Today we’d like to introduce you to Renard Hirsch.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started doing theater my sophomore year in college and after 2 years my friends encouraged me to try standup, so I did. The next thing I knew, I was performing and producing my own shows. The 1st show I was able to produce was for the Urban Professionals, it was a Ski trip that I still do to this day. After doing comedy in Nashville for a few years I moved to Chicago to pursue my comedy career.
Chicago was a great place for me to learn and get better because they had so many different rooms to perform in and I was able to practice and network with so many great comics. The crowds were really tough and they had seen so many great comics over the years, so they forced you to bring in every night. Next, I moved to LA for a few years. It was really cool to perform at iconic venues like The Comedy Store and The Laugh Factory. After being there for a few years I came back to Nashville and started my own comedy night at the Corner Bar on Elliston Place. Then I had the opportunity to do a sketch comedy show on cable access.
It was a really great experience because I got to work with all my comedian and actor friends and really be free to create tho everything didn’t make it on air. We even had one sketch that was deemed too risky for TV. I would love to redo it on another platform. After that, a new comedy club opened up in town called Jazz and Jokes where I was able to continue working on my craft. Around this time, I started to focus on the road and travel the country and do more new comedy clubs.
I was able to perform on a few TV shows, like BET’S A Time 2 Laugh, Comedy at Music Village. Nephew Tommy’s Uncontrolled Comedy, and Standup Nashville on The Circle Network. I have had the opportunity to tour with Pierre and Ms.Shirleen
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Being an entertainer was definitely a struggle. Trying to find money to finance and produce shows can be challenging. Trying to figure out what risk to take, what festivals, auditions, and competitions are worthwhile. I never really had any comedy mentors to give me advice as a young comic until I moved to Chicago and a few of them kind of took me under their wing.
They gave good advice and were hilarious on and off stage. I had a few Atlanta guys that would always look out for me too! I appreciate them more every year! I can’t tell u how many road trips I have taken only to get there and the bookers are not there or entering comedy competitions or festivals that were a total waste of time. I have shot many performances and skits that never saw the light of day which can be really disappointing. Entertaining you can miss out on lots of life moments. I missed many family events and friend shows living in other cities or just being on the road.
Being on the road has made it tough to maintain some sort of normal love life, but who knows what the hell normal is right? Lol. Sometimes I feel like comedy gave me a lot but it took a lot at the same time. One of the things I hated was getting passed in a club and becoming a regular for years then the club changes management or bookers and now you have to re-audition to get back into the club
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a standup comic, I specialize in entertaining the masses. I also do shoe restorations. I am most proud of the longevity of my career. I just celebrated 20 years of comedy! Also, my versatility to entertain many different types of crowds
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I learned is to just keep going and never stop! I always threw myself at the work no matter what. When I got to LA another comic told me to “keep my head up, don’t get too high on yourself and don’t get too low on yourself and you will be just fine!”
And he was right, this industry and life, in general, is filled with mountain top highs and devastating lows. But you gotta keep pushing and fighting if not for me for the people who helped get me here!
Contact Info:
- Email: Renardcomedy@gmail.com
- Website: Www.RenardComedy.com
- Instagram: @RenardComedy
- Facebook: Renard Hirsch
- Twitter: @RenardComedy
- Youtube: Renard Comedy
