Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon Simon.
Hi Sharon, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up acting. As a child, I auditioned and was on Saturday Night Live. When I graduated college, I moved out to LA with stars in my eyes, hoping I would make it big. I quickly learned that there was nothing special about my acting abilities.
Being tired of working hard as a waitress, and not getting the acting jobs I was there for, I gave up. I moved back to NYC and started taking classes in business. I knew I wasn’t happy but I didn’t want to struggle my whole life.
When 9/11 happened, I couldn’t deny my dissatisfaction with life. I thought about all of the people who died doing jobs they didn’t like. I realized that although I wasn’t a gifted actor, I did have a gift for making people laugh.
So I tried to stand up, I wrote a set of jokes practiced them, and got myself on a show, and I was TERRIBLE. My mom encouraged me to give it another shot. This time I showed up without a setlist. I was off the cuff, had fun, and knew this was what I was meant to do.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When people say to me, “I am thinking of trying to stand up” my answer is usually “if you have to think about it, don’t” I love comedy and love my life. But it is rough. As I write this, I am on a seventeen-hour train ride, and I am just glad I’m not driving today.
There have been so many times I wanted to give up… Sleeping in dirty hotels, being away from my family, showing up to a gig to learn it’s been canceled, harassment, backstabbing, and driving for days, I was booed off stage at amateur night at the Apollo.
But it always comes back to love. I love this! I get to go to beautiful places like Savannah and spend my time bringing laughter and joy, helping people feel better about our world and our differences, seeing new places, and making new friends!
When I experience pain and disappointment, even grief, I am able to use these experiences to help others laugh about their pain. What could be better…
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I perform stand-up comedy all over the country with one major goal, to show the audience the time of their lives! Watch out because I will be performing at The Savannah Comedy Review on February 11, 2023.
Stand-up is meant to be seen live because, in my opinion, when it is at its best it combines well-crafted jokes with improv and crowd work that can never be repeated.
As it is only geared toward what is happening at that very moment. The audience and I are having an experience together. We show up as comics and crowd and leave as family.
What sets me apart from others is that I am able to do this for everyone, everywhere! No two crowds are alike and neither are any two shows.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Social media has changed comedy. I use it because we all should, but it has created unrealistic expectations. A brand new comic with a viral thirty-second video may fill seats, but can’t sustain a show.
So I have learned, that I also have to create these short videos here and there. I spent the shutdown learning Adobe Rush. Now, I can post videos of stand-up, and my podcast The Prime-Time Directive on YouTube.
As well as a sketch here and there. It’s tons of fun! I love creating with other artists and interviewing people. But really there is nothing quite like headlining a show and working a crowd.
Contact Info:
- Website: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simon_sayslaugh/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/pg/sharonsimoncomedy/posts/
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/iamsharonsimon
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCIuYmHKAIFAHoWBWeUpA6Uw
- Other: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/simon-says-laugh-19988009462
Image Credits
Photojuice Eye Candy
