We were lucky to catch up with LaTice Mitchell recently and have shared our conversation below.

LaTice, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had waited to start your own firm or do you wish you had started sooner?

If I could go back in time I do wish I started comedy a little sooner. Although starting at 36, I was able to have more life experiences to talk about than your typical 20 something in comedy. The reason I would have liked to start a little earlier doing comedy is because I feel I would have gotten more traction and be ahead of where I am now. Being able to establish more relationships and networking with colleagues.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Growing up in the suburbs of New Jersey, I grew up with one younger brother and our single Mother. Our parents divorced when I was 7 and my brother was 2. In our house we laughed a lot though. I grew up watching Whoophi Goldberg’s HBO specials, her movies, Jumping Jack Flash to name one, and several other comedians in the 80’s. In 6th grade I was voted girl class clown and even though all throughout school I made people laugh, I had dreams of becoming an actor. I never thought about doing stand up until years later. In December of 2008, I went to see a fellow classmate in Atlantic City, from high school who had been doing stand up comedy. After the show I met another comedian and as we were all talking, he mentioned how he thought I was funny and should get on stage. I was taken aback and laughed initially. He continued saying, yes let us take you to an open mic. He said start writing and put together five minutes of material. I had no idea what that even meant at the time. LOL!
So I figured that all the silly things that would normally pop into my head and then be gone the next minute, I began writing those thoughts down and by January 14th 2009, on a Wednesday night, I went to my first comedy club in Northeast Philly. I signed up, they called my name and all I could feel were butterflies in my stomach. Along with a rush of adrenaline I had never felt before and as the audience and comedians started laughing at what I wrote, more adrenaline rushed. I loved it! I kept going back every week and then after the 2nd week I was asked if I would do a guest spot (unpaid) at the club owner’s bigger club exactly a month later. So on February 14th 2009 I did 5 minutes in front of a SOLD OUT crowd in Doylestown PA and never looked back.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

For most comedians, the time when we all had to pivot in our business was in 2020 when the pandemic hit and every comedy club had to close its doors. I quickly turned to online methods and I was fortunate enough to have a network of people who saw the value in producing shows online and I also began teaching comedy online. Zoom was our friend and that’s how we all stayed vigilant in comedy. It was absolutely the one good thing that came from the pandemic.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

The main component I believe helped me build my reputation in comedy is consistency. The more shows I did, being funny more times than not helped tremendously. So one told me early on that work begets work. That statement is so true because the more people see you booking shows, that creates and awareness and curiosity all at the same time. Other people begin to want to see what everyone else is seeing. It’s human nature and when you’re able to prove the others were right by booking you, the buzz is created.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.LaTiceComedy.com
• Instagram: @TiceTalk
• Twitter: @TiceTalk