We recently connected with Chris Calogero and have shared our conversation below.
Chris, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on has been my debut stand-up comedy album, “Husky Boy”. There are so many obvious reasons why recording and releasing a comedy album would be meaningful but beyond those surface-level ideas, the album is my proof of comedy life. I believe that “Husky Boy” stands as a testament to not just my years in comedy, but to the fact that I found my way forward in the world of performing despite a series of setbacks, some self-imposed and others thrown at me by life. There was a time when I could very easily have given up on doing this thing that I love, it would have been easy to throw in the towel, but I found my way forward. I had begun to succumb to the bitterness that can envelop a performer when they don’t get the things they want out of their art form, milestones that act as recognition seemed so out of reach to me. There are a few ways to approach feeling this way, you can recede inside yourself and begin to let a sense of entitlement and resentment overtake you or you can step back and try to find a new way forward, correcting the issues that could be holding you back and honestly attempting to figure out why you feel a certain way. For a few years, I took the first road, and let me tell you, that is not the path you want to be on. It’s a road of stagnation. Slowly, but surely thanks to an incredible support system (thank goodness for my understanding, inspiring, incredible wife Emily Winter) I began to climb out of this despair hole. The road back culminated in the album, it was the top of the hill, there are more hills to climb but as of this moment, I’m extremely proud to be standing atop “Husky Boy” mountain!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a stand-up comedian and actor and the great thing about pursuing these arts is that you can start them whenever you want and at any point during your life. The downside to this is there is no real “track” to travel on or ladder to climb so it can be difficult to understand how to level up your career, I am loathe to use a term like that, but it is the best way to describe it. I started going to open mics in the West Village of New York City and once that happened I never looked back. Comedy was the first time I felt I had found a calling, a thing I actively loved and wanted to get better at doing. I never felt a pull towards anything in school, while friends were picking out careers or chasing down vocations I was content to float through the system and party along the way. Once I found comedy I knew I had discovered what I was meant to do and that feeling can’t be faked. I like to think what sets me apart is bringing joy to comedy, I like being upbeat and energetic and it feels lately that comedy can be a field filled with cynicism and darkness. I like trying to bring some light with me.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Pay them! I’m only half-joking here. Artists need spaces to flourish, grow, experiment, and try out new things, but they also need to live. The rising cost of city living combined with the fact that artists need to balance making some kind of money while leaving time to hone their craft is all-around bad for creativity. It doesn’t help that the internet has made it so that folks want what they want when they want it and they want it for cheap or free. It’s becoming nearly impossible for people to make money at the things they actually want to be doing. If you want some art for your home, find an artist you love and pay them. Want to listen to someone’s music? Don’t just stream it, buy the album, buy the merch, go see them in concert. I know this may come off as crass, but the more you pay for art the better every artist will be. There was a time where you could work a minimum wage job, live in an apartment, and go out at night to feel the actual rush of performing or creating and sadly that time has long passed. Find ways to support the people whose art you love.
Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?
NFTs are exactly the kind of thing that hurts actual creatives lives. There is no emotional or spiritual value in owning, selling, trading, or making them. They add nothing of value to the world. Watching rich people spend their money on these bits of nothing only makes the point I was referring to about fostering environments where artists can thrive. These big companies don’t want to pay writers, musicians, comedians, performers, but they will waste money on something like an NFT that is soulless and also needs massive amounts of power to maintain which hurts the world. They are a net negative for the entire planet. Support live performance and buy the output of actual artists.
Contact Info:
- Website: ChrisCalogero.com
- Instagram: @RealChrisCal
- Twitter: @RealchrisCal
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RealChrisCal
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/album/husky-boy/1754277881
Image Credits
Mindy Tucker David L Byrd Jenni Walkowiak