Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnny.
Hi Johnny , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was an accounting major in college. I was a senior with a high GPA, all set to work a corporate job. Then, one evening, I was at the cafeteria at my college, late, and I saw a stand-up comedian on TV and, having no theater training or performing background, decided that’s what I wanted to do. At first it seemed ridiculous but it stuck in my head for weeks. About a month later I dropped out, moved to LA, got into an improv group and then a sketch comedy group, which fell apart and so I finally just went for stand-up comedy. I did open mics for a while, then got a job answering phones at The Comedy Store and eventually showcased and got passed by Mitzi Shore, herself. which lead to me touring as Pauly Shore’s opening act on his Coconut Time Tour. I eventually started touring, on my own, doing colleges. I did that for about a decade, along with clubs in LA. Now, I work clubs, cruise ships, corporate events and I recently completed my twenty-first tour, overseas performing for our troops.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not sure there is anything smooth about a career in stand-up comedy. I was fortunate, in a way, in that, years ago a club booker that I sent my demo to, called me and told me he liked most of my act but he said he wouldn’t book me because I cursed too much and he said I didn’t need to and I shouldn’t. I didn’t think I cursed hardly at all, always considered myself a clean act, compared to most. Then I watched my demo and realized I was cursing a LOT, way more than I realized. So decided to see if I could work G-rated. Not even PG. It took me about six months to eliminate any language or innuendo and then it felt actually, natural to just work clean. Then, as fate would have it, a college agent (the biggest one in the business at the time) happened to see me performing at a small bar show and asked if my whole act was clean, I told him it was. He said I would be perfect for colleges. Within a few months, I was performing at colleges and didn’t have to work a side job, anymore. This chance opportunity would not have been possible if I had not had that call from that booker and decided to work clean. As, you have to work clean to perform at colleges.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a stand-up comedian. I talk mostly about myself, my life, I’m not a topical comedian or political. I like silly comedy. One time my dad came to see my set and said I should try to be more the person I am off stage ON stage. Not sure when that exactly happened, but it finally did, just through being on stage a lot. I think what I do best is really just be IN the moment. My goal is always to just remind myself to HAVE FUN on stage because if I am, then the audience (usually) is.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Steve Martin’s book “Born Standing-Up” is my favorite book about stand-up comedy, as he was one of my idols. I cannot say it influenced me as I was pretty far along by the time it came out, but it did make me realize that even a guy as huge as him, had (lets say) bad sets, on occasion. Which seemed amazing to me, as he seemed like someone that would never happen to. Oddly, I listen to mostly podcasts about history, sports, music. Not, really comedy podcasts. I feel lucky, in the fact, I have a wide variety of interests and I actually think that helps my comedy, as I can draw on things to talk about. For instance, I’m basically a Beatles scholar, having read many books on them and knowing their entire catalogue, if I do jokes about the Beatles, I actually know what I am talking about, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.johnnycardinale.com
- Instagram: @johnnycardinale
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnnycardinale/
- Twitter: @johnnycardinale
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnnyCardinale
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/johnnycardinale
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnnycardinale
