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

John, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

For 15-20 years I used the stage name Hippieman. I created a show called “Hippieman’s Plan for America.” The show had elements of stand up, sketch, PowerPoint, a musical guest and an overhead projector. I learned a great deal from putting that show together. It was much different than touring as a stand up comic.

I had to book the guests (musician, and comics). Set up rehearsals, formulate the structure for the show. I also had to write visually for PowerPoint and overhead projector bits.

I am now using my real name instead of Hippieman but “Hippieman’s Plan for America’ was a fantastic experience.

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 started doing stand up in Boulder, Colorado in 1980 at a music club called the Blue Note. I had taken a stand up comedy class, which I didn’t like. But the teachers of the class were nice enough to give my name to the person running the show at the Blue Note. That show ran every Tuesday night for two years. It gave me a regular stage to work out material.

I started doing more local shows in the Denver/Boulder are for two or three years after that. Once I had a solid twenty minutes, I started working the road, one nighters and weekend rooms in the Midwest. Also, around that time the Comedy Works in Denver opened which gave me a club to work out regularly.

I worked temp jobs, when I was in town. Around 1993, I became tired of the road work I was doing and decided to work more temps job and less road work. I went through a divorce in 1996, moved back to my childhood home and worked a fulltime job (I needed health insurance). I was laid off in 2002 and received severance pay which helped me to get back into stand up. I’ve been full time since then

I opened for Craig Ferguson in 2006. He booked me to appear on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson twice (2006 and 2011).

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

I love the writing, testing and refining material.

I also love standing up in front of a room full of strangers and making them laugh. It let’s me know I’m doing something right, comedically.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In the 1990’s a club owner recommended me for a stand up TV show called Comedy on the Road. I had been preapproved for the gig but I had to send them a five minute video, so they could get a feel for my style of act.

After viewing the video, they passed on me for their TV show. It stung to be rejected but I was determined to keep going in stand up.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hippieman.com
• Instagram: @hippiecomic
• Facebook: @hippiecomic
• Twitter: @hippiemansplan
• Youtube: @JohnNovosad

Image Credits
Crystal Allen Nick Holmby