Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlie James.
Hi Charlie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Originally from San Diego, I moved to Chicago to get funnier, then back to the West Coast once I’d secured a B.A. in Comedy Writing and performance and a few years of experience doing improv and sketch at Second City and iO.
My career really took off when I started posting on TikTok during the pandemic since we were all forced to put live comedy on hold. I post characters, sketches, improvised bits, and standup-up videos. It’s been a great way to reach a massive audience, one that wouldn’t necessarily find me at a local comedy show.
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?
It’s been an interesting road, financially. I lived in a van for part of the pandemic. I would have done that anyway, but it coincided nicely with everyone losing work to quarantine. You have to get creative when you’re trying to stretch what little money from comedy, at least while you’re starting out.
It’s a weird time to be a transgender comedian. Lots of cis comedians have a “take” on my community, which is pretty bizarre. When I talk about being trans onstage, I get labeled a “niche” comedian, but when everyone else does it they’re just commenting on society’s current obsession. I can’t imagine making jokes about a minority group I’m not a part of. Still, I’ve built a really great community of queer fans of my work, both on TikTok and in person. They like my jokes and relate to them; I’m really grateful for that.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m probably best known for the comedy videos I post on TikTok, but most of what I do is live performances. I host a monthly(ish) variety show in WeHo, Second Rodeo, which has everything from standup to characters to sketch to improvised rap. It’s loosely cowboy themed and there are free drinks provided by SoHo Works, so the audience really gets their money’s worth. When I’m not yeeing haw in West Hollywood, I’m around town performing characters and standup at whichever shows will have me.
During the day, I work at Funny Or Die as an editor, primarily working on their live show. I also tweet for the Field Museum in Chicago from the perspective of their 64 million years old T. rex skeleton. But that’s a secret, so don’t tell. 😉
I’m one half of the two-man traveling comedy duo Merit Badge. My dear friend of ten years, Christopher George, is the other half. Even though he’s based out in Chicago, we find ourselves performing together a few times a year. We’ve been all over the globe, from Alaska to Detroit. If you have a local improv comedy festival, you’ll surely find us there sampling whatever novelty donuts or weird beer your city has to offer.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I read a lot, mainly to seem smart and hot. There isn’t one book in particular that has changed my work, but I try and alternate between reading nonfiction and “humor.” Did you know when comedy is written in prose they call it “humor?” How pretentious is that? Basically, I’m alternating between reading about Watergate and embarrassing personal narratives. Really keeps my brain on its toes.
Contact Info:
- Website: charliejamescomedy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nonbinarycowboy/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/nonbinarycowboy
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@nonbinarycowboy
