As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Ryan Rodriguez. The Oakland, CA native shares some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and explains how he always owns the laughs.
Name: Ryan Rodriguez
Hometown: Oakland, CA/Concord, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: IG:@ryan_rodriguez81, X(Twitter): @bayareacomicsRR, Facebook: ryan.shay.129
Years in Comedy: 8
Comedic Influences: Paul Rodriguez. George Lopez, Cheech Marin, Dane Cook, Eddy Murphy, Dennis Leary, Chris Farley, Will Ferrell, Jim Carrey, & Robin Williams
Favorite Comedy Album: Eddie Murphy “Delirious”
Favorite Comedy Special: Dane Cook “Vicious Circle”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Tommy Boy
Favorite Comedy TV Show: SNL
Favorite Comedic Character: Lloyd Christmas (Dumb & Dumber)
Favorite City to Perform In: Las Vegas
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Myself, Heritage, & Family
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: Open minded, Smart, & Engaged
Favorite Comedy Club: Punch Line SF/Tommy T’s
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I’ve always had a passion for entertaining before comedy I was a pro wrestler for 12 Years, after I got hurt and couldn’t wrestle anymore I fell into a deep depression until a friend brought me to an open mic and signed me up without knowing. I went up and did a 3 min wrestling promo on the audience and the producers of the mic told me to keep doing it I kept coming back week after week and the rest is history.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
Being totally blindsided because I wasn’t expecting to do do anything I was going to support a friend.
How would you describe your comedic style:
Observational mixed with stories.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I don’t really write it’s mostly my perception on reality put into my own words. If people laugh I build on it if not I tweak it until they laugh.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
Needle in a haystack sums it up. There’s so much talent in the Bay Area it makes it hard to stand out. What my team and I have been able to do is bring comedy to the surrounding areas that don’t have it.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
This like this being Comedian of the day or being recognized for your work is building success every time I advance in a competition or get recognized for my comedy I’m so humbled and thankful but I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Paul Conyers and I started almost at similar times but he’s blown up so much and I couldn’t think of anyone else who deserves the success he’s gotten. My partners at Bay Area comics Guile Mosher and Jonny Rios also inspire me every time I see them perform they just keep getting better and better
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
Opening for Chris Farley’s brother Kevin Farley. Chris Farley was my idol and getting to open for his brother it’s like I was doing it for him that’s taking nothing away from Kevin he’s hilarious in his own right.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
There are no failures just learning opportunities if you consider your setbacks as failures you won’t last in the business.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
I’ve always been able to make people laugh. So it’s nothing new to me but making a group of 4 or 5 people laugh among friends is so different than making a room of 400 or 500 people laugh it makes me feel validated.
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
Trial and Error. I struggled and had setbacks, but one success made it worth it.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
The Cutthroat nature. I wish people weren’t so quick to tear successful people down.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
Get as big as you can and get your name out as much as you can in your local area then spread out little by little don’t try to take on the whole world out of the gate.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“Worst Mexican Ever”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
Paul Rodriguez once called me the biggest Mexican ever.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
At a park for a 4-year celebration for a nonprofit company that helps families with kids who have Autism. I was very out of place.
A Ryan Rodriguez Fun Fact:
I’m a karaoke enthusiast I’m actually a KJ on the side which means I host karaoke nights at different bars in my local area but I can rap almost anything from Notorious BIG and Eminem.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I would like to be able to make a living doing comedy I don’t care if I ever record a special or get famous I want to make enough money to be financially stable doing what I love.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Believe in what say be genuine. Audiences aren’t stupid they can tell when you’re being fake and disingenuous. If this is what you love and what you really want to do then no matter how many people are in the crowd 1 or 1000 leave your heart on that stage 100% of the time.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
I’m glad to see glimpses of the golden era of comedy come back (By golden era I mean 80’s and 90s) however I know that the times can dictate the future of any industry so only time will tell if we get another renaissance or if we get this placating watered down version of comedy.
If you could write an episode for ONE classic TV sitcom, which show would it be:
I would love to write an episode of Family Guy where Peter Griffin becomes a Luchador in Mexico because he gets stranded out there without a passport and needs to make money to afford a Coyote to sneak him across the border.
If you could choose ONE comedy club and THREE comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
I would Love to do The Laugh Factory I would host with Paul Conyers and Paul Rodriguez would feature Gabriel Iglesias would Headline.
What’s next for you:
I’m in 2 different Comedy competitions the 19th Annual Rooster T Feathers New Talent Comedy Competition I’m in the Semi Finals in that one and The 49th annual San Francisco Comedy Competition I want to get to the Finals in both of those competitions.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Because you have no control over life. No Matter how in control you think you are life can always slap you in the face you can’t worry about something you have no control over all you can do is laugh.
Follow Ryan Rodriguez’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Ryan Rodriguez
Youtube: Ryan Rodriguez
Personal Website: Ryan Rodriguez
