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

Mai, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I’m working on a project to raise money for a comedy class for women to kick-start their stand-up comedy journeys. I was lucky to have excellent instructors who showed me the basic joke structures that helped me create a solid three-minute demo set, which got me gigs at the beginning of my journey. Because of this strong foundation, I became a better writer and funnier in a shorter amount of time. Of course, I took more classes throughout the years to practice writing, but I believe that first class is so important; it encourages you to come back for more, helping you feel less afraid of bombing at open mics and allowing you to progress more quickly. Comedy classes aren’t cheap, and the good ones are not easy to find or access. By signing up for the scholarship, she can attend this class online.

Women wear many hats, and comedy can help reduce stress by allowing us to write down what’s been bothering us and turn those thoughts into laughter. It’s been therapeutic for me in dealing with the ups and downs of daily life. I wish I knew about stand-up comedy much earlier in my life specially when I was stuck in the human trafficking situation for 7 years, but my English was terrible at the time anyway, haha…I wish for more women to learn the art of stand-up comedy in a professional way to effectively transform their thoughts into jokes. She doesn’t have to go pro; she just needs a good initial understanding to connect with and expose her funny side. Besides, we need more women in comedy—we have too many meaningful stories to tell.

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

I’m a Vietnamese American stay-at-home mother of four (six if you include my husband and our German Shepherd). I started doing comedy right after I gave birth to my third child. My husband encouraged me to take a stand-up class near our home to help with my baby blues. I remember, as a kid, I used to make my sister, cousins, and girlfriends crawl on the floor laughing, so I wanted to give it a try. I went on to win a local comedy festival at my very first comedy club performance and started taking on more private and club gigs.

I love attending comedy festivals because, as a mom of young children, I can’t stay long after shows to mingle with other comedians and audiences. Festivals give me more time and opportunities to meet people. Although many festivals take the form of competitions, which I’m not very keen on, they’re still an ultimate party for me, surrounded by funny friends. However, winning a few awards has empowered me to continue my creative endeavors, as I do have talent to offer the world.

Growing up in Vietnam and coming to the U.S. in my early twenties has given me a different perspective on people and situations that audiences find interesting about an immigrant. But I’m also an American, a mom, and a wife, so my stand-up jokes are relatable to many. My life has been a roller coaster with many ups and downs, so I have plenty of stories to tell—I never have to worry about running out of material. I prefer to write chapters of my life in the form of comedy specials rather than a memoir, and this is great because I love to write. Most of my messages focus on overcoming obstacles in life; they come and go. Writing a good book can take years, so I’m not rushing to release anything that isn’t ready.

With English as my second language, I was scared to write and perform in the beginning, but as I got older, I cared less about what people thought of me, and this has set me free to be creative. Some said that my life is fastinating, from becoming a news anchor to give it birth on the highway, to taking care of children with autism, bipolar and ADHD,.. I can’t wait to share the funny aspects of my life and hope it will somehow uplift others.

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

My husband didn’t anticipate that I would treat comedy as more than just a hobby. Our couples therapist agreed that I should be able to go out two nights a week to perform, as it’s important for my mental health. For five years, although it hindered my progress, I was willing to compromise to keep my marriage and maintain balance in my life. I was okay with it because I believed I just needed to work harder and smarter—by writing more jokes and ensuring each one had a solid punchline. I learned from senior comics to practice new material at home and test it alongside my older bits during real shows, so I wouldn’t need to rely on open mics as often.

Attending comedy festivals is also a great way to get free exposure and connect with industry people. Actively sharing memes, funny clips, and regularly updating my social media helps bookers and producers see that I’m still hustling. Most importantly, laughing at my own jokes is a form of therapy for me—it’s like I’m prescribing my own medicine.

Recently, my husband asked me to give up comedy entirely and return to the traditional role of a homeschooling, stay-at-home mom. While it’s unfortunate that our marriage is coming to an end, I now have more time to focus on what I love. As an optimist, I believe there’s someone out there who will support both me and my creativity.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I’m really excited about my newfound passion, which has brought a whole new meaning to my life. I love this fun way to creatively contribute to society by spreading laughter. I also volunteer weekly with the women of the Junior League of Boca Raton, where we pack and distribute food to those in need and take care of the community garden.

My passion for volunteering comes from my upbringing in Vietnam, where our schools always encouraged us to get involved in various service projects. We recycled paper to raise money for building a train, bought uniforms, and helped classmates with their school fees. My aunt, following Buddhist teachings, also took me to do charity work, believing that helping others leads to a better life. When I worked at a Vietnamese television channel in Houston, TX, before moving to Florida, I got involved in several charity projects, such as donating money to support Japanese tsunami victims and participating in Christmas toy drives.

For me, serving the community is the most rewarding part of being creative. There’s nothing better than being able to express myself while helping others enjoy their lives, as it aligns perfectly with my beliefs.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mailgcomedy.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mailgcomedy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mailgcomedy/
• Twitter: https://x.com/mailgcomedy
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@mailgcomedy

Image Credits

They’re all mine.