As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Drew Martinez. The Covina, CA native shares some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and explains how he always owns the laughs.
Name: Drew Martinez
Hometown: Covina, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @Drewlaughs
Years in Comedy: 1 year & 7 Months
Comedic Influences: Sebastian Maniscalco , George Lopez, Dave Chappelle, Mark Normand and & Jim Carrey
Favorite Comedy Album: Sebastian Maniscalco “Aren’t You Embarrassed?”
Favorite Comedy Special: George Lopez “Why Are You Crying?”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
Favorite Comedic Character: Tommy Callahan (Tommy Boy)
Favorite City to Perform In: Los Angeles, but I’m sure I will love other cities the more I perform in them in my career.
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Trauma, family, & bad experiences
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: Raunchy crowd and like the dirty stuff. (Laughs)
Favorite Comedy Club: Hollywood Improv. Love the energy in that room every time.
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
My passion for comedy has been in me since I was about 5th grade when I told my teacher I wanted to make people laugh. I was the only kid in Career Day who chose comedian, but I barely took the leap to do it in 2023.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
The first time I ever performed was at The Nitecap open mic.. I thought I was going to be hilarious, in the first minute, I knew… this was not funny at all. I bombed and only lasted at least 2 min and got off.
How would you describe your comedic style:
My comedian style is like an old-school “act out” comic. I don’t really talk to the crowd, but I love to be active.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
My process when I write is to go in my car and sit there and actually break down what topics I want to talk about or things I’m going to attack … It’s like clay dough to me. I just have to keep building it and building it until I like what I create.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
The comedy scene around me is not the best, but there are some areas where I live far from all the comedy clubs. So, going from work to clubs to back to work is tough, but that’s part of the journey.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
My success is not the biggest but I feel like the way I’m starting out is really good for how long I’ve been doing it…. I do tell myself all the time I’m not doing enough I need to do more but I would describe as “good” right now not where I want to be but good so far.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Rick Martinez, Adam Barnett, Erica Rhodes, and Gary Owen
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
Crushing it at “The Improv“ my second time there! Felt the energy in the room like no other.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
I have learned a lot from my failures, but I would say the most important thing I’ve learned is that no matter how good you are, no matter how many years you have been doing it… You can still have bad nights, and that’s the beauty of all of this.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
People are really surprised. I would say comics are more surprising in general than the regular audience… but they do have a shocked look every time, and it’s a good feeling because it makes you feel like this is the place you belong in.
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
Building a career in the comedy world is no joke, though… it’s definitely not for the weak… but I think that’s what I crave the most: the challenges and the work .. it’s tiring, especially when you have to try and get more followers to follow your comedy career, and they don’t know you… it really makes you dig deep into your creativity.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
I think I would change the “jealousy” of comedians .. we definitely should try to lift each other up into the glory instead of trying to steal it from someone… but I mean, it’s a natural reaction, I guess .. but yea I would like more love in this game, and I’ve seen the love! The comedy world shows love like no other.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
The best advice I have ever received was from a comedian who told me the crowd does not know jokes… they are just interested in what you have to say … That has opened up my writing a ton and also my creativity. Now, I can write without pressure on “IT HAS TO BE A JOKE.” It has to be more authentic to me.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“Shits and Giggles”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
The funniest encounter I ever had with a celebrity was meeting “Tom Hanks” while I was a kid. I snuck past his security to say I’m one of Tom’s Kids,” and they let me through to meet them. That was probably the funniest one.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
I would say the weirdest place I ever performed was at this “Weed Hall,”.. where no one was there for comedy, and every comic ended early cause no one was paying attention… I think they even got offended by what I said … which I thought was funny.
A Drew Martinez Fun Fact:
I love doing impersonations. I want to be a voice-over actor or just an actor in general … and I love theater shows more than actual movies… I want to be in one day.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
Man, I want to take this as far as I can, but right now, my goal is to perform all over and get known… I also want to sell out theaters and stadiums where I have seen some of my favorite comedians.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
I would tell a future comedian this is a long road, and it’s not going to be the best, but if you stick with it, you’ll get what you’re looking for outta this. You are only going to get what you put into this, but man, it’s worth it, and you’ll meet some of the best people ever.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
My thoughts for the future of comedy are that it’s in good hands but definitely different. I would say you can be terrible, but if you have tons of followers, you will get booked. But if you’re great and don’t know anyone or no one knows you, it will be a struggle. But that’s something we as comedians have to ask ourselves: Is this for me?
If you could write an episode for ONE classic TV sitcom, which show would it be:
If I could write an episode for a TV sitcom, I think it would be about what school doesn’t teach you about life… like how to get a job, how to get fired, how to write out a check, and how to make a good living—but with a twist to make it funny. I would call it “Life Hackers.”
If you could choose ONE comedy club and THREE comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
Sebastian Maniscalco, Dave Chappellle, and George Lopez. I would open up to start the show-off, and then everyone would kill that room. We would sell out in a heartbeat.
What’s next for you:
I will be performing at the legendary Ice House in Pasadena on August 17th, my first time there. After that, I’ll just keep getting booked for more shows. I plan to keep this journey going until the wheels fall off.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Someone should always laugh because, one, it’s good for you and two, we don’t have much time on this earth; tomorrow is not promised. We should be able to laugh at anything possible because in the end… none of this matters (Nobody Cares).
Follow Drew Martinez’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Drew Martinez
