We were lucky to catch up with Jeff Leach recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jeff, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Over the past year I wrote, performed, self-produced and directed my debut stand-up comedy special. It was a labour of love and a process that provided me immense learning even after twenty years of professional work in my entertainment career, As the changing landscape of entertainment continues to evolve and shift I felt that it was more important than ever to retain creative control over the art I put out into the world and the way it reaches my audience. With the SAG-AFTRA strikes in full swing during post-production I refused deals from two separate networks for the special and instead decided to self release on my YouTube channel. Morals and ethics are something that a creative should never contravene in my humble opinion especially in an industry that preys on desperation, greed and a hunger for fame. Risks are worth taking if they are personal investments in oneself. As ‘Jeff Leach presents A Comedy Spectacular’ starts to approach 300,000 views on my channel and more and more work comes my way off the back of that risk I cannot help but feel I made the right decision. Money, fame and notoriety are fleeting in the world of entertainment, but creating art of which you are proud and can serve as a testament to your dedication to the craft as you build your own foundations of success are priceless. I love having that autonomy to not have to waver from my ethics and morals when it comes to creating great work and I hope that in years to come I’ll be proud that I made something beautiful AND funny that was more transparent and transformative than most of the other pieces on offer in the same space on major networks.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Q1. How did it all start? (Your interest in comedy) and when/where did you do your first stand-up? How long ago did you start your career in comedy? Comedy was in my bones since childhood, realising from a young age that humour brought me both attention and acceptance at home and on the school yard, I honed my ability to spread mirth wherever I went like a little travelling trauma jester. As I matured into a teen, I saw the power of laughter to keep status within the social groups and as a gateway to the affection of ladies. As an adult I used stand-up comedy as a way to transition from hosting television shows for the BBC back into my main passion of acting and fell in love with the craft. With good and dedicated stand-up comes a lot of introspective thought and I have found that the deeper I dug into myself the funnier I got. Now, it’s a tool for empathy and connection with other humans… once someone has laughed at the most private parts of you (sometimes my literal private parts) they give you a vulnerability they would normally never afford to a stranger. I’m basically helping audiences be more vulnerable with their own insecurities one d**k joke at a time.
Q2. Reason why you do comedy?
Honestly, it used to be for acceptance and status. I wanted to be recognised for my talent but to also satiate a desire to be respected and admired for my abilities. Then I discovered psilocybin and had some ego deaths and now it’s mostly about healing. I think one of my heroes, Robin Williams, saw it in a parallel manner, as a tool to instantly connect with other humans and provide them a moment of respite from their own traumas and hardships. I’ve made at least a million people laugh in my twenty years in entertainment so far and I hope to make millions more do so before I leave this mortal coil. If those moments of joy and escapism have helped even one of them navigate their own difficulties in life a little easier that day, the power to do so is a blessing and for that I am grateful I was given this gift of humour.
Q3. Who inspires you the most? (Alive or dead)
My heroes include Robin Williams, Richard Pryor, Joan Rivers, Greg Giraldo, Lenny Bruce, Jim Carrey, Bill Burr, George Carlin and Katt Williams… make sure Katt knows that so he doesn’t light my ass up one day on a podcast.
Q4. What do you think is different in the world of comedy now vs then when you started?
Comedy like any other art form is constantly evolving. Long form story-telling is pretty dead, which I often lament, and the rise of short form tiktok stars mean that being a versatile comedic force able to perform for hours without end are not necessary for main stream success. However, just like other art forms there will always be people who love what you do in whatever medium, form or language you choose, just be brilliant at it and you’ll find your audience.
Q5. Best advice you’ve ever gotten in life that you would share to everyone?
Be transparent with yourself first and foremost. If you don’t lie to yourself, you’ll never have to with anyone else.
Q6. Where do you hope to go from here and what are your plans for the future?
I just want to keep creating art for people who want to digest it. More comedy specials, podcasts, films, video games, animations and everything in between. It is my calling to tell stories and as long as someone is willing to listen to me do so I will have the energy to keep creating those stories for them to enjoy. I also want to explore space, so if anyone knows any visiting Annunaki travellers with room on their spaceships please let them know I’m a good hang and I promise not to fart on board.
Q7. Any advice for those who are just starting their career in comedy?
Become a day trader instead and buy yourself land at high elevation, the end times are coming and no-one will be laughing then.
Q8. Who did you want to be like growing up and why?
John Cleese, I wanted to study law and then transition into comedy and acting as he did. But instead I got on the wrong side of the law a few times and made acting and comedy my bread and butter from day one. We’ve both gotten into trouble for calling people names on the internet though so I guess we’re not entirely dissimilar.
Q9. Your top favorite comedian.
Currently my favourite comedians to watch at the moment include Dave Attell, Eric Andre and Sheng Wang.
Q10. Anything you’d like to announce or share with our readers?
My debut comedy special ‘Jeff Leach present A Comedy Spectacular’ is available to watch FREE at: http://tinyurl.com/843mk6d3 and my new podcast ‘Comic Cougar Convo’ with adult actress (and best friend) Cherie DeVille is available at: https://youtube.com/@comiccougarconvo
Q11. Tell us something about you that no one would think for our Fun Facts
I used to DJ and produce dance records for Ministry of Sound and Island Records in a previous life. I am also extremely proficient in horse-riding, kick-boxing and grilling.
Q12. How did you feel the first time you got on stage doing stand-up?
High. I was on two ecstasy tablets and a couple of large glasses of whiskey. I was meant to perform a 10 minute set but ended up doing 45 minutes instead. I am told it was funny which would have been good if I could remember anything.
Q13. Where did you grow up?
London. I’m a cockney boy by blood and also half Macedonian (my mother actually grew up in Romania). But I truly grew up about 5 years ago in Los Angeles when I quit drinking and started therapy.
Q14. Who would you say has been the biggest supporter in your comedy career?
I owe so much to Noam Dworman and Estee Adoram from the world famous live venue ‘Comedy Cellar’ in New York City. They helped me come to USA and start my comedy career out here amongst my heroes and for that I will always be eternally grateful.
Q15. What are your thoughts about where comedy is now vs before when you first started?
The ever changing landscape of comedy and its reception by the masses makes for an interesting challenge. I for one want to always be on the cutting edge of discovering new ways to make people laugh and have fun. Anyone who is too cynical about those changes doesn’t trust enough in their ability to be funny WHATEVER the audience, space or timeline.
Q16. What do you think is the biggest misconception about what being a comedian is?
That we are funny people off stage. Most of the best comics I know are very thoughtful thinkers who spend vast amounts of time in a place of deep introspection. Tough crowd to be honest.
Q17. Best experience you had since becoming a comedian that you think about that reminds you it’s all worth being one?
Every time I step on stage is the best experience in comedy for me. Truly. Fame, fortune and adoration are all fleeting concepts in the world of entertainment and to chase those things will leave you soulless and depressed. However TIME is the most valuable thing a person can offer you and when audience members give me that time to entertain them, I value it and am grateful for it. I think that is evident to the crowds who see me perform and it has only brought joy and empathy for myself AND the people in those seats.
Q18. What jobs did you have prior or currently now or both?
I have been fortunate enough to do entertainment related work for two decades with success. Stand-up, acting, voice acting, writing, directing and producing. However I have been employed since I was eleven and worth ethic is something my working class parents both drilled into me from a young age. I’ve been a laborer, landscaper, painter and decorator, an accounting assistant, physical education teacher and have even flipped burgers and served behind numerous bars over the course of my life. I will forever be thankful for knowing the value of a hard day’s work.
Follow JEFF LEACH no on @jeffleach across instagram, tiktok and twitter.
Find daily comedy clips on tiktok and watch his stand-up special on youtube.com/jeffleachtv.
Watch Jeff’s ‘Comic Cougar Convo’ podcast on youtube.com/@comicougarconvo
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
During COVID when stand-up comedy shows and auditions for television and film dried up I found myself relying on my voice acting work in AAA video games and animations to survive. The hit series ‘Record Of Ragnarok’ on Netflix and AAA video game ‘Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare’ provided me with new fanbases from which to build revenue. I streamed the video game every day for two years, playing to a high level, hosting eSports tournaments, making daily content clips, original long format content for my youtube and engaging with fans across sites like Cameo and Streamily. I also managed to raise almost $300,000 in those two years for various children, veteran, autism and cancer charities. it as a huge change for me but taught me a wealth of new business skills, opened me up to an entirely new audience and provided me with enough savings to make life-changing investments for my future. Those investments have now provided me with the freedom to self produce and release more of my focused work in stand-up comedy and film. Sometimes life will throw you lemons… don’t be scared to turn them into a lemonade, citrus-based facial products, organic cleaning supplies and home remedies. A new skill learned is never a waste of time.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
These days it’s entirely about creating art for the art’s sake. Caring less about hitting various goals or limitations to please social media platforms and networks but instead focusing on creating the highest quality of work I am able to and hoping that an audience will find that work due to it’s authenticity and value.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jeffreyleach.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jeffleach
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/jeffleachcomedian
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffleachtv/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeffleach
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/jeffleachtv
- Other: https://tiktok.com/@jeffleach