Life & Work with Zach Liss of Chicago

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zach Liss.

Hi Zach, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started doing Stand Up Comedy my senior year of high school because I had always been a huge fan of it, and I felt like I was at a bit of a crossroads in my life. I had played baseball from age 6-17 and planned to play in college, but when I injured my back I sort of figured what is the point of this intense work long term when best case scenario I may have played like Division 2. I also felt a bit isolated in school, I was one of the only Jewish kids in my school in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and have always felt like comedy is so engrained in Jewish culture, that when I’d see great comedians and comedy movies it felt weirdly comforting. I felt inspired one day to drive out to this bowling alley to do an open mic in Reading, Pennsylvania. I remember I was like 18 or 19, so I was too young to legally go up but the host told me as long as I didn’t mention my age he’d give me some time. I remember feeling such a thrill when I got on stage. It was equally terrifying and exilerating to feel the lights on me and I just talked about my family for maybe three minutes. I got like two laughs but felt like I was on top of the world. I remember calling my dad and saying it was the most fun thing I’d ever done and he was shocked by its impact on me, and especially when I told him I wanted to move to Chicago to see if I could really give this a go. After COVID, standup quickly went from a hobby to a full time job and I now am so grateful I was able to follow my gut instinct.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definelty hasn’t been a smooth road. I moved to Chicago excited to pursue comedy and go to school at DePaul, but right when I arrived COVID stopped all in person classes and stand up opportunities. Once things opened up again, I was hitting open mics every night which can really take a toll when there is only other comedians in the crowd. Many long nights of missing some college party to bomb at an open mic in the city. Looking back I’m very grateful for those experiences they gave me a thicker skin both as a comedian and person, while showing me I needed to get much better to take this seriously. I also was able to eventually meet other comics who were my age who eventually became some of my closest friends. It’s really a tight knit community, and me and one of my best friends-the late Ryan Mackinnon started this show for DePaul students at a local bar which quickly became a hit in the scene. We eventually created this blind dating comedy game show with our friend Josh Thomas called “The First Date Comedy Show” which is now the first and fourth Fridays at the Laugh Factory. On a personal note comedy introduced me to some of my closest friends like Ryan, but when Ryan passed away last year, comedy really felt so carthartic and I used it as a way to process the brutality of life at that time. In general the life of a comedian is full of ups and downs every night but when you really love it you learn to take things much less personally.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Standup Comedian and writer based in Chicago. I am known for a brand of comedy that I’d say is based in self deprecation, some of my own awkwardness, and personal stories. I think a lot of it comes from my somewhat unique childhood growing up Jewish in the Amish Country of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I am most proud of my work ethic and honesty on stage, and this has helped me open for nationally touring headliners such as Ian Lara, Gary Vider, Erica Rhodes, Ian Fidance, Joe Dombrowski, and Erica Rhodes to name a few. Also, soon I will be opening for Jeremiah Watkins special taping which I am excited for. I am also proud to co run First Date Comedy Show which was featured on WGN-TV News, and was nominated for “Best Comedy Show” by the Chicago Reader. I know regularly travel all around the country opening for comedians and have had such an amazing time doing so. I feel like my honesty on stage really draws people in and that I am okay with talking about any subject regardless of how embarassing it may seem.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Today, a mixture of advice definetly has helped me along the way. When I was first starting I was so much more insecure as a person and comedian, so people would give me all these ideas on how to act or what persective I reminded them of on stage, and an older Chicago comic I really respect told me that I was funny and that “the best advice to take, is no advice” which in many ways I agree with. You can’t really take a class or practice learning the way you do comedy or how to manuever amongst people in the industry without just figuring out what feels most comfortable for yourself. I also think something that has helped me creatively is something I heard on Mike Birbiglia’s podcast which is the motto “If you aren’t telling secrets, who cares?” I find this to be so helpful to keep in mind, to always look for what you find embarassing or too weird to share-because thats where the most honest part of you is and what people connect with the most. I’d say I have many mentors who are both my age and much older, which I find important to gain multiple persepctives. I think networking isn’t something I keep in mind as far as the formal definition of the word, I just really make an effort to be the most kind version of myself and to keep speaking and reaching out to others who make me feel the same way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zach.liss/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@zachliss
• Other: https://linktr.ee/zachliss?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaenhhpvB0iVkunWjCPRuuZy37P8Nu8KT1LnR0aF67suIofzMUYp9Qy3n_shXw_aem_BFcdSpZurW-rOexwS5Z34Q

Image Credits
Conner Daly is the Photographer