Jacky B is a Fort Lauderdale-based stand-up comedian who recently moved to NYC. Jacky discusses her life experiences including her crazy family, experience in sex and dating, and overall questionable morals. With her sweet looks and sarcastic style, she easily captivates audiences of all walks of life and shows that she can hold her own in a male dominated industry. She has opened for Myq Kaplan, Forrest Shaw, Matt Fulchiron, performed at the Fort Lauderdale Improv, West Palm Beach Improv, The Filmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater, Creek and the Cave, Comedy Central’s South Beach Comedy Festival and the 2015 Floridas Funniest Competition. Jacky is also known for running two very popular shows in South Florida at Gigi’s Music Cafe in Sunrise and American Rock Bar in Deerfield Beach. You’ll be sure to be laughing while Jacky’s…Just Kidding!

1) What motivated you to start doing stand-up comedy?

I always wanted to do standup. I had my own radio show and I like having my voice be heard.

2) If you could hang out with anyone alive or dead? Who would it be and why?

It would be Martin Luther King Jr., because I feel like he made a difference in the world. I would like to talk to him and learn how he made a difference.

3) Who are your favorite comedians to watch (locally and nationally)?

Local: Mike Atcherson; his creativity, he’s a good joke writer and the I like the type of jokes that he comes up with. Trey Maddox; he’s really funny and Jesse Thompson; I like the character that he has and he is very creative. National comics that I enjoy watching are Tig Notaro, because of her ability to turn pain into hilarity and Tom Segura as I find him to be relatable.

4) Why did you decide to move to NYC?

I always wanted to move here & for comedy.

5) Who would you want to play you in a movie?

Jillian Jacobs from Love, because she messed up a lot & she’s ok with it. Kind of like me.

6) How do you feel about women in comedy?

It’s great. Not enough of us. They put boundaries between sexes. There is a lot of camaraderie & support in the NYC scene. I also believe instead of having just women shows that all sexes should be able to perform together.

7) What is your advice to new comics?

Get on stage, write as much as possible, listen to your peers, don’t be cocky and either go all out or don’t commit at all.

8) What don’t you like about stand-up comedy?

The politics and cliquishness. Everyone is equal and deserves a fair shot. The ego; unless you are a comedian that’s fully making a living you shouldn’t judge other comics. No one is better or worse.

9) What is it about you that makes you awesome?

I messed up everything that I touched in life and I still survived and another thing that makes me really awesome is that outside of comedy I like cats and dogs.

10) Why should people check you out at a show at Gigi’s?

Awesome place, food is great, family owned & supportive community atmosphere where you can enjoy free comedy.

Manny Garavito is a self-made comedian in Miami. Most bookers look the other way before ever deciding to book him, but always look his way to get the best ideas. Has lived off comedy for over three years in a city where comedy isn’t as popular in comparison. Manny started Brickwall Sessions Comedy to practice balancing creativity and business and three years later manifested Miami Comedy; a central hub where comedy is accessible to both the audience and comedians with the process of affiliate marketing. One of the most influential comedians in the city. But no one will tell you that, so you heard it here first.

1) What motivated you to start doing stand-up comedy?

I always enjoyed watching stand-up comedy when I was young. I first started thinking of doing it when I was watching Bill Hicks. I liked him a lot and I started getting into NY comedy through cringehumor they were the people that ran “The Stand Comedy Club” and produced comedy shows all over New York.

2) If you could have any superpower what would it be and why?

To disrobe people by looking at them, because nobody would want to fight you when they are butt naked.

3) What type of comedians do you enjoy watching (locally and nationally)?

Local: John Vargas, he’s standup comedy. He goes up and has it all figured out. He’s consistent. Phatchopz, he just doesn’t care and is great at roasting. Fasil, because he’s super awkward and I enjoy seeing how he handles it on stage. Bill Burr, Eddie Murphy, Sebastian Maniscalco, Kirk Fox, Rich Hall and Todd Rexx.

4) What types of food do you enjoy eating when you have time to cook?

Eating a lot of greens. Mostly spinach, kale and I had really been getting into eating Indian food.

5) What do you love most about stand-up comedy?

As a comedian you are able to transfer ideas and put ideas out there by using the freedom of speech and you get immediate feedback with a laugh for all of your hard work. It’s an incredible art form that is super under rated.

6) Who is the person that you would want to hang out with and where would you take them?

Groucho Marx; he’s a genuinely funny guy. He looks like he knows how to carry a good conversation. He looks like he could attract women that are a lot younger than him. I would go out drinking with him at a fancy wine bar.

7) What don’t you love about stand-up comedy?

The industry where people go up on stage to feed their ego to get laughter rather than give laughter. People go up on stage to see their ego go up just to win.

8) What is your advice to new comics?

Have an undying passion for it, because you are going to be very disappointed if it’s other than that. If you have a goal of being famous than don’t do stand-up comedy. If you have a goal of pursuing the passion for it and enjoy it then you have a chance to be famous.

9) How would you compare doing stand-up comedy in NYC to Miami?

In New York there is more places to go and and more of an opportunity to meet people that can give you opportunities. Although, It’s so saturated, because there are so many comedians. In Miami there are less opportunities to meet people that give you opportunities so you figure it out on your own. The stage time ratio has been on the rise lately too.

10) Why should people check out Miamicomedy.com?

This website will help the scene, because it’s a directory on where people can find shows on their time. Its also a place for comedians to network and find the producers of comedy shows if they decide to put up the info on there.

Since 2011, John Hyne has been making people laugh all over the country. He’s performed with national headliners like Myq Kaplan, Eric Myers, Eddie Brill and Bobby Slayton. John’s unique bland of silliness and light hearted cynicism will leave you laughing and looking at the world in a different way.

1) What motivated you to start doing stand-up comedy?

I always liked stand-up and I had been doing karaoke and other types of performance so I decided to try stand-up and see if I was good at that.

2) If you could have any superpower what would it be and why?

Mind reading; being able to read people’s minds. It would be great to see what other people are thinking and it make it easier to make decisions.

3) What type of comedians do you enjoy watching (locally and nationally)?

Local: Nico Prada- The way he thinks, Brian Coronado- How he can handle any type of audience, Rachel Blavatnik- She’s silly and his all time favorite is Leon Arp- He does it because he’s truly passionate about it. Nationally- Jim Gaffigan, Hannibal Burress and John Mulaney.

4) What types of food do you enjoy eating when you have time to cook?

Seafood, crab and salmon. All types of seafood.

5) What do you love most about stand-up comedy?

You get instant feedback on what you create. You will know right away if people like it or don’t like it.

6) What is one item that you really should throw away, but you probably never will?

My pants from when I was fatter. It reminds me that I had come a long way from there.

7) What don’t you love about stand-up comedy?

I don’t like when people do comedy to get famous instead of just because they like doing comedy.

8) What is your advice to new comics?

Get on stage as much as you can. The only way you can find your voice is to get on stage as much as possible.

9) How would you compare doing stand-up comedy in Orlando to Miami?

It seems like there are more Comedy clubs in Central Florida and there are more bar shows in Miami.

10) Why should people check out the Open mic at Holloways?

Holloways is a room for comedians. It’s a place where we all can go to try new things and help each other with new jokes.