Today we’d like to introduce you to Diana Hong.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Like most Korean-American girls that grew up in the 90s, the first time I knew stand-up existed was watching Margaret Cho. I was in awe that someone who looked like me could talk about sex and her relationship with her mom while being so unapologetic. Margaret Cho was everything I wanted to be but was too scared to try. Since I wasn’t animated and I could not imitate my mom at all, I figured stand-up wasn’t for me. Instead, I started playing golf which was really just my way of being an athlete without running. Eventually, golf became my life.
But life playing golf made me so sad I didn’t know how to deal with it, and mental health wasn’t as openly discussed as it is now. Then one night in high school, I was at a friend’s place smoking weed. We watched Katt Williams’ “The Pimp Chronicles Pt. 1” and for the first time in a long time, I laughed too hard to be depressed. These two specials shaped my early view of stand-up. Margaret Cho made me feel represented, and Katt Williams showed me the power of laughter. I was still determined to be a professional golfer, despite my newfound dream of being a stand-up comic and how unhappy it made me. Golf was bigger than me; my family depended on me to make them a return on their investment in me. Comedy would just have to wait but it was always at the back of my mind.
The first time I tried stand-up was to check it off my bucket list. Something I was supposed to try just once to get my fix. It was at an open mic right before I planned to move to Florida in pursuit of my golf career. That first laugh I got on stage felt like pulling off the most amazing escape shot through the trees right into the hole. But with comedy, I felt a sense of community that I had been searching for my whole life. Golf is a very lonely sport and having been an only child, I was tired of feeling lonely.
I came back from Florida after a few months when I realized professional golf wasn’t going to work out for me. Losing my golf identity caused me to wake up with panic attacks in the middle of the night. To the point where I had a mental breakdown and went to the psych ward. Then I found myself living out of my car with a breakup hamster and all that was saving me was stand-up. Being able to turn my darkest moments into something that brings laughter and that others can relate to gave me a sense of purpose. There was no going back.
Stand-up has given me everything I have always wanted: a life full of fun and friends. Currently, I’m living in North Hollywood with my fiancée and two cats. And I’ve been able to support myself doing comedy and comedy-related work for the majority of this year. With comedy, I get to explore different towns and see what they have to offer. I’ve even been lucky enough to receive gifts from fans containing anything from free fair tickets to weed lube, they’re always random but so cool. I started comedy as someone who was very broken and sad but through comedy I found a way to piece together a pretty amazing life doing what I love to do and spending time with those I love.
Stand-up has given me everything I have always wanted: a life full of fun and friends. Currently, I’m living in North Hollywood with my fiancée and two cats. And I’ve been able to support myself doing comedy and comedy-related work for the majority of this year. With comedy, I get to explore different towns and see what they have to offer. I’ve even been lucky enough to receive gifts from fans containing anything from free fair tickets to weed lube, they’re always random but so cool. I started comedy as someone who was very broken and sad but through comedy I found a way to piece together a pretty amazing life doing what I love to do and spending time with those I love.
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?
I went on this hike in Vegas that had a really great view of the Las Vegas skyline. It started off as a paved path, easy. Eventually, you turn a corner and realize there’s a mountain to climb but this path is still mostly paved. At the top of that path is another mountain that was hiding behind the first with a path that is less paved and a bit more narrow. When you finally think you’re at the top, there’s another mountain. But there is no path this time, just rocks. You’re no longer hiking, this is rock climbing, and you’re struggling to keep your balance. That’s how my career has been. Super chill in the beginning then each level up has brought more difficulties and a new degree of exhaustion, but the view is worth it every time.
The challenge with having a career that’s based on a subjective perception of talent is the emotional struggle to not second guess or compare yourself to others. In golf, you can mathematically prove you are the best. With comedy, there is no one measurement for what’s funny or who is funniest. There have been a lot of rejections over the years; even the opportunities I was sure would change my life really didn’t. There’s no guarantee that my efforts in comedy will amount to anything. I never know if what I’m doing is right or when I’m being overly critical of myself. Although this whole thing has and continues to break me as a person, life is going to be full of struggles and at least these are ones that make me funnier.
It’s been a struggle having to keep personal struggles and hardships from interfering with my comedy. I’ve been so poor that I survived by paying for a Costco hot dog with the change in my car. One of the most disappointing times was having to cancel a gig because I couldn’t afford the gas to get there and I would’ve been stranded. There used to be days where I would go to my day job on zero sleep. Pursuing comedy also caused a big challenge in my family life. Early in my stand-up career, I would have to write out my set word for word, and one day while living with my parents, they found my notes. My dad and mom hated that I was “advertising being gay” on stage and kicked me out. My relationship with my dad never recovered after I quit golf, so this was the last straw. He passed away with us, not really talking. Even though my parents don’t approve of what I’m talking about, it was something I needed to do. Through all the struggles, comedy has given me the greatest gift – allowing me to be more comfortable with who I am.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a stand-up comic and writer. My material is centered around the Queer Asian-American experience. I share personal anecdotes of navigating identity and life, digging into serious topics in a way that compels laughter, and occasionally, moms to give me a hug. My humor is like the ocean: deep, dark, and salty. Basically, if you have mommy or daddy issues, my comedy is for you.
I’m most proud of myself for being able to do this year after year. The first time I had to do public speaking was in a high school class. It caused me to have a panic attack so bad that the teacher told me if I just stood up and said a single word, I could get a B-. Of course, I cried harder because I didn’t want to go home with a B-. Despite that early fear, I now crave being on stage and the feeling of making a crowd erupt in laughter.
What sets me apart is that my comedy takes the audience on a journey, it gets really sad at times but it’s also really funny. My favorite moments are when people come up to me after shows, talking about how they related to my experiences and how good it was to laugh about it. I have had someone describe my comedy as “brave,” and I know it isn’t the normal description of comedy but my style is all my own.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future are to travel more and try to perform in front of as many different audiences as possible. Early next year, I’m going to Atlanta for the first time for the West End Comedy Festival. I’ve only heard great things about Atlanta so I’m really excited about checking out the city and its comedy scene. I do have some exciting projects coming up and really fun shows, so be sure to follow me on social and keep an eye on my website for updates!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dhongcomedy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dhongcomedy/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dhongcomedy
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@dhongcomedy
Image Credits
Personal photo – Andrew Max Levy (@justoffthesix) Cobbs stage2 – Jim McCambridge (@jimmccambridge) Diana_Kayla – Linden Reid (@outofmanna_) Golf pic – Greg Sempadian Family pic, Vegas hike
