Conversations with Black Pedro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Black Pedro.

Hi Black, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
One day as a freshman at Princeton University one of my best friends, Jackie Bruce, asked me to do stand-up comedy at a campus-wide talent show. Without hesitation I said “OK” and began to write a routine while simultaneously asking myself, “what did I agree to do?”. I told my first joke and received a wave of laughter that immediately informed me this is what I was meant to do with my life. Through the rest of my college career I furthered my talents as a performer by joining the Black Arts Company where I was able to hone my writing/performance skills as a stand-up comedian in front of live audiences on a regular basis. After graduating in 1999 with a degree in Architecture and Urban Planning, I moved to Los Angeles and have been working the professional stand-up comedy scene ever since.

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?
Stand-up comedy is probably the most unpaved path you can follow as a performing artist. Typically, there is nobody writing for you, and you have to perform alone. From January to June of 2006, I found myself homeless for the first time in my life. In 2013, I found myself homeless once again for 13 consecutive months. During those times I continued to perform across the country while working a job and keeping one foot in front of the other. I have never considered quitting at any point…and I never will. The greatest struggle for me has been maintaining livable earnings as a comedian. Getting gigs is easy, living off of them is hard.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Los Angeles based stand-up comedian who specializes in being funny! I began my professional career in 1999, was accepted as a regular at the Hollywood Improv in 2003, and signed with my first manager that same year. Since then, I have been to Afghanistan with Drew Carey, and performed across the United States and the world. I’ve also had success as an actor; booking many national commercials while also appearing on TV shows like “Hell Date” on BET, and “Not Dead Yet” on ABC. Most recently, I produced my own 1/2 hour comedy special called “BLACK PEDRO IS…ENGAGED” that will debut on YouTube and all audio platforms on July 25th.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I complete the crossword puzzle on the Apple News app every morning before I get out of bed (I bet I’m faster than you). It helps me jump-start my brain and sharpens my word-play skills. My favorite book is “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison and my favorite podcast is my own, “Savage AF”, that I produce on YouTube (www.youtube.com/c/savageafworld) with a fellow comedian named Shang . We talk politics, hot topics and current events in a very raw style. I am also training myself to use AI as a writing partner so that when the machines take over the world they will see me as an ally. I don’t want my microwave to kill me!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @blackpedro
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/pedroisfunny
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IgFMVO12xs