Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Irene Bremis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Irene, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

I come from a Greek immigrant family. I often joke that the only reason I speak English is because I speak Greek. My Mother, Despina, which, by the way, is a derivative of the Greek word despotic, is also an Aries, which is an “astrological tyrant,” and I mean that affectionately. They can be strong and unyielding. She taught me to speak freely but always rooted in love and to diffuse life’s challenges with humor. My Dad, Yanni, on the other hand, was horrified by my Mother’s untamed tongue. He was shy but a fantastic storyteller. He loved holding court at dinner and demonstratively telling these hyperbolic “big fish” tales that were hysterical. As you can see, between the both of them, I was a lifelong student of comedy. My mother’s intrepidity and keen observations and my Father’s ability to share humorous stories shaped the comedian and person I am today. They were both hilarious as individuals and culturally speaking – I find Greek people highly character-rich and funny.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Well, I fell into comedy in the 1990s when I was trying to pitch a Comedy Cooking Show called The Cooking Joes with my best friend. I went to William Morris, and they informed me that if I wanted to be in it, it would be very instrumental if I started doing stand-up comedy. I’ve been “chasing the dragon” ever since! It was the most challenging, intriguing, and addictive thing I’ve ever done. I had to repeatedly face my fears of rejection and force myself out of my comfort zone to grow. You can’t just do stand-up half-assed. You’re either in or you’re out. For many years, I was doing 4-6 FREE shows a night, 4-7 days a week. That’s what it takes to find your voice and face your fears. It’s also essential to follow your instincts. No one knows you better than YOU. And at some point in your career, saying “no” to things that stagnate or dwarf growth is vital. I find we “should on ourselves” a lot. It’s imperative to know you’re worth and what you want from this industry. Saying “yes” to everything depletes the energy needed to do quality work and projects. I’ve learned (late in the game) that saying NO is exceedingly more valuable than saying yes. It’s about quality, not quantity – once you develop legs, you should RUN.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I think it’s the same in every industry. We have to evolve and shed what no longer serves us. What was plausible a decade ago may be detrimental now. We must adapt to change. Years ago, repeating your act over and over again was encouraged. This is the literal definition of hell to me. I’m a prolific writer, and I love taking risks and trying out new material. I was told not to do this at the beginning of my career. I quickly aborted that philosophy- which would leave you “dead in the water” today. I always loved working on multiple projects. That was also frowned upon- “jack of all trades master of none.” However, now we must be able to do multiple things simultaneously and, most importantly, self-promote- which is the hardest for me. Also, at the beginning of my career, I was told to get up on stage as much as possible anywhere. That was prudent at the time. Although, now that would undermine anything I’m trying to achieve. I’m giving you the “scenic route” answer! The highway version or shortcut is: FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCTS.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding thing about stand-up is making people forget their pain through laughter. However, I would be remiss not to mention working out material on stage. There’s nothing like a joke coming to life in front of a live audience, and there is nothing like connecting to a live audience. It’s magical.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.irenebremis13.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irenebremis/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/funnygreek1213?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/irenebremis13
• Youtube: https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm4288684/images?ref_=pe_2610490_199225680
• Other: My Comedy Special SWEETIE is OUT MARCH 19 on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play and MORE! https://bit.ly/3wyVgKN https://bit.ly/irenebremis

Image Credits
photog Dirty Sugar Comedy Special, Sweetie Directed by Onur Tukel Produced by Rachel Dratch RELEASING MARCH 19 on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play and MORE! Please Watch, Share, Like and Review! Xoxo Irene