Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryan Ross.
Hi Bryan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Started my journey into stand-up comedy the day I decided to not be afraid to try it. Numerous people encouraged me to do it, but I was afraid of getting booed off the stage. For my 35th birthday, I wanted to do something crazy and decided that doing stand-up comedy and inviting family and friends to watch me on stage would be fun. Having no idea where to begin, I found a community college with a stand-up comedy class. The validation that came from there allowed me to take on the challenge that was stand-up comedy. The timing of my first show was perfect as it happened to be on my birthday at one of Los Angeles’s largest comedy clubs. My gift to myself was a performance at the Hollywood Main Stage of the World Famous Comedy Store on May 18th, 2016. My fear was finally conquered and I achieved my goal! Unfortunately, I fell flat on my face. My performance was terrible! There were no laughs. It was worse than being booed off the stage. That moment had something special about it. Having just experienced my first stand-up performance, I was energized and ready to try my next one. My stand-up career is entering an exciting phase and reaching a career highlight. In August 2023, I will perform stand-up comedy at the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival, one of the world’s largest arts festivals held in the United Kingdom. The journey from face-planting at the World Famous Comedy Store seven years ago to making my mark at the upcoming Edinburgh Fringe Festival is a testament to believing in yourself and never giving up.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
A stand-up comedian’s journey is not an easy one. Every time you take the stage, you put yourself at risk of ridicule. Your voice, appearance, perspective, and writing style are constantly being judged. Anything you bring up on stage is fair game for judgment. You want to perform well every time, but that isn’t always the case. As you deal with having bad performances more often than not, you watch yourself improve little by little. Also, finding quality open mics to develop your craft can be challenging. It is important to find an audience with a lot of energy. In order to gain experience as an up-and-coming comedian, you will want to perform at open mics without having to pay a cover fee. It can be expensive to attend multiple open mics a day. Sometimes you have to prioritize, “Do I work on my bit or do I grab a bite?” As tempting as it is, you should hone your skills rather than stopping altogether. During your time on the circuit, you have to book shows, and most shows require you to bring a certain number of guests. Mom will only listen to her baby tell that one joke about how she didn’t get you that one toy you wanted for Christmas so many times.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a high school student, I was encouraged to do stand-up by my history teacher Mr. Meeno Peluce, but I was afraid. He offered to create an audition tape for me and send it to some industry contacts. I credit my former instructor Barry Weisenberg for giving me the confidence to start comedy when I was in his stand-up class. My thanks go to Vargus Mason who gave me a chance on his Comedy Store show based on a recommendation. I am still invited to perform at his shows and receive support from him even today. I am grateful for my mother’s encouragement to go after my dreams regardless of obstacles. I live by and have personally experienced the quote, “You won’t know what you’re capable of unless you try.”
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Everyone who has ever encouraged me to pursue comedy and those who have created situations that I can pull comedy out from.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bryanross.net
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/rosstownacademy?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosstownacademy
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-ross-180189112/
- Twitter: @rosstownacademy
Image Credits
Sheldon Botler Photography
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