Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Kelley.
Hi Joe, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was sitting under a mango tree on Maui, HI in late 2012. I had sold everything I had owned and was more-or-less done with the world. While sitting under that mango tree, I was contemplating what I wanted out of life. Everything was perfect on Maui, but something was missing.
Since I was 13, I had always wanted to do standup comedy. And in that moment of thinking about comedy, I called my friend who had moved to Nashville to work for 102.9 The Buzz. We had worked at a radio station together in Flint, Michigan. I told him my plan to move to Nashville and begin performing stand-up. Someone had quit on him the week before, so he actually had a job opening too. It’s strange how the universe works.
I moved to Nashville in November of 2012. Within a month, I had started going to open mics. Within 6 months, I started hosting an open mic. Within a year, I was regularly doing shows (mostly in Murfreesboro). Within 2 years, I was hosting at Zanies. Within 3 years, I had bought a mini-van, moved into that van, and began traveling the country.
The willingness to be “homeless” might be strange to some people, but honestly, I just wanted to get good at performing standup comedy. There isn’t much money to be made when you start doing comedy, so I just decided the best way to approach it, was not to need much money. I never had to worry about missing a show, or my job getting in the way.
In fact, if I requested time off for comedy, and it wasn’t granted, I would quit that job. I’m 33 and have had close to 40 jobs in my life. I put comedy first above everything.
Now coming up on 9 years into comedy, I have performed all over the country. I have been able to work with some of the best comedy clubs in America. I’ve got to work share the stage with some of my favorite comedians, and some of my least favorite comedians. I’ve been on Bravo TV (Blind Date, not for comedy…). And my debut comedy album will be coming out later this year.
It has been a strange journey, filled with ups and downs, but I have never given up or took time off. I think most people who are truly passionate about something have a couple of screws loose. I’m certainly no different.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My comedy path has not been smooth by any means. But I was never looking for a smooth path. I put myself into sketchy situations just to see if I could get out of it. To see what I was really made of.
While living out of my van was great, it certainly wasn’t easy. For instance, have you ever tried to get a good night’s sleep in Arizona during August, with no A/C and no way to block the sun? You’re lucky if you get a solid 4 hours of sleep.
I think my biggest with comedy has just been the social setting that comes with comedy. I’ve been a loner my whole life. And a lot of comedy is about “the hang.” Meaning getting a group of people together so you can talk and hang out. I’m just not that type of person. I’m great with 1-3 people, but as soon as it gets to be more than that, I just kind of disconnect.
I feel like people take that as me being aloof, but I’m just genuinely uncomfortable.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I perform standup comedy. I specialize in, what some people call, “blue humor.”
I think what I’m known for, and what separates me is being honest and a real person. People say I can get away with saying things a lot of people can’t because I’m charming. Maybe that’s part of it, but I also think I have a unique way of connecting with the audience. When I’m on stage, I’m very much myself. I’m very comfortable being me on stage. I’m almost more comfortable being myself on stage than I am in my daily life.
I have so much fun performing and I think it shows. There’s kind of an unwritten rule in comedy about not smiling on stage, but I can’t help it. I’ll smile and laugh right along with the audience. It’s so fun, and when a room full of people are laughing along with you, they love you. Genuinely, love you. It’s a great feeling.
I get lost in the love and laughter while I’m on stage to the point where I kind of blackout. I’ll come off stage and someone will say “Oh, that was a great line.” And I’m just like, “Hey cool. What did I say?” Because I honestly don’t remember, I do my best to live in the moment when I’m on stage.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The comedy industry is so strange because of social media. There’s a big difference between someone who can do stand-up and someone who can sell tickets. Some people can do both.
I see more social media stars touring doing standup. Which I have no problem with anymore, once upon a time I did, but it just caused me meaningless stress, so I let that go.
I also think, because of the pandemic, there will be smaller comedy clubs popping up, more of speakeasy-style places.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.joekelleycomedy.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/JoeKelleyComedy
- Facebook: Facebook.com/JoeKelleyComedy
- Twitter: Twitter.com/JoeKelleyComedy
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe-usZLKUaTsAqFa7vaiL-A
