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

Alright, Kimbles thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Working smart, taking risks and being confident in yourself. That’s all success comes down to, depending what you consider success to be. As a 20 something marketer living in south London I was in the middle of a regular catch up with my boss, and when they said ‘what do you see next for yourself?’ I didn’t discuss learning a new skill or perhaps a promotion, I said I’d like to be transferred to the American offices. I’d never even been to America before and that sort of transfer was only ever considered for the most senior of execs but somehow, within 4 months, I found myself in San Diego, 6 months later in LA, and 6 months later, with a significant promotion heading up marketing for a big entertainment magazine.

After a successful corporate career trajectory I had twin boys and a huge mind shift occured, I wanted to accomplish something completely different and felt like I’d been overlooking this more creative part of me that was desperate to get out. I love writing, humour, and entertaining people (I was a singer for 15+ years), and to me stand up comedy was the perfect amalgamation of it all. I fell in love with the art as a hobbyist and was worried going back to a corporate career would mean I wouldn’t have time for both, especially with my young kids, and given the level I wanted to perform at. One day an event manager saw me perform and offered me the chance to produce a one off show, which was the beginning of my production company

I started stand up 10-15 years later than most do so I always feel like im playing catch up, but by combining my skills as a business woman and as a performer, I was able to start a production company that got me guaranteed stage time (which is the only way to get better), and enabled me to make a small sum to at least cover my costs.

It’s a strategic move, and some would say a risky one. The end goal for me is to be a comedian, not own a production company, but i’m performing a lot, learning a lot about the industry, working with bookers, talent managers and comedians I admire from all over the country, and im able to travel to shows and festivals on the small profit my business makes.

At this point nobody knows the outcome, but i’m growing, i’m improving, i’m having fun and i’m proud of what i’m doing and if thats not success then what is?

Kimbles, 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 produce comedy shows all around San Diego. My local venues include The Belly Up in Solana Beach, L’Auberge in Del Mar, San Diego Mission Bay Resort in Mission Bay, Beach House in Mission Beach, and even hotels, resorts and clubs as far away as Georgia! I bring national touring headliners to these resorts with support from the best local up and coming talent.

In addition to this I produce private comedy shows for corporate events, birthday parties, golf clubs.

I admire all comedians for what they do and how they choose to do it, it really is a beautiful and brave thing. My brand of humor specifically is ‘cleaner’ than you’d find at comedy clubs, but naughtier than you’d find at a ‘clean’ comedy show, so I try to walk that precarious line and book talent that fits that vibe for most of my shows (unless advertised / requested otherwise).

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

I started stand up as a hobby, or thats what I told people, but I knew from the second I wrote my first joke that I wanted to do it full time. There is little no money in being a stand up comedian, certainly none until you get good, but to get good you have to be performing consistently, and to be performing consistently you need to be good, so its a hamster wheel or stress that nothing but a few years or open mics can solve.

Just as I started getting a handle on 10 minutes of material that hit consistently, and being comfortable on stage, I was offered the opportunity to produce a show. I have an events background and quickly realized this is a strength of mine that other local comedians may not possess and that I should try and harness, that was the beginning of Bits Comedy Production Company.

Long term I want to be a comedian, so ironically my production business is actually my side hustle, it exists mostly to help me with networking and growing my name within the community, but also to make a small amount of money on the side to cover incidentals.

That said, the most satisfying milestones for me in terms of the business have been when I have been able to give back to local comedians that I respect and admire. When I’m able to pay comedians more money than they generally earn elsewhere, or peform to a super fun, engaged audience, or open for an act that they love, or give them their first headlining / featuring opportunity, those are the moments you remember that make it worthwhile.

The hardest part is not being able to offer all comedians these opportunities. Customers (audience members) see me as a comedian, but comedians see me as a producer which is tough because I just want to be one of them and it puts me in a political position I don’t want to be in. There are so many comedians I admire for their dedication and hustle, or whose comedy I enjoy but its just not on brand so I don’t book them. Its hard because we’re all artists and we sometimes take it personally even though we know we shouldn’t. What that has done for me specifically though is helped make me more resilient and thick skinned when im not being hired somewhere or by someone that i’d like to be. We can’t all be for everyone and I have accepted that. As a person and a comedian I just try to be professional and kind and supportive of people in the industry however I can, but as a business owner, I have to make decisions that are right for my business.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Not al my shows at all my venues have worked. The perfect comedy show is a heady mix of right crowd, right spot, right night, right comedian, right support, right price and right energy, but when it all comes together its magic. Oh and right drinks help. When you find a partner (in my case a venue) that is committed to your vision (in my case making a bunch of people pee their pants) you work together to make as many of those elements hit as possible. Its not normally a home run with them all but you do find regular magic in the air.
I’ve had 3 regular shows that have ended, one of which was at my very first location, and its because it wasn’t enough of a partnership, we didn’t work at it over time to see what we could change, improve, add or take way to make it work. Its hard to cancel a regular show and cancel all the comedians you had lined up but you just have to realise the synergy was not there and a comedy show just doesnt work without it, Go find it somewhere else.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: kimbleshume and bitscomedy
• Facebook: kimbleshume and bitscomedy
• Twitter: kimbleshume