We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Michael Moody. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Michael below.
Alright, Michael thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
Creative thinking has always been a part of my life, comedy came into the picture later. Growing up I always saw things in a unique way or would always put a comedy twist on things in my mind. What, I had to learn was how to package those thoughts and make it palatable for audiences.
I could have sped up the learning process by taking risks earlier in my career by participating in more open mics, and sought out mentorship. To be honest, fear and doubt is what kept me from taking such risks.
The skill that was most essential for me was having a great work ethic. You have to have thick skin to be able to go to different comedy clubs and get exposure to a variety of audiences.
The biggest obstacles that stood in my way, was ME. Sometimes you can get in your head and not to take risks or run a different joke. You get comfortable knowing what works. However, I have challenged myself to do at least one new bit every time I hit the stage.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Well my name is Michael Moody and I am a standup comedian. My stage name is MJ Moody and I have been doing comedy for over 10 years. I am a featured performer at the Hyenas comedy club in the Dallas Fort Worth, and I have been honored to share the stage with some household names like, Steven Michael Quezada (Breaking Bad), Dante (The Last Comic Standing), Chris Kattan (SNL). I recently got a chance to tour with William Lee Martin, which was a very rewarding experience. I have performed, in Texas, California, Alabama, New York, Indiana, Florida, Arkansas, Kansas with performing in my hometown Augusta, GA being my most memorable show.
The reason why I do what I do is because I have been blessed with the ability to make people laugh, and I feel it is my obligation to share this gift. It’s a wonderful feeling when people come up to you and say thank you for taking my mind off my troubles. This world is full of negativity and I take pleasure in being the light and providing an escape. Performing comedy has opened many doors for me, and I look so forward to what the future holds.
What I hope to achieve in my journey is to inspire people to overcome their fears and dare to push the envelope. I know a lot of good people with great ideas but fear holds them back from taking that leap. I believe you have one life to live, so you should take risk and believe in yourself. When my time comes, I want to be able to sit back and smile and say, “Yes, I did that.”
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
I would say be your own motivation, create a vision board of where you are trying to go and write out small steps to achieve your largest goal. When you see yourself knocking out your smaller steps it encourages you to keep pushing. The biggest thing is mental toughness. Going into any business is stressful and comes with a lot of challenges.
Lastly, surround yourself with people that sharpen you. My dad used to always say, “You can’t soar like an eagle hanging with a bunch of buzzards,” so verify who is in your circle.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I would say the final result when you walk off stage and people really appreciate your performance. It’s amazing the ideas you formed in your head, can literally take people on a comedic journey. I respect all artists who go out there daily and lay it on the line, because it is not easy. Especially when you’re in a business where you get instant feedback.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mjmoodycomedy.com
- Instagram: iam_mj_moody
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comedian.mjmoody
- Youtube: mjmoody