Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackson Banks.
Hi Jackson, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I discovered at a young age that comedy was the only way I could relate to other children. I soon started making comedy films and began doing stand-up at the age of 20. That was 11 painful years ago. Through luck and hard work, I was able to get a deal for a comedy special and land a job at the comedy store on Sunset. I now lead a double life as a filmmaker and stand-up that is over-extended but also a lot of fun.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a smooth road in the sense that stand-up started off nicely, and I had good sets in the beginning. If I had started out with bombs, I probably wouldn’t have stuck with it. I admire people with thicker skin than me. That being said, it has been a very long and bumpy road, and only after 11 years do things seem to be paying off. But those payoffs do feel worth it. Stand-up and filmmaking are both very difficult art forms. People do not naturally want to sit still and listen to another person talk. The universe does not naturally cooperate when you try to photograph it in a certain way. There is also a certain level of extreme poverty to be trudged through when you are chasing a dream. It takes a true, first-priority love of what you’re doing to get through it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a stand-up comedian and filmmaker. I’m known for being surreal but also having an edge. I’m probably most proud of my special because it’s the most work I’ve ever put into anything. Whether people appreciate the sweat/blood/vomit is yet to be seen. I’m set apart from others because I feel like an old soul who was dropped in the wrong decade. It’s not fun, but always interesting.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
The only thing that has worked well has been working hard and doing what I do. I’m not a natural networker, and people are generally weirded out by me until they decide they like what I do. You just have to hone your craft and the people that enjoy it will find it. Some people will hate it, but that’s the fun part.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.youtube.com/@campjacky1940
- Instagram: @campyjacky
