Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Clark.
Hi Kimberly, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I came to LA about 2 years after graduating from Arizona State University as a Broadcast Journalism major and English lit minor. I knew I wanted to be a writer and get into TV and film, but more on the entertainment side, not news. In college, I was part of a spoken word poetry group called A Luta.
Most of the members were pretty serious and political, but all of my poems ironically came out funny. I feel like this was the first inkling that I had a gift for humor especially given the fact that I was able to make complete strangers laugh — I was already doing this with friends and family for years! Still, I never put 2 and 2 together.
At certain points in the first couple of years of living in LA, I was working several part-time jobs to pay my bills.
I worked in a baggage service office for an airline at LAX, CBS Television City as a security guard/page, and at The Laugh Factory office and a comedy club. It was at The Laugh Factory where the comedy bug bit me. I was exposed to everyone great in comedy during my time there, I’m talking Paul Mooney, and Rodney Dangerfield just to name drop a few. I watched back-to-back shows while I worked there.
I saw the comics kill and bomb it was Stand up 101 for me. It wasn’t until I left the Laugh Factory that I started going up at open mics. I did open mics and consistently worked on regular jobs, at this point I was able to whittle it down to one full-time job and when I would get off from work I would hit the mics religiously.
It was only a matter of time before I started getting booked on shows and those bookings turned into showcases and those showcases led to me getting into festivals and making TV appearances. It was a grind. A slow and steady rise. It’s so cool when it happens that way.
Looking back on it I learned so much and had so much fun during the process, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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?
It wasn’t a smooth road at all and I’m very grateful for that.
Especially in comedy, you have to have tough skin. I joke about working in a baggage service office for an airline, that’s a place where no one comes in happy because they’re in there because their bags are lost, talk about having to have thick skin when you have a customer service job where people are coming in the door pissed!
I feel like being at jobs just for the paychecks was the most “soul-sucking” part of the journey, but at the same time having those jobs motivated me to hit the open mics and do shows after working 8 to 10 hour days, because honestly, that was “playtime” for me.
One day I’m going to sit down and write down every place I’ve worked. I feel like I’ve worked in all four corners of LA lol
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a comedian and writer. I’m proud of the fact that I worked hard for what I have, no one can really say anything was handed to me if you study my history.
I love to stand up because it allows me to amplify all the unique things about me. I really don’t like the “what sets you apart from others” question because we are all unique designs, but everyone doesn’t have the courage to lean into who they are and expose it in their art.
People tell me I have a very distinct voice, but honestly, I have only just begun to really “lean into” Kimberly Clark, if you will. I’m really excited to get deeper and of course funnier.
Any big plans?
I am rubbing my hands together right now like Gargamel, just scheming and plotting. I have a lot of things I’m working on quietly.
I rather show you than tell you. But what I can say is that I’m looking forward to putting together a comedy album at some point. I’m definitely working on new jokes.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: KimberlyClarkComedy.com
- Instagram: @KimberlyClarkComedy
- Twitter: ClarkKimberlyL
Image Credits
Greg Feiner, Icons Only, and Elysian Theater
