We recently connected with Jacob Craig and have shared our conversation below.
Jacob, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
My start in comedy was really a slow burn, because even though I first got on stage at only 17 years old, I started writing jokes and getting interested in the art form at just 14. In my household growing up, we had an almost unwritten rule of, “If you don’t have anything funny to say, don’t say anything at all,” so I think I’ve always wanted to understand the science behind how to make people laugh. I started out doing literally anything I could, from talent shows, sneaking in to bars to perform, and even doing stand-up in a friend’s living room to about six people. I think when you love something enough to where you’re willing to practice it almost anywhere, you pick up how to get good at it a lot faster than someone who might not be as passionate about it.
Jacob, 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 Jacob Craig, and I’m an award-winning podcast host and stand-up comedian from the Gulf Coast. I really got into stand-up comedy as a teenager, and even though I had always wanted to get on stage, I didn’t think it was possible because I was so young at the time. My older brother has been a musician almost my entire life, and when I was 17, he was booked to play a birthday party for another local musician who insisted he wanted comedy at his event as well. He asked me if I thought I could put together a good enough set to actually perform, and that’s how I got my first shot at actually performing in front of people. Since then I’ve solidified myself as a staple of the Gulf Coast comedy scene, and during the pandemic I started Open Mic’ers Podcast, primarily to shine a spotlight on other comedians from the Gulf Coast area who weren’t able to perform at the time due to COVID.
I think what makes our podcast different for others is that we now have such a variety or talent on our show. Any given episode you can hear us highlight a local comic, a sitcom actor or even a national headliner like Sam Tallent or Steve Byrne. We’ve never lost sight of the fact that we’ll talk to anyone, whether it’s someone that has done a single open mic or a professional comedian that has been famous for years.
I’m most proud of the fact that we’ve been able to do our part to grow comedy in our area. When I first started as a comic, there was hardly anywhere to perform, and the only comedy podcast never featured local talent. Now there’s a budding comedy hotbed, and multiple comedy podcasts that all feature the local talent. I can’t take credit for that, but I do hope that our work to introduce the talent that exists here to new people has played a small part.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
So right now our mission is really to provide as much exposure to our area as we can. We want the Gulf Coast to be a comedy destination, and the only way to do that is to grow the local talent and try to get the word out on a national scale. We have a long way to go, but I think that we could build something unique much like what Austin has now.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Something people might not understand about the journey most creatives have is the amount of sacrifice we’re willing to put into it. When I first started comedy, I lost money on every open mic and show that I went to, and I had to spend hundreds of dollars on the equipment to start our podcast. I didn’t do that as an investment either, quite frankly I didn’t care if I made any of my money back. I’m thankful to be able to make money doing it now, but I would still do it for free, just because I love comedy so much.
Contact Info:
- Website: openmicers.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openmicerspodcast?igsh=cHl0NHM0b2Rqang1
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openmicerspodcast?mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Twitter: https://x.com/openmicers?t=q-n-Hsspgfnk05OlW17CQQ&s=09
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@JayFunktastic?si=RxN4wyc2gY6pXi_6