Meet Trailblazer Shawn Pelofsky

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawn Pelofsky.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I will never forget growing up Jewish in Oklahoma. Wait. I can hear you saying, “There are Jews in Oklahoma?!” Yes. There were ten and six of them were my family members. Okay, so I may have exaggerated a little, but let’s just say there weren’t many of us. Both of my parents were born and raised in Brooklyn, however, my father attended Oklahoma University Medical School and then shortly after, established himself as a well-respected neurosurgeon with a flourishing practice.

Everyone in my family had a great sense of humor. Since I was a child, I always had a hunger to be in the spotlight. I’ll never forget the time in second grade when I played The Wicked Witch of the West in “The Wizard of Oz'”school play. I was so excited, that I melted before Dorothy threw the water on me. I vividly remember the audience laughing and you know what? I LOVED it. From then on, I grew up studying SNL greats like Steve Martin, Gilda Radner, and Eddie Murphy. I was fascinated with impressionists and people who could do characters. Then, came the greatest inspiration of all time: The Divine Miss M, Bette Midler. She was a tour de force. Nothing like I had ever seen. Brash, brazen and bawdy. I wanted to be her so bad, Unfortunately, I will never have that singing voice. Hell, I can’t even carry a tune. I do know one thing though, she lit a fire in me that to this day still burns. I saw her drive and I knew one day, I too, would entertain a mass audience, just without the tear-jerking rendition of “The Wind Beneath My Wings.”

I was very active in high school plays and always played the comedic role. From there I attended the USC School of Drama (and yes, I got in legitimately). I joined an improvisational group called “Commedus Interruptus” that performed every Friday on the lawn in front of the main library. Also while attending USC, I took improv and sketch classes at the famous school, The Groundlings. Many comedy personalities and SNL greats had come from there. My dream was to be on SNL, so I figured this was the perfect place. Even the great Will Ferrell was in my class, however at the time, he was just a bank teller. Unlike the great Will Ferrell, I struggled because I was 18 years old with doe-eyes and really thin skin. It was hard work and sometimes, I left class crying because I felt inept compared to the other talented people. I finally stopped second guessing myself when I graduated from college and joined ACME sketch company. Unfortunately, they didn’t draw the same crowds as their competitors, The Groundlings. I knew there had to be something more and decided to take a stand-up class with the great, Judy Carter. Stand-up was different because you weren’t in a group performing, it was just you and your stripped soul up there. A showcase for one and I liked it.

After doing stand-up for less than two years, I was fortunate enough to showcase in front of the legendary owner of The Comedy Store, Mitzi Shore. I will never forget the night she passed me and made me a regular. As soon as I was done, she called me over to her where she sat in the back of the room, grabbed my hand like the Godfather and said “You’re funny. Barbra. Call in for spots on Monday.” Now, Barbra wasn’t my name, but she always referred to me as Barbra because I did a Streisand impression. What else am I supposed to do with this nose of mine? She immediately threw me into the trenches of The Comedy Store and that has been my home club ever since. We are one big dysfunctional family full of comics. Let’s just say, because of Mitzi Shore, I am the comic I am today.

I started to see my career change. I was suddenly performing at corporate gigs, comedy festivals, temples and the most exciting call of them all, an opportunity to entertain our US military overseas. After the tragedy of 9/11, I was the first female comedian sent over to Afghanistan to entertain our troops. It was life-changing. I spent many years entertaining our troops in places like Bahrain, Bosnia, Kosovo, Djibouti, Japan, Korea, Germany, Spain and yes, even Guantanamo Bay. I have seen it all and it has given me such a profound respect for the brave men and women who serve to protect our freedoms.

Meanwhile, I was still working day jobs to keep me going and then a light clicked on. In order for me to do comedy full time and make money, I needed to grow my following. I looked around me and realized since I was I kid, I always surrounded myself with gay men. That was it. Looking back at all my comedy idols: Margaret Cho, Joan Rivers, Bette Midler; what did they all have in common? A gay following. Literally, the following week, I got myself booked on an Atlantis gay cruise. which is an event group that focuses on providing cruises and land resorts exclusively for the LGBTQ community. Before I knew it, there I was on a giant boat at sea with 3,000 gay men in nuthuggers. I could find a Jew in Nascar faster than I could get laid on that ship.

Now, after 20 years of blood, sweat, and tears, I am a professional stand-up comedian with a large LGBTQ following. I get paid to work all over the world and yet, the hustle never ends. I am proud to say I have my first one-hour comedy special: Stretch it Out! Now available on Amazon and iTunes.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Smooth road? What’s that? As a woman in this world, you will ALWAYS be challenged. As a woman in comedy, the challenge is tenfold. The odds are against you. I don’t care if people believe in 2019 that we, as a society, have come so far and progressed. Yes, you may see some more female comedians in the limelight, but we still have a very long way to go, In comedy, you have to work hard. As a woman in comedy, for some reason, you have to work harder, It’s a boys club, but if you’re strong enough and confident enough, you will break through. Never give up. Oh, and a little Botox never hurts either.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about your business – what should we know?
I am an ally and advocate of the LGBTQ community. I will champion this community until the day I die. Fortunately, I look at my work as a comedian as a service. If you look around this world, there is a heaviness upon all of us. The everyday pressures of life alone can break a person. My job is to bring joy to other people’s lives. No matter how bad your day was, I’m hoping just for that one moment, you can escape with me and laugh. If I can do that, then my service has paid off.

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
If it’s a stand-up comedy career you want to pursue, commit to whatever you are saying, even if it’s new material. If you sell it, the audience will be on board with you, no matter what. Never let them see you sweat. Own that stage. Show everyone that women are powerful. Don’t listen to the haters or the trolls. You are brave for putting yourself out there in front of people and ALWAYS keep creating for yourself. No one will hustle for you like you will for yourself. Some of my best roles in TV and film, I got myself. It wasn’t an agent or a manager, it was me. Also, it is very important to keep getting up, no matter how small the room is, You will be a better comic the more you practice.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hahachick.com
• Instagram: @shawnpelofsky
• Facebook: Shawn Pelofsky Comedy
• Twitter: @shawnpelofsky

Image Credit:
Jessica Sherman Photography, Bidkar Ramos, Paul Boulon, Azul DelGrasso

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