We recently connected with Julia Johns and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Julia, thanks for joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
I think about this a lot, and I am definitely happier as an artist/creative, even though I have financially struggled for years at a time. I was a teacher for two years right out of college, and even though that is a famously underpaid career, I sure would have a lot more money now if I had continued teaching. :D But teaching, albeit fun at times and rewarding, was the hardest and most demanding job I’ve ever had. Part of me felt like I was abandoning students when I left that career, but I knew I had to pursue this dream. Once I moved to NYC and started comedy, I found my fellow funny creative weirdos and never looked back. At this point, I can’t imagine a 9 to 5 desk job every day until I retire. Sure, I go from a handful of day jobs to a handful of other day jobs, but I get to constantly make art when I’m not working, and the change in jobs keeps things fresh. I don’t mind the struggle of working toward my dream of making a living solely from bring creative, because it means I’m surrounded by like-minded artists, and I’m constantly writing, drawing, designing, and performing as I work towards that goal. So sometimes when I have the thought “should I give up and just get a regular job?” I think about how miserable I would be after a while. When I am in a room full of people with “normal” jobs, I am bored beyond belief (no offense to the normies). I have met the funniest people in the last 15 years, and I get to spend every day of my life laughing. I also love the way creative minds work, and I have the best conversations with fellow artists and creatives.
Julia, 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 am a classic Los Angeles multi-hyphenate, but first and foremost a comedian. I got into comedy when I moved to New York and lived with my friend Leah, who was doing sketch comedy. Through her, I met a bunch of sketch comedians, and then eventually tried some stand up at an open mic. I loved it! Then I did a second open mic, bombed, but somehow kept going.
In my time in New York and LA, I have performed stand up, sketch comedy, and I’ve spent so many freaking hours auditioning, occasionally booking something (a segment on Dr. Oz, an HGTV sizzle reel, and a prune juice commercial that only aired in Ireland). My favorite job, and something I am pretty proud of, was when I got to host a live game show app. Remember HQ Trivia? It wasn’t that. But it was cool! And fun! And I felt very funny and smart and appreciated! It was a great yet short-lived job.
In my early days in New York, I also got to rekindle my love for art when a boyfriend got me a digital drawing tablet. I started designing posters for fellow comedians, and was able make a small side gig out of creating posters, podcast art, comic strips, and websites.
I’m not sure what sets me apart from others, but I think I’m a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, although slightly mediocre at all of those trades. I love teaching myself new skills – I taught myself photoshop, procreate, iMovie (I’m still trying to learn Premiere but always seem to fall back on good ol’ iMovie). I just love making things! I make little short films and talk shows with my nieces, and I love working on a project from start to finish – conception, writing, shooting, editing. I also wrote, directed, and starred in a short film that will be premiering on Omeleto’s youtube channel. I’d say I’m proud that I have figured out how to navigate my life as a creative, and haven’t given up. Talk to me in 10 years though LOLZIEEEEES. I feel like this entire answer has been stream of consciousness. Does this describe my brand at all? Who knows. I think my brand is that I’m all over the place. Just like my special lil brain. God bless ‘er.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I had stopped doing stand up when the pandemic happened, and didn’t know if I wanted to fully commit again. In March of 2022, a friend and fellow comic asked if I wanted to open for her in May for a weekend of shows. I said yes, and then few weeks later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I wrote some material about my mammogram, biopsies, and the diagnosis, and it felt cathartic to talk about it on stage. I could talk about my cancer AND make a room full of people laugh? Jackpot! Jk. Sort of. I kept writing as I went through treatment, and eventually created the one woman show that I have now been performing since February 2023, called “A Tale of Two Titties” (hehe). I wasn’t going to let cancer stop me from being funny and creative. I drew some pictures of boobs and started a slideshow to accompany my show. As I started performing the show in different venues and cities, sometimes women with breast cancer were in the audience, and would say really kind things to me after the show, which motivated me to continue writing and performing it. Cancer had every right to lay me on my ass, but I said “no bitch.” And here I am. Telling jokes about the little bitch on stage.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Society can go to comedy shows! Art galleries! Concerts! If people can afford it, they should buy people’s art and music and clothing. Vote for candidates who support the arts and will provide funding and tax breaks for artists. Keep art education! Is there anything better than a kid who loves making art or music or videos??? These rich billionaires could do so much to support artists and creatives, but alas. Le sigh.
Contact Info:
- Website: juliajohns.com
- Instagram: heyjuliajohns
- Twitter: heyjuliajohns
- Youtube: heyjuliajohns
- Other: etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HeyJuliaJohns solo show March 6 https://whitefire.stagey.net/projects/11393
Image Credits
Andrew Doench Mindy Tucker Adam Wirtz