Daily Inspiration: Meet Robbie Peron

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robbie Peron

Hi Robbie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Robbie Peron, I started in stand up comedy professionally at 16 years old. From High school class clown to the stage at the Comedy Store. It was a journey that allowed me to meet & perform with comedians who are now stars & former comedy legends. In 1990 I relocated to Los Angeles and started my adult journey, landing small parts in TV and film. When DEF Comedy Jam hit, I wanted to grace the stage. Unfortunately that didn’t happen, but Comicview showcased me on air three times. I later got the opportunity through Bob Sumner & Tina Graham to showcase for network for the next 3 incarnations of DEF COMEDY JAM. And again through Bob Sumner to open for on a leg of the DEF COMEDY JAM tour, at the Universal Amphitheater.
My popularity hit when I was the host of the open MIC night on Monday’s at The Comedy Store in Hollywood. Which was like the Apollo in L.A. Many celebrities would come in to laugh and heckle the comedians. I was a favorite on stage so connecting with Actors & singers was a natural fit. I would later became a paid regular at the Comedy Store. One of our regular attendees, started a huge fight. Which we still call “The big Tupac riot of 92″, at the Comedy Store, in which created a all out brawl. Everything from chairs flying, hair pulling and two windows of a sheriff’s car, being shot out. Eddie Griffin was the headliner as usual. We had to close down the night for two weeks. There is much more to this story, but not enough time to tell it & the celebrities there that night. When stage time slowed down at the Comedy Store, I got approved by Mitzi Shore to start my own comedy night in the Belly room of the comedy store. 1st it was Tuesdays for a year then, Saturdays at 10:30pm for a year & a half. After which then I started touring around the country and the blessing of performing for military shows abroad, in Europe, Asia, the pacific islands & Canada . Years later I got married & really slowed down performing to be home with my wife & young child. At this time still yearning for the stage, the desire to get back to performing became stronger. And i couldn’t feel comfortable working a regular job. So I again opened my own comedy room at the Comedy Store, then later at different venues around los Angeles. Now forward to 10 years ago, I saw the lack of black owned comedy clubs,and with the closing of three black comedy clubs, The Comedy Union (Ennis Mitchell), Mixed Nuts comedy club (Bene Benweike) and the Famous Comedy Act Theater (Michael Williams). So in 2015 I started again a room off Washington & 10th ave and my good friend comedian Shang made me Change the original name, I had chosen for the flyer. His choice & suggestion well demanding haha..that I call my shows ” 50 shades of funny” a successful year at the location. I moved my show to the Cinemark movie theater n Culver City. Yes live Comedy at a movie theater in Culver City. For 2 years we were fun & packed. Then Covid hit! With mask mandates, my 200 seats withered to 100, months later with the vaccination cards, we shrank to a attendance of 55. By then the cost for me was more than the financial return. Most comedians who graced my stage loved the element of a movie theater as the backdrop to perform. It was like being in concert! So after my last show in February 2023, I relocated to Inglewood, to a bar lounge called “Lavender Blue”. This venue is blacked owned and right on Manchester. The perfect small intimate venue, with good food & free parking. After one show, I had to stop at this location. Nothing wrong with the location or circumstances, it was just the owners were traveling abroad for family and they wouldn’t be back for a few months. My audience members would reach out to me and ask when am I going to bring my show back? We don’t have anything to do on Tuesday anymore, and that my show was a part of their monthly routine. So I requested a meeting at the Hollywood Park Casino, whrer years earlier, my friend Katt Williams, had his comedy show on Thursdays there & it was his sounding board before the movie “Friday after next”. Where he created some very funny jokes that he would showcase on his tours & comedy specials. So I thought that I would do the same, at the same location. So after a 5 month wait. I was allowed to bring my Old School Hip-Hop comedy show to the Hollywood Park Casino. I continued to promote the room by myself, using paper flyers & social media promotions to fill the room. What started as me calling my friend D.J. RonC to bring friends to bring their friends to support my Tuesday comedy show, became a fun Tuesday night gathering for a muture post DEF COMEDY JAM audience. From the start at Hollywood Park Casino it has been very successful, bringing black comedy to Inglewood. With the casinos management and staff along great food and free parking. My mature audience continue to fill the seats and the room with laughter! I’ve had special celebrity drop-ins and fantastic, hilarious sold-out shows. Each one getting better than the next. The goal has been to bring Hollywood to Inglewood, keeping Black Comedy in the neighborhood and community. With the growth & expansion of Inglewood this has been very rewarding to keep Urban Comedy without gentrification! Letting the residents of Inglewood enjoy a hour & 45 min show within a 3-5 minute drive. And to keep working veteran comedians sharpening their craft. All for a $20 cover & two drink minimum. Who would have thought that a 38 year journey, I would continue to promote, produce and perform. Doing what i love for the people i love. The blessings of this endeavor has been, my audience has seen DEF COMEDY JAM Allstars, Comicview Alumni, comedians seen on Netflix and in movies that have been on my stage. I’m grateful for my friendships with these very talented comedians. Who have shared their talent with my audience & working with me as a continued friend. Which has been the only way they’ve blessed my stage & audience with their brand of humor. With my 1st year anniversary at the Casino coming in January 2025. I’m hoping that I can continue to bring community & comedy together in one location for years to come. And I have and will continue to also expand the brand In Arizona, San Diego, Oakland, Dallas, Tx and Alabama.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a very bumpy road. Especially since I’m pouring my own money into my business. I get out and perform and bring back money to pour into my show, If one of my employees are late, I step up and handle their task till the get here. Dealing with performer cancellations at the last minute, comics running too much time. People trying to sneak in…hahah. security always catches them.

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 a working stand up comedian. I’ve been working on my craft since I was 16 years old professionally. My humor derives from not only my experiences, but life as a man now in his 50’s, trying to navigate through post divorce, rebuilding my life and career.

I am most proud of my son. As a single father, I made sure that I was a example to him. And he has followed some of my footsteps in travel and creativity.

What sets me apart from others. Is that my Faith in GOD, has been my driving force. I pray daily, for myself and for others.
my Social media pages may seem boring, because I post Inspirational posts & scriptures. I know people don’t like or comment on my page; or even look at times. I feel sometimes in this social media world we live in. With short attentten spans & overly sexualized questions on posts, scantily clad women and men posting Pics. I get discouraged that my numbers aren’t like others. But GOD has gotten me thorough the toughest times of my life. So I give him the Glory on my pages. Even when I post a pic of myself or selfie, no comments. But I persevere, If I can inspire one person to hold onto their Faith & believe that their dream will manifest. Then I’ve done one part of my job. The other part is bringing laughter to their hearts. Although my show isn’t a christian show. The lineup i put together is diverse, with clean and not so clean comedians that showcases not only their talent, but mine as well. I engage with my audience and almost know each memeber by name. Just a personal touch of who I am. It’s nice to take a picture with the host & promoter, but its also nice if they know your name and has a reserved seat for you too. I try. What sets me apart, is I try to be personable. They say nice guys finish last….well sometimes we do, but we have a trail of friends who support and encourage your business.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t really believe in Luck. I believe in God and Prayer. And its played a big part in my success, In life and in business.
At times when I don’t get the projected attendance or things go wrong during or before the show. As they always do. I take time to pray. And use the loss as a learning tool.

At times when everything goes right and it’s a win. I pray and give thanks with gratitude, because I know how far I’ve come & how much further I need to go. And that is in life and business.

Pricing:

• $20.00

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robbperon
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robbperon?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Image Credits
Mi, Mika Thomas photography