Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Kashian.
Hi Jackie, 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?
I’m a standup comic. So I’m on the road a lot but I live in Van Nuys. I moved here in 1997 to see if anyone in “showbiz” cared… so far everyone has been very nice and I have gotten some in town work and, of course, am always looking for more. Voice Over, Acting, writing. It’s fun.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Well. It’s showbiz so the struggle is just being noticed, keeping your chops up and not getting mad that it isn’t instantaneous – or even ever. You have to do the work that so many people in Los Angeles do, genuinely, because you want to do it. Not for the money or recognition. For that way lays madness – heh. And, even worse for those around you, bitterness. Just remember to like it. And, when you stop liking it… stop doing it. It’s not like anyone HAS to be in showbusiness.
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?
Standup comedy is what I’m most known for. I have a couple of podcasts and I have done other work, but standup is what I am, creatively, a lot. I love finding the jokes in stuff that can be scary or annoying about humanity and life. Pulling the teeth out of hard family times, hard societal times or even weird triumphs and privileges because of my birth and life choices makes all audiences think they’re not alone, they’re not the worst people. They aren’t even the best people. Standup, for me, is about perspective, and showing how I’ve learned to laugh at myself from other people’s perspectives can let other people see how their own perspective is hilarious too. And I know I’m getting better at it, so there’s a reason to keep going. Many comics just stop writing or rest of the past successes and that’s a trap I work to not fall into… each and every day.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I like being home. I like working from home. Don’t get me wrong, I love the road for the audiences… but the time away from my husband and dog and Los Angeles are making me rethink what I can do to make money and stay home. I love my husband and friends. I love LA. I love California. I knew I did before but the slowing down and lateral thinking – keeping us living indoors when my income dried up and my husband was teaching game-design online – makes me want less travel. I’m still willing to do it, but I have to want to go to the place. I can do standup anywhere. And standup in LA is pretty great.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.jackiekashian.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackiekashian
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JackieKashianJokesmith
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jackiekashian
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheDorkForest
- Other: http://tdf.jackiekashian.com/
