Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gary Curtis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Gary, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I’ve been a fan of standup comedy since I can remember. I always considered myself the entertainer of the family. When I was in elementary school, I would fall asleep watching BET’s Comic View. But growing up in New Jersey, with no ties to entertainment, it seemed unrealistic to even think of pursuing that path. When I got to college, I rose in the ranks with a couple friends as the premier party promoters. From meeting so many people and putting on different events, people begin inviting me to host shows. One night, I was invited to host the City’s Annual Step Show. And as I stood on that stage and made a sold out theater of over 2,000 people laugh multiple times, I realized that it was the most natural I’d ever felt and the most fun I’d ever had working. The next day when I went into my banking job, the security guard said, “What are you doing here? I saw you on that stage last night. That’s what you should be doing.” I said, “You know what? You’re right.” I called my friends who moved to LA for music and told them I’d be moving there in a month.
Gary, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m a standup comic, actor, and writer. After a few years in banking, I decided to chase my dreams and moved form Pittsburgh, where I went to college, to Los Angeles. With no true standup or acting experience, I enrolled into a drama school and began hitting open mics immediately. After some years of practice and many viral Buzzfeed videos during their hey-day, I began performing more standup and finally booked a few TV roles. Standup is my favorite art form because I have complete control and complete responsibility for the performance. I love acting because I’ve always loved telling stories and acting allows us to do that on the grandest of scales.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is hearing someone say that they felt less alone, learned something, or simply were moved by a performance.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
I think society needs to promote and invest in arts more at the local level. Of course everyone wants to see the superstars, but if people in smaller communities outside the big cities poured creative energy into the youth or even just local talent, we could probably discover a lot of hidden talent out there. And dare I say that $10 ticket for a local act means a whole lot more to someone than that $200 ticket for a national touring act.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.garybcurtis.com
- Instagram: @garycurtisfunny
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GaryCurtisLmao
- Twitter: @garycurtisfunny
