Meet Peet Guercio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Peet Guercio.

Peet, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always derived joy from making other people happy. Mom said I would grow up to be a game show host or a gigolo – and I’ve already hosted two game shows.

There were no comedy clubs that welcomed eight-year-olds in Chicago, so I settled for disrupting third grade by doing Dana Carvey’s Ross Perot impression during class. In college, somehow I got off track and became the frontman in two rock bands.

After realizing I was enjoying the moments in between songs joking around with the audience more than the actual singing, I decided to dive into standup. Since then I’ve done hundreds of shows from broken microphones in empty pizza joints to 3000-seat theaters and everything in between.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When I say everything in between, I mean it. I once did a show in a basement roughly the dimensions of a king size bed where the brightest light was a 60 inch TV playing The Big Lebowski.

Did I drive two hours to perform for eight drunk townies while the microphone cuts in and out every few seconds because it’s being held together by scotch tape from Dollar Tree’s discount offshoot, A Few Quarters And It’s Yours? Sure! I was once hired to do a show on a military base, which might’ve gone better if anyone in the audience was told there would be a comedian performing.

Did I say audience? I meant kindly older office workers facing away from me, trying to enjoy their holiday party while I babbled on about Facebook and my childhood dog. At least the stage area (The six square feet in front of the DJ booth) was much darker than the seating section so they couldn’t see me very well.

This is not to say that I don’t love every minute of it. I get to make people laugh for money. It’s a hell of a scam.

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
A lot of comedians are funny as a reaction to pain, awkwardness, embarrassment, or tragedy – I’m fortunate enough that my best material comes from a place of excitement and enthusiasm. I’m not in comedy to make myself feel better, I’m in it to share how good I already feel with you.

I perform every Friday night at Bar Lubitsch at my very own show, Jetpack Comedy. I hand pick six comedians each week to perform so that I can introduce audiences to interesting, smart weirdo comics who they may not see anywhere else. And it’s free. I’ve been hosting a live game show for the last year or so and I’m currently shopping a TV project I created around to networks.

What role has luck (good luck or bad luck) played in your life and business?
I wanna say…… 96%. I was born to loving, supportive parents and was never cold or hungry. We did fine but weren’t rich, so I dodged the bullet of being an entitled shithead.

I played virtually no part in the luck of getting to grow up into an educated, close-knit family who encouraged me to be who I wanted to be and taught me to be compassionate and caring towards others. I’ve always considered myself lucky, but as I grow older and my perspective becomes slightly more worldly, I appreciate even more deeply how fortunate I was to be dealt with these cards when I was born.

Of course I’ve worked hard. Of course I’ve struggled. But I want to. It’s good for you. I sleep in a warm bed and have plenty of food and family and friends who love me. I make money from connecting with people through laughter. If that isn’t luck, I don’t know what is.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.peetguercio.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peetguercio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peetguercio/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/peetguercio/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jetpack-comedy-los-angeles

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.