We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Luke Thayer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Luke , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I grew up in Indiana, which feels like a different planet than showbiz. Sure, there had been a few famous comedians from Indiana such as David Letterman and Jim Gaffigan, but they were generations ahead of me. I never even knew it was possible for someone like me to do standup comedy until one night a friend of mine and I went to see his sister perform at an open mic. Afterwards, the host said, “If anyone here wants to try it too, sign up in the back. for next month’s show.” We did! Even though my friend decided he didn’t want to try, I did. I have never stopped since that day. I knew from the moment I signed up, that is my destiny. It just took that one chance moment for someone to say, “you can do this.”

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m dedicated to the art of stand-up comedy. I work clean (which means not doing “dirty” material), but am not corny. I’m proud that I can provide a show to people that is genuinely as funny or funnier than other shows while maintaining my true essence and staying family friendly. I’ve worked everything– comedy clubs, cruises, churches, night clubs, schools, corporate events–you name it, I’ve done it.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

People should understand the value artists and creatives bring to the table. Often times, people undervalue (especially monetarily) the amount of work that is involved into creating something for others to enjoy. Paying a fair price for services rendered maintains the artist’s ability to continue to create and perform for an audience.

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

Comedy is not of the weak of spirit. It is a life of constant rejection (especially early in one’s career path). When I was first starting out, it’s all closed doors with occasionally an unlocked window you can try and pry open. Even when a break is given, it can be taken away quickly. Here’s an illustration that is a far to common example in my career–I had just gotten booked to be the opening act at a beautiful casino in Atlantic City. It was the most money I had ever made for a week, along with all my meals taken care of, and being put up in a gorgeous room. The shows went amazingly well, the other comics were kind as well as impressed I had gotten so far at my age, and the booker said they wanted to have me back! That booker was fired the next week, and I’ve never returned. It hasn’t stopped me from moving forward, but that is a frequent tale in show business.

Contact Info:

• Website: comedianluke.com
• Instagram: @comedianluke
• Facebook: @comedianluke
• Twitter: @comedianluke
• Youtube: @comedianluke
• Other: The Kid is in School Podcast (I co-host with my comedian wife Abbi Crutchfield) – thekidisinschool.com