Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Murphy.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jen. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started to stand up comedy at the age of 30 while living in New York City. I had moved to NY by myself when I was 22 to pursue Theatre acting. After many years of doing small off-broadway productions and years of improv, sketch and acting classes, I had an acting teacher who kept pushing me to do stand up. I was a pretty shy introverted person so I did not believe I could ever stand on the stage by myself telling personal stories and events that I wrote myself… but he kept pushing and after he told me that anytime I act out a dramatic scene it makes him want to laugh, I decided to give it a shot. My teacher was good friends with Colin Quinn and brought him into the studio as a favor. So, me and five other students did our first ever 3 minutes of stand up in a classroom in front of Colin Quinn.
After that my first real show was at Stand Up NY. I loved it and I have been doing stand up ever since. After 14 years of waitressing in NY and L.A., I am a full-time performer now which is really an amazing accomplishment. I, of course, want to be doing so much more with my career but I am grateful for what I have, so far. I have also done three military tours to entertain the troops in Afghanistan, Egypt, Kuwait, and Greece.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Stand up comedy is definitely not a smooth road, especially for a person who suffers from paralyzing fear. In high-pressure situations, I sometimes get completely numb hands or shortness of breath.
It is also a very tough business to make money in so I have had to go way out of my comfort zone of aggressive and assertiveness. All of these challenges only help me become a better performer though. I have been forced to speak up for what I want and since I am my own business, it requires me to fight for myself on a constant basis.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
My work is being a stand-up comedian. I specialize in telling true stories of my life and making them funny. I am most proud of how many people I have made laugh and especially when they tell me how much they really needed it!
What sets me apart from others is how I can personally relate to a lot of people in the crowd. Men and women.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I have had a lot of fellow comedians who have been very supportive and helpful. My family has always been extremely supportive and come to my shows, even though they worry greatly about my financial instability.
Contact Info:
- Website: jenmurphylive.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @jenmurphycomedy
- Twitter: @jenmurphycomedy
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