Today we’d like to introduce you to Adouria Macglashan.
Hi Adouria, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up doing theatre and improv. Eventually, I moved to Los Angeles and realized it wasn’t that hard to get into standup. It’s a great city for cultivating funny.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’m still very new and have so much ahead of me, many milestones and certain things I’d like to accomplish. It definitely hasn’t been smooth, I don’t think the journey is smooth for any standup or anyone who’s an artist for that matter. As a young comic, you are so easily influenced by those more established than you, you are constantly pulled in the direction of whatever comic you favor. When you’re just starting out it’s almost like there are too many options, you have no voice and it can be hard to pick a style. At the point that I am at now, I am working out a process. I have none. I get writer’s block and periods where I question if I even know what funny is. I’m not very disciplined when it comes to writing either, and I have no attention span for my own jokes. That sounds bad. I can come up with something, and in the moment I think “this is brilliant, this is the best joke I’ve come up with and I’ll never do anything better”, and after three shows I’m bored of it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a comedian, I do standup. If I’m being honest, I’m not sure what sets me apart. There are thousands of us in this city and even more in the country. We don’t need any more really. However I think standup itself is changing, I’d like to think I am somehow a part of that. Standup is traditionally very structured, mostly setup punchline. I think the future of standup is unpredictable, unstructured, loose, and experimental. I try to be more experimental, and take a lot of risks onstage. That can look like bringing my father’s ashes onstage or going through an audience member’s purse. Sometimes it pays off and its amazing, and sometimes it doesn’t and you need to quickly recover.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Wow, so many, some I’m still receiving. Take risks, and if they don’t work move on. You have unfunny moments but you yourself are not unfunny. Take your time. It can be hard not to be overwhelmed, or want to rush yourself to catch up to where other people are.
Contact Info:
- Website: msha.ke/adouria
- Instagram: instagram.com/adouriavm
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCtDnKo4zH6A-yaukLmzEjZQ
- Other: tiktok.com/adouriavm
Image Credits
First photo Hailey Benet Actions shots by Greg Feiner
