Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmyn Carter.
Jasmyn, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started comedy in 2012 as a senior at Maple Heights High School in Maple Heights, Ohio. I used to make these comedic comic strips with pictures of me doing something silly. In 2013, Vine came along and I started making sketches there and eventually on Instagram and YouTube. My videos weren’t really good until about late 2014 or early 2015. I was a sophomore in College at Kent State University. I would make about seven videos a day in my dorm room and would post a new video every single day. I would do collaboration videos with bigger Instagram stars at the time and my page was just growing. I could be seen on popular pages like World Star and Snoop Dogg’s Instagram page with HahaDavis. I eventually got 30 thousand followers on Instagram, which was a lot at that time, from doing sketches and I stopped to focus on doing stand up comedy. I was 20 years old at the time and a junior in college. I did my first stand up set at a place called Euro Gyro in Kent, Ohio on September 13, 2015. I knew at that moment that I found my calling.
I went from doing one set a week to two sets a week and eventually four sets a week. I would drive back and forth to Cleveland, an hour commute, everyday to go perform at spots all over Cleveland. I dropped out of college to focus more on Stand-Up Comedy. I won the Cleveland Comedy Festival in 2016, becoming the first woman, black woman, and youngest woman to win. I started performing at the Improv’s all over. Eventually, I got back into doing sketches on Instagram in 2017. I had three videos go viral with over a million views a piece. I would travel the country doing Improv’s, Laugh Factory’s, Funnybone’s, Comedy Zone’s all over. I’ve opened for legends such as Tommy Davidson, John Witherspoon, Donnell Rawlings, just to name a few. I was making a living of Stand Up Comedy. In July 2018, I decided to pack all my things and move to Los Angeles, California to pursue my dreams as a Stand Up Comedian and actor. In a years time of moving to LA. I’ve met so many great people. I’ve opened for and been on the same shows as phenomenal Comedians. I’ve had brain surgery for a condition known as Chiari Malformation. I’ve done background work for a TV show. I’ve also had some notable auditions. I’m excited to see what the future holds for me.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. I’ve been broke. I’ve been in-between jobs not knowing where my next check was going to come from. I’ve been arrested, spent a night in jail. I’ve had cars break down. I’ve slept on couches. I’ve traveled hours just to do 5 minutes of stand up for free in hopes of getting a paid spot eventually, just for the place to get closed down. I’ve bombed a 5 out of 6 shows for a weekend at the Cleveland Improv. I’ve been boo’d once by one person and lost my temper on the person. I’ve been in and out of relationships and lost friendships because of comedy. Do I regret anything? No. If I could change one thing would I? Absolutely not.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m a Stand Up Comedian and actor. I perform jokes and I also write direct film, edit, and star in my own sketches. I’m mostly proud of being able to do sketches well and perform Stand Up well too. People who do sketches, or started off doing sketches are looked down upon sometimes. Some people, even our followers, don’t think people who do sketches are funny on stage or don’t respect Stand Up Comedy as an art form. I am talented enough to be great at both. I’m proud to say that I am funny on and off stage. I’m proud that I am able to deliver a unique style of comedy on and off the internet. I’m proud to have gotten over 100k followers on Instagram practically alone. I’m proud that I can play any and every character I want without any issues.
What sets me apart from others is my work ethic. I’m always writing; I’m always filming. I am one of few on Instagram that plays different characters. My characters are so dynamic people tell me all the time that they feel like they’re watching a different person. The characters I play are believable. The sketches I write are original and hilarious. The jokes I tell are true to me. I’m not a specific type of Stand Up Comedian. I tell short jokes, I tell stories, I talk about everything and anything. Nothing is off limits for me as a Comedian.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success as being happy in what you want to do and achieving the goals you set out for yourself. I don’t believe success has to be having a lot of money or fame or expensive things. Success is what you make it. If you want to be a teacher to kindergarten kids and you achieve that then you are successful in what you set out to do.
Success is nothing without happiness. You have to make sure mentally you are in the right capacity to achieve and receive success. If you planned on being a kindergarten teacher and you become that but you aren’t happy, then you are unsuccessful.
Success starts from within. Mentally, spiritually, you have to believe in and achieve success in those places before it can be achieved outward.
I’m going to be Legendary in everything that I do. I believe that. It is written for me. I will be successful at that. I have to make sure I’m mentally, and spiritually ready for that. I have to make sure I’m happy within. If not. I could ruin and not be able to enjoy my success.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__jasmyn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JasDaddyVideos/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/KissMyJas
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/jasmyncarter
Image Credit:
Ebony Toliver, Ernest Harris, Alice Hamilton, Valerie Garrett
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