We recently connected with Hannah Veldhoen and have shared our conversation below.

Hannah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Often the greatest growth and the biggest wins come right after a defeat. Other times the failure serves as a lesson that’s helpful later in your journey. We’d appreciate if you could open up about a time you’ve failed.

As a stand-up comedian, my job relies on failure. Most audiences have no idea how much effort goes into making one of the jokes they hear successful. Some people will even approach me after a show and ask, “Did you think of all that on the spot?”. Flattered, but no. For every joke I tell that works, I’ve got pages of jokes that were met with silence and confusion. The best/ worst part of comedy is the instant reaction. You take a risk and immediately get your response. Unlike other forms of art and performance, part of getting better at comedy involves performing in front of an audience. I could tell jokes into my mirror for the rest of my life and never know if any of them work. This also means the only way I can get better is through public failure. So when you ask, “Do you have a story of a time you’ve failed?” I don’t just have 1, I have 1000. But what makes a comic successful is embracing each of those failed jokes and learning from them. Sometimes my best writing comes after the worst, make-you-consider-quitting type of bomb. It’s like my brain says ok we have to come up with something better than THAT because that really sucked.

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 got into stand-up comedy immediately after the first lockdown ended in Ontario. I think the pandemic encouraged a lot of people to stop putting off their dreams or at the very least learn how to bake a loaf of bread. I was personally dealing with a lot of loss during that time and suddenly getting on stage and telling jokes to people didn’t seem so impossible. I immediately stood out as someone who was not only funny but eager to get better. I would go to any open mic available no matter how dismal the location (think dive bars, taco shops, basements etc.). There were many nights when I was the only girl in a bar that smelled like vomit, trying to make men laugh at my jokes about my ex. Not only did this work ethic help me stand out but it started getting me booked on actual shows. After three years I’ve won a local comedy competition, was signed to Yuk Yuks comedy clubs and performed on JFL Toronto. I think one of the things I’m most proud of is my ability to adapt. Whether it’s a theatre show with hundreds of people in attendance or a steak restaurant with 5 customers, I want to figure out what makes them laugh and have a good time. I’m currently still working for Yuks Yuks so you can find me at one of their clubs most nights of the week but I’m also putting more content online to try and reach a larger audience. There’s no better feeling than having someone approach me after a show and say we love your stuff and came just for you!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

As an adult, I returned to college for a Hotel Management program. When I enrolled, I believed this would be the direction the rest of my career would take. During this time I also started performing as a stand-up comic and found myself enjoying it more than anything I had ever pursued. After completing the program, I accepted a full-time job at a hotel that would be almost exclusively overnight making it impossible to perform comedy most nights of the week. I confided in a comic that I wasn’t sure if this was the right decision but the money and security at this job were good. He took the time to tell me how much he believed in me and how important it was that I put comedy first. He said he would never tell me what to do but thought I was making a mistake and even offered to help me find another job that would allow me to perform as much as possible. I made the decision to quit the job after one week and found a lower-paying and less attractive position that would allow me to pursue comedy more fully. To this day when I’m making decisions around my career I hear his voice in my head begging me to believe in myself and put comedy first. Although risky, I’m so thankful I took his advice and made that pivot. It was without a doubt the right choice for me.

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 as women, growing up, we are often told to settle down or behave. Act more like a lady. I don’t know that any one person taught me this lesson but more society as a whole. To be successful you should look like this and behave like this. Comedy is quite the opposite of these rules. Not just for girls but for everyone. Being different and unique is rewarded. You must stand out to separate your voice from the thousands of others competing for people’s attention. People relate to honesty and vulnerability. Talking about and admitting things on stage that you would never say to your neighbour can actually help you connect with an audience. Obviously, there’s a nuance to this and simply yelling confessions may scare people more than make them laugh. But I push myself to forget the lesson of keeping my shame hidden and instead use it to my advantage.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahveldhoen/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hannahveldhoen
• Other: Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@hannahveldhoen

Image Credits

1. Krissia Valiente
2. Matt Amarillo
3. Ramy Arida
4. Cole Chauvin
5. Krissia Valiente