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

Alright, Cortney thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

For as long as I can remember, performing and being creative has been the only option for me. I have explored various mediums within performance art, from acting as a young child to playing music as a teenager and young adult. I am now pursuing stand up comedy and comedy writing.

I have always loved making people laugh and feel joy. The first laugh I remember ever getting was on Thanksgiving when I was about 3 or 4, and fully obsessed with the movie, Mrs. Doubtfire. I got some whipped cream (in a can) and snuck off to the bathroom while my family was eating, and I covered my face with the whipped cream, popped out from behind the dining room hallway, and yelled, “HELLOOOOO!” to my family’s shock and amusement.

The biggest laugh I’ve ever gotten. I’ve been chasing that high ever sense.

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

I am a comedian and writer currently based out of Nashville, Tn. but am originally from Northeast Ohio. I moved to Nashville when I was 21 with the intention of pursuing a career in music. I wanted to be a studio/touring musician for other artists, and I had been playing the guitar for almost 8 years at that point.

I lived in Nashville for about a year, and realized I did not want to do music forever, and was stuck at a day job without any kind of guidance or plan on how to move forward. I had a coworker ask me once, if I could do anything or try anything without any consequences, what would it be? And I impulsively said, “stand up comedy?”

I went to my first open mic at a dive bar in Nashville, and the rest is history.

I am thankful to have been able to cut my teeth in a thriving comedy scene. There’s a healthy amount of open mics and indie shows produced around town, and our scene is developing some of the very best comedians, in my opinion. I think what distinguishes me from my peers is my unique background. I was born in Seoul, South Korea, adopted and brought to the States where I was raised in Ohio, and now live in the South. I fully believe that while my comedy may not be the most mainstream, it is incredibly honest to who I am and how I move in the world.

With that being said, everything I do for comedy’s sake has to be funny. There’s no reason for anyone who considers themself a stand up comedian to double down as a secular preacher. It’s got to be funny, no matter what.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Yes, I think there are a few. I’d be lying if I didn’t say my efforts aren’t inherently selfish (and egotistical). I mean, who just decides that their thoughts should be barked through a microphone at strangers trying to enjoy happy hour in a restaurant with all the lights on?

I think, on a deeper level, I am seeking acceptance where I did not have it. Growing up as the only Asian person in a community of white people who tried to erase anything different about you, it’s hard to walk through the world and not want self-discovery or some sort of validation. I grew up hating everything about me, how I looked, what I thought, and what my interests were. I didn’t get to watch anyone on tv or in movies look like me, so I just didn’t think that was even an option.

My goal is to help be part of a great group of creatives who are working hard to have other stories and perspectives told. My ultimate dream is to have my own scripted tv show that I create and produce. I’m most inspired by stories that aren’t inherently unique, but are different perspectives than what we are seeing right now.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, it’s the expression of self. I am so thankful I have a process and ability to present myself creatively. It’s incredibly rewarding to do a show or have a piece published, and have people reach out to you afterward with their similar thoughts or experiences. It makes us all feel less alone, which is one of the hardest things about the human experience.

Also, there’s truly nothing like a live show. Live entertainment is it’s own living organism, it’s like riding a wave. There’s nothing more powerful than getting to have a collective, ephemeral experience with a group of strangers, only to part ways at the end. After the past few years of not getting to perform live, I didn’t realize how much I craved that form of connection. It can feel religious, to an extent.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.cortneywarner.com
• Instagram: @cortneywarner13
• Facebook: cortneywarner13
• Twitter: @cortneywarne13
• Other: Venmo: @cortneywarner13 (The last one is a joke but I’ll never turn down money).

Image Credits
Alyssa Udovitsch Lindsey Morgan Dallas Dickerson