Amy grew up in the suburbs of Chicago with parents who love theatre. Growing up she was privileged enough to get to see many musicals, plays, stand-up and improv performances as well as dance performances. During her high school years, she was dedicated to studying dance. Amy received her BFA in dance with a minor in theatre from the University of Iowa. After graduation, Amy spent 10 years performing in Carnival Cruise Lines’ various production shows while traveling the world. Once she retired as a dancer and moved to dry land she thought to herself, “Now what?” And the answer was, “Give stand-up comedy a try”…of course. So now here she is, in her first year of giving stand-up comedy a try.

1. What motivated you to do stand-up comedy?

I always loved stand-up comedy. When I stopped dancing I didn’t think that I would be able to find something that I love as much as dancing. I wanted to think that I should try out stand-up comedy to find something to be passionate about.

2. So you used to be a dancer?

It was always my dream to be a professional dancer since I was a child. I studied dance growing up and majored in dance in college. Then I had a 10 year career with Carnival. I had fun travelling but I wanted to have a normal life since it was a nomadic lifestyle which made it tough to keep relationships and I wanted to start a new chapter.

3. If you could hang out with anyone alive or dead; who would it be? And where would you take them?

David Sedaris; his quirky, weird, funny and his books make me laugh at loud I have tickets to see him at “An Evening with David Sedaris” and I would like to visit him at his house in England.

4. Who would you want to play you in a movie?

Jennifer Lawrence or Jennifer Anniston; someone name Jennifer. They are great actresses, beautiful and popular. Everything that I want to be.

5. What don’t you like about stand-up comedy?

Having to drive late at night for gigs. I am new to it so I still sit nervously until it’s my turn.

6. How do you feel being a female doing stand-up comedy in a male dominated field?

I think being a female stand up is beneficial because it makes you stand out a bit from the sea of men.

7. What do you love about doing stand-up comedy?

I love the writing part. It’s the most fun/challenging thing.

8. What is your advice to New Comics?

Just get up there and try it the first time and having the guts to do it is a big accomplishment.

9. What type of comedians do you enjoy watching?

Locally: John Hyne, Matt Bellak, Jacky Beren and Pam Bruno. Ellen Degeneres, Brian Regan, Kevin Nealln and Jim Gaffigan.

10. Why should people check you out at the Coral Gables Comedy Festival this Thursday?

It will be a fun show as there will a lot of local stand-up comedians that are funnier than me and a portion of the proceeds go to a good cause in University of Miami’s communication program.

Fasil is awkward, after growing up in a foreign country (New Jersey). He moved to Miami, North Cuba to pursue his dream of being a comedian. This comedian’s self-deprecating style will keep you laughing out loud while you smile and say to your friend, “He is funny!”He is likable, his topics are relatable as he is poking fun at relationships, being awkward or talking about daily activities. Fasil has a clean style of comedy that is witty, to the point and will have you wondering what will he say next.

1. What motivated you to do stand-up comedy?

I had always been a huge fan of comedy and I enjoyed watching comedy movies since I was a kid. Jim Carrey was my favorite actor to watch and I thought it was the greatest thing in the world to get paid to make others laugh. In college I took Accounting to head towards the safe route, but after college I worked it and I didn’t enjoy it at all. When I moved down to Miami I wanted to make more friends so I tried out Improv plus my friend Teresa encouraged me to try a Toastmasters Humorous speech contest as she thought that I was funny so I did and I advanced into the semi-finals. As I was working a second job as a server, I noticed that using CBD to help sleep, the funnier I was, the higher my tips got, so I thought why not make comedy my 2^nd job plus women love funny guys. For those struggling with their own challenges, resources like this site https://cocaineaddictionhelp.co.uk/ can provide valuable support. If you’re wondering how much is rehab, exploring available options can be a crucial step in finding the right help.

2. What type of comedians do you enjoy watching?

My favorite local comic to watch is Darius Culpepper; I enjoy watching clean comedy, It is also encouraging to witness his work ethic and see the obstacles that he overcame to be paid regular at the Improv and a Florida’s Funniest Comedian Finalist. I also enjoy watching Michael Sowa (His humor makes you think and he has no idea how great he is going to be), Dan Long (I am a huge of his sarcasm/cerebral style of comedy) and John Gregory (He’s the best joke writer in South Florida hands down). My favorite national comics to watch are Orny Adams (His sarcasm is great), Jerry Seinfeld (He’s really intelligent and every time that I watch him perform I feel as if I am learning something new), Mitch Hedberg and Steven Wright (I am a huge fan of one liner comics).

3. If you could hang out with anyone alive or dead; who would it be?

My grandfather. Everyone in my family says nothing but great things about him and they say that he is a lot like me plus I had never seen him before so it would be nice to meet him. I would take him to my mom’s house for dinner as she is an amazing cook and I am sure that she would be pleasantly surprised to see him.

4. Who would you want to play you in a movie?

Vince Vaughn; his wit, sarcasm and tallness would fit in perfectly with a movie about me.

5. What don’t you like about stand-up comedy?

Having to wait a lot at mics, comics that bad mouth others, negativity and the drama that goes on when you deal with these comics that want to save the world and give unsolicited advice to other comics which is often unnecessary/incorrect.

6. What types of food do you enjoy cooking when you have time to eat?

I played basketball and was involved in track in high school so I am a huge pasta guy. I also like to eat healthy.

7. What was the toughest thing that you faced and how were you able to overcome it?

When I first moved down to Miami I incurred a lot of debt and I even ended up maxing out on my credit card. I overcame it by getting a 2^nd job, limiting my expenses, wrote down my goal on a piece of paper and obsessed over paying off all of my credit card debt in a year. I was able to eliminate it in 11 months.

8. What is your advice to New Comics?

There are comics that genuinely want to help you out and there are comics that are negative and want to bring you down. Avoid the negative people like the flu. If they are making fun of another comic in front of you chances are they are also making fun of you behind your back. Hang out with positive people that will uplift you, give you constructive feedback when you ask for it and those that genuinely want you to succeed. Also never give up. If there is something that you want bad enough you just have to work harder at it to get. There is so much talent in South Florida that in order for you to be noticed you have to be original.

9. What is it about you that makes you so awesome?

I don’t back down even when I played basketball I guarded guys that were bigger than me and was able to hold my own with them; you can put the toughest/obstacle or situation in front of me.  I will stay focused and find a way to overcome it.

10. Why should people check me out at the next big show that I will be performing at in the Flamingo Bar Theater on March 30th?

Manny Garavito; the person that runs Miami Comedy has a lot of experience producing high quality comedy shows. He also does a great job attracting professional comics that perform in New York City (One of the best cities to do stand-up comedy at) and drawing an audience that appreciates the art of comedy. It’s the chance for you to see me do stand-up in one of the best stages in Miami as the Flamingo Theater Bar is ideally situated in the heart of Brickell and it is a must see event on a Wednesday night!

Darius is a fusion of hilarity and humility. He stared public speaking at his grandparents church at a young age. And, once he saw how words could touch people, he began his comedy career. From hosting at the world famous Improv comedy club to competing in top comedy contest. His clever, smooth style makes him a crowd favorite where ever he goes.

1. What motivated you to do stand-up comedy?

As a kid I used to go up in church, give a speech and throw in some humor. I saw the way it made people feel and that is what motivated me to want to do stand-up comedian.

2. What type of comedians do you enjoy watching?

Local: Tim Hanlon, his humor is so much of him and what he thinks is funny, Ridiculous, because he is who he is and he doesn’t care what others. Fasil, because he has a unique style and continues to add new facets to his arsenal of jokes (I didn’t pay him to say this), Artisse, because of his conversational style of humor and Matt Bellak, because his humor is so honest and it comes from a sincere place and he can go to the most darkest of places and still make others laugh. Dave Chappelle because he can make you laugh at anything, Jerrod Carmichael he can take something that is dark and make you laugh about it, Katt Williams he brings a very energetic persona to the stage while saying things that are thought provoking as well.

3. If you could hang out with anyone alive or dead; who would it be? And where would you take them?

Jesus, because I love him and I feel him that he has the best set of superpowers in history. When I go to restaurants I usually order water because it’s free and with Jesus I will be able to have my water turn in to wine for free. I would take him to church.

4. Who would you want to play you in a movie?

Kanye West, because we have the same shaped head and are both passionate about what we are doing. We just express it in different ways.

5. What don’t you like about stand-up comedy?

I don’t like when comics discourage newer comics. I feel that comedy is already something that has road blocks and other comics shouldn’t discourage newer comics because It’s a brotherhood where people should encourage each other. Everyone should be at least sit on a comedians table because it takes a lot of guts to get on stage.

6. What types of food do you enjoy cooking when you have time to eat?

Scrambled eggs, because I am pretty good with making them by keeping it simple as I like bland food plus it’s a good source of protein and Ramen noodles. I hope to get famous one day so that I can hire a cook to cook me scrambled eggs.

7. What was the toughest thing that you faced and how were you able to overcome it?

At one point I was living pillar to post and even living in my car. I feel like as long as you have persistence and you have faith. First and foremost in the faith of god has helped me and my faith in the gift of comedy that god has given me. Thanks to god not only am I no longer living in my car but I was also able to advance as a Finalist of Florida’s funniest and get consistent work at the Improv. Thanks to god I am in the right direction on my way to being where I want to be.

8. What is your advice to New Comics?

Stay focused and believe in yourself. There are obstacles that will get in your way and things that will try to destroy your confidence. As long as you think that you are funny that is all that matters, because if you believe in yourself and you work hard good things are bound to happen.

9. What is it about you that makes you so awesome?

God.

10. Why should people check you out at the Palm Beach Improv this weekend?

Because the show is comedy presented in such a different way that resonates with a wide variety of people. It will be different than any other comedy presentation that you had ever seen.

Paul Julmeus is a young rising comic coming out of Miami’s burgeoning comedy scene. His unique confessional story-telling style of comedy and off-beat timing will have you crawling in laughter while slowly trying to escape the grasp of his awkwardness. With his conversational delivery, he lets everyone in on his weird secrets and views on the world. His topics arrange from race, life, death and failed romance. He co-hosts one of Miami’s best stand-up showcases at Elwoods Gastropub. When he’s not doing stand-up he is doing improv at Just The Funny Theatre where he’s a part of the main cast. He also plays himself as one of the main characters for a web series called Open Mic Boys. He has hosted for Belushi’s Comedy Bar on several occasions and is a regular host for The Have-Nots Comedy shows.

 1. What motivated you to do stand-up comedy?

I tried it in college, because I saw my friend do it plus I was a class clown and this girl wanted to do a project about stand-up comedian so I did it to give her something to write about. I later did it again 4 years later in Miami because I felt that I could be good at it if I put effort into it.

2. Who are your favorite comics to watch?

My favorite local comics are John Vargas, John Gregory, Phillip Wigfall and Khalil Phillips. I also enjoy watching Andres Taboada, James Pate, Bill Burr, Maria Bamford, Richard Pryor & Chris Rock.

3. If you could hang out with anyone alive or dead; who would it be? And where would you take them?

Outkast; he’s my favorite rapper. I would take him to the Monday night open mic at Churchills & then I would get something to drink and chill with him.

4. Who would you want to play you in a movie?

Tyler James Williams (The star of Everybody hates Chris), because when he grows up he’s going to be the future of acting.

5. What don’t you like about stand-up comedy?

Driving a lot in order to perform and having to wait to perform at Open mics.

6. What types of food do you enjoy cooking when you have time to eat?

I make a pretty good Griot and I also make some great pancakes.

7. What is your goal with stand-up comedy?

To be able to live off it & to write or act on a TV show.

8. What is your advice to New Comics?

Don’t do stand-up.

9. Why should people check out “Just the Tip comedy show”?

All of the comics that I book that that show are very talented. The show is a fushion of art & comedy. Plus we bring alcohol for the audience members so they have fun & feel as if they are at a party.

10. What is it about you that makes you so awesome?

The fact that I don’t think that I am awesome.

Hailing from Western Pennsylvania, Dan arrived on the South Florida comedy scene in 2014 and has been treating audiences to his unique brand of clever, dry and occasionally dark humor ever since. Recently, Dan was named a Florida’s Funniest Semi-Finalist, hosted at Homefield Comedy Club and is a producer/host of Comedy Night at American Rock Bar.

1. What motivated you to do stand-up comedy?

I always enjoyed watching it. I even spent some time at the computer lab watching YouTube clips rather than going to class. I got my first taste of it at a Club at Penn State University called 2nd Floor Stand-up. It’s a weekly get together (similar to a meetup)…We would watch each other perform, critique each other & I eventually got on their monthly lineup.

2. Who are you favorite comics to watch.

My favorite local comics to watch are John Gregory, Tim Hanlon, John Hyne, Mike Atcherson and of course Minda Mo.

3. If you could hang out with anyone alive or dead; who would it be? And where would you take them?

JFK, I would take him to a helmet store and buy him a helmet so that he would get better protected when we go out to lunch.

4. Who would you want to play you in a movie?

Tim Robbins from the Shawshank Redemption, because he is tall and ruggedly handsome.

5. What don’t you like about stand-up comedy?

I don’t like waiting around…the anticipation of getting when I am going to get on stage. Especially when you are down on the list at the open mic.

6. What types of food do you enjoy cooking when you have time to eat?

Foods that I don’t have to cook.

7. How is the PA/Miami Comedy scene different?

There is a lot more down here however you have to be cleaner. I was able to get away with more racial, edgier and darker material up in Pennsylvania.

8. What is your advice to New Comics?

Don’t be afraid to look stupid, because it takes a while. Try a lot of stuff and find a girlfriend in comedy…it will help with the open mic wait time.

9. Why should people check out the American Rock Bar?

It is a great setup for stand-up since it’s closed off from the rest of the bar. We are able to recruit talent from both Orlando & Miami plus we have some solid acts coming in such as Myq Kaplan this Saturday night.

10. What is it about you that makes you so awesome?

There are so many things. There is too many to name (We couldn’t complete the answer to this question due to time constraints as Dan was about to go jet-ski paintball).