Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnny Taylor.
Johnny, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I wanted to be a stand-up comedian for as long as I could remember. When I was a kid, I’d watch HBO specials of Robin Williams and Richard Pryor and fantasize of one day capturing the imagination of an audience the way they did. It took me longer than I anticipated to ever try it. But once I did, I was hooked. Nearly ten years later, I’ve worked with so many of my heroes (including the late Robin Williams) and have released two hour-long comedy specials myself.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Stand-up comedy comes with so many challenges built-in to the business model. When you start (and for most of your career actually) the pay is bad. You drive a ton. You are away from your family and friends working road gigs in some of the worst towns you could ever imagine. It sounds cliche, but it really is a grind.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
There are so many! I did a curtain call with Robin Williams at the historic Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley, CA when I was about three years in. That minute and a half was the culmination of so many of my childhood dreams. Surreal moment, for sure.
I also had my latest album “Bummin’ With the Devil” reach #1 on the Amazon and iTunes comedy charts. That’s a trip.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hipsterocracy.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/johnnytaylorcomedy
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/hipsterocracy
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/hipsterocracy
Image Credit:
Anousha Hutton, Joe Hauner, Ramin Rahamian, Sesar Sanchez
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.
