Life & Work with Blake Bartee of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Blake Bartee.

Hi Blake, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I always knew I was going to be a stand-up comedian. It was the only thing I truly wanted to do as a kid, and because it meant so much to me, I was terrified to fail at it. So I pursued a career, collected life experience, and kept putting comedy on the back burner even though I knew I would eventually have to face it.

Comedy had been part of me since childhood. My family moved around frequently, and I was often the new kid at school. Humor became both a way to protect myself and a way to connect with people. In high school, I became a DJ and breakdancer. Later, I joined the U.S. Air Force as a medic and continued working in the medical field. What seemed like detours gave me stories, perspective, and an understanding of people I couldn’t have gained from comedy alone.

A cancer scare made me think seriously about what I would regret if I never tried. Eventually, the fear of never trying became greater than the fear of failing. Once I stepped onstage, I knew I was exactly where I belonged. Since then, my comedy has reached millions of people through social media, and my special, You’ll Thank Me Later, is available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and other platforms. More people are discovering my work, and the momentum continues to build.

Today, I’m also a husband and the father of a seven-month-old baby boy. My road to comedy wasn’t the shortest one, but it gave me a voice, perspective, and stage presence that are completely my own. Comedy was never a backup plan or a hobby. It was inevitable.

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?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. I know how to command a stage, but being great in front of an audience is only part of building a comedy career. Without a manager or agent, I handle my own bookings, social media, editing, marketing, and promotion. A strong set wins over the room; the work outside it helps bring the next audience in.

The challenge has been doing all of that consistently while creating new material and performing. I’ve built momentum by taking ownership of my career, and I know I’ll be ready when bigger opportunities come.

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?
My stand-up is high energy and built around funny stories told from my point of view. I don’t just tell an audience what happened I move around the stage, act out the people and moments in the story, and pull them into it with me. I’ve never been the comic who sits on a stool. That’s just not my style. I want the crowd engaged, surprised, and wondering where I’m going next.

There are a lot of great comedians, and I respect that each one has a style that’s entirely their own. What sets me apart is the way I combine storytelling with physical performance. I can turn a conversation into a whole scene and make the audience feel like they were there. When I’m onstage, I give them all of me. You’re going to remember my set.

What are your plans for the future?
My plan is to keep putting in the work and keep growing. I’ll continue sharing stand-up clips, sketches, and podcast content so people can get to know my comedy beyond the shows they see in person. I want to reach more audiences, perform in more cities, and build relationships with other comedians, bookers, and club owners along the way.

Being funny onstage matters, but so does how you carry yourself offstage. When someone books me, I want them to know I’ll show up on time, treat the staff well, deliver for the audience, and be someone they’re excited to bring back.

My goal is to become a household name in comedy. Every show, every piece of content, and every relationship is part of building toward that.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blake.bartee?stkn=enJscmpqOXY1enNr&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blakebartee?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@blakebarteecomedy?si=GqJ1lg8OrPcwCGL8
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@blakebartee?_r=1&_t=ZT-9A6LwSYhVPx