Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Varela.
Hi Samantha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started in 2008 interviewing comics for my college radio show. I went on to produce many live comedy shows, podcasts, productions and more under the name Naked Comedy over the next 12 years.
The origin of the name “Naked Comedy” is just copywrite infringement from Naked Juice. My tagline is “Bare Bones Comedy Done Right,” which to me means Naked Comedy is 100% getting the work done to support talent/performers and no fillers (middlemen.) So for the record, my shows are not nude comedy shows.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Accessibility, diversity & safety have always been very important to me as a producer. I advocate for wheelchair-accessible stages and theaters. I have always pushed low/free price points and a fair split of profits. I try to book a true mix of performers from many marginalized groups in direct opposition of primarily white performer lineups offered by mainstream theaters. And once COVID hit, I have insisted on continuing to require proof of vaccination and encourage masking. I started live streaming in 2020 when the lockdown hit, first on instagram live and now on Zoom. Having these standards has limited the venues and people I work with. But ultimately, I’m learning I’d rather keep my standards than produce shows I can’t 100% stand behind.
We’ve been impressed with Naked Comedy, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I have been producing comedy events largely by myself. I am a queer woman of color and I believe strongly in a mutual aid business model. I work hard to always pay my performers fairly and make sure they have a good experience on my shows. I love that my audience understands and appreciates the importance of my producing ethics. The comedy world is ripe with exploitation and abuse, and as a comedy fan, it is very important for me to create comedy spaces without those bad vibes.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Live comedy has always been a tough business where only the resilient survive. I want to thank each viewer and audience member that has supported my endeavors by donating and getting tickets. I am only able to keep doing shows because they validate my belief that people want good comedy they can feel good about supporting.
I hope I can continue to spread the word of my accessible live and livestreaming shows as far as possible. I know there are so many comedy fans who have been turned off by the traditional “comedy club” or “road comic” that I know would appreciate what I’m doing. Institutional change of mainstream comedy may never change but I hope I can keep growing my alternative comedy world.
To your readers, I hope you support live comedy from creators like myself that you feel good giving money to.
Contact Info:
- Website: NakedComedy.ORG
- Instagram: Instagram.com/NakedComedy
- Twitter: Twitter.com/Naked_Comedy
- Other: https://www.tumblr.com/nakedcomedy
