E27: Take A Chance on THIS and The Rest Will Take Care of Itself - Kalea McNeill | Stand Up Comic
“If you continue to operate at a level of excellence, then someone is gonna figure you out.” - Kalea McNeil
Creating connection, being personable, and being authentic, are not the first things you think about when you think of surviving the comedy circuit. The industry is known to be cut throat, so you would think you would need to meet it with the same energy. However, being a jerk, won’t get you very far in any industry. People want to book comics who they like, who they can sit down and have a beer with. Being self-aware and real can take you places being a jerk never could, because let's face it, there are a lot of funny people that want to be comics, but aren’t anywhere to be found. This is such a shame, however, our guest on today’s episode realized this early on, and it has helped propel her career forward by just being genuine. It also helps that she is incredibly hilarious too!
With a bachelor's degree in theater arts from Clark Atlanta University, guest star on many popular television shows, and has performed at her fair share of legendary comedy clubs, actor and stand up comedian Kalea McNeil joins us on today's episode to talk about her journey to comedy. Specifically how she navigated the murky waters of the comedy scene by being unapologetically herself and making genuine connections with the right people. This has landed her some big gigs, and has helped her to produce her own shows. She is a force in the scene with some great advice for anyone new or seasoned comic.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- How Kalea got into comedy
- Spiritual kick in the pants to move forward
- The moments of affirmation that helped Kalea move forward in comedy
- The importance of being personable and kind when networking
- How creating genuine connections can take you far in comedy
- What life is like on the road like for a comic
- One of the biggest lessons Kalea has learned as a comic
- Making sure the people around you are elevating you
- How Kalea created her own shows after abandoning open mics
- Benefits of using bullet points when writing for comedy
Connect with Kalea:Instagram
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