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Meet Evan Wecksell

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan Wecksell.

Evan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was always the jokester but approached it more as a demeanor, not a profession. I had many different trajectories during college and after. I went from thinking I’d be a lifetime summer camp counselor to teacher to counselor to financial blah blah.

I was fortunate to find some great jobs after college – NHL intern, youth running programmer for the New York Road Runners, but somewhere in between I took a NYU sports, marketing and entertainment seminar were during the final presentation I was surprisingly funny. The criteria of the presentation was abandoned and the professor just said get on the stage so I took a comedy class at The Comic Strip in NYC. Even took it twice and then coupled my NYRR day job with evening open mics and music nights. An exhausting double life, but extremely worth it.

Followed the girlfriend (now wife) to LA and realized I better start making a career of this comedy thing. I was a decent open mic comic, but was stuck temping in LA – can’t even audition when you do that! Luckily at one temp job, I had time to just start reaching out to my college fraternity chapters across the country and I started building a tour. At the same time, I started doing Scientology courses, which just catapulted me as a performer and helped me read my audience better. Fast forward over a decade and I’m about to do my first show in Hawaii, which will be state 48! (Looking at you, Arkansas and Mississippi!)

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
They are no smooth roads. I have had tons of struggles and lessons learned on the road. Performance-wise I’ve been yanked off stage early, had things thrown at me, been walked out on and had to write apologies to schools. Definitely learned my lessons and have never felt more equipped for any audience.

Creatively, sometimes you write a funny song, love it, but realize only you get it, or it can’t be played in front of certain demographics. I’m also always evolving as a person so my values have changed so what I wrote, in the beginning, wouldn’t see the light of day now. However, I can’t wait for the next chance I get to play “I Wanna Be Black.”

And while I get older, I always have to appeal to my target younger audiences, but that usually takes care of itself. I come off 14.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
My art is guitar comedy – a comedian who plays guitar, not a guitarist who does comedy. I mainly skew towards the college and high school crowd though I have also done private and corporate events.

I’m originally known for those VH1 & E! talking head shows from the 2000s. Now I am mainly known as a touring comedian but have released material that is very specifically targeted. For example, I have an unhealthy obsession with NY sports talk show host Mike Francesa. I have written a song and book about him. I think it’s because he reminds me of my dad.

I am most proud of getting young Beckett Sage viral with the WWE when he was two. The fruits of making him watch Monday Night Raw when he was young and learning all the wrestlers’ music.

I am also proud of my Socially Awkward podcast because I know people can interview their friends, but I’m looking to interview all my Facebook friends. After interviewing over 90 friends so far, I can verify it is the perfect recipe for awkward.

What sets me apart is I like to take care of my audiences. I learn their material, I bring them on stage, I create ‘gotta film this on my phone’ moments.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is naming your target, working towards that target and attaining it. Since this isn’t an entrepreneurial seminar like me give you my viewpoint. The greatest successes for me are not based on money, power or impressing others. It’s the opportunity to take your passions and put so much energy behind it in the exact direction you want and getting it utilized on the other end. That’s why the WWE and Mike Francesa appearances were huge for me. Always looking to circle back there in the future and find a way to collaborate with Jon Bon Jovi. I have ideas.

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Image Credit:
WWE.com, ISU_panhellenic (IG)

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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