. Men on dates always have funny reactions.
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
I think it requires consistency and passion for the art of humor. I also feel it has a lot to do with being friendly and helping out your peers. You get to learn from each other, and networking is also part of the job.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
I do think networking and nepotism can get easily mixed up, so I wish everybody could feel it’s an equal-opportunity space. Although I personally never felt excluded, I know it’s not a universal experience.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
Lean into my natural comedic timing led me always to leave room for improv during my sets.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
Stably Mental
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I met Ranveer Singh as he was walking to the gym playing his own songs on speaker.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
A friend’s birthday party
A Srishti Sharma Fun Fact:
I was not a performer of any kind my entire life; comedy was my first time on stage.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
Create my own brand of comedy, I want to do both Indian and international comedy.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
By being more vulnerable on stage to connect with the audience.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
It’s going to have more representation for all the different communities in the world as social media grows, and I am here for it.
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:
Friends: The one where everyone is in a Situationship.
Rachel is in a situationship with her boss. Monica finds out she isn’t the girlfriend of her boyfriend. Joey auditions to be on a YouTube dating show. Chandler breaks up yet another situationship with Janice while Ross divorces from his.
What’s next for you:
I am planning to do Indian Comedy in Mumbai clubs for the next month.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
It helps us detach the emotions from the experience and see life as something amusing rather than traumatic as it usually tends to be.
Follow Srishti Sharma’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Srishti Sharma
