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

Rahn, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I’ve learned the art of stand up by getting on stage and trying. Stage time is the foundation to getting better. Watching other comics and being around it. It lit a fire. Knowing what I know now, had I started when I was younger I would possibly be steps ahead of where I am now, However, younger me may not have been patient and quit when it didn’t work out right away. Writing and listening. You are not just listening to the crowds laughing. You have to listen to your inner voice to be yourself on stage. The truth is you can literally talk about anything in the world. So it’s a challenge to ignore the opinions and noise of others, You have to be you.
The biggest obstacles that stood in the way was me being a responsible adult. I started a family at a young age. So I have people depending on me. I had to put food on the table and a roof over their head. SO, it limited me to some of the chances I was willing to take to get the stage time. For example, I had an oppurtunity to move to LA to chase my dream and I wasn’t willing to sacrifice my families comfort level and way of life for me to achieve that.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am a stand up comic. I always felt I was funny growing up so it was something I wanted to try. We moved from Milwaukee to Tampa and I decided to give it a shot. At the begining I was just trying to figure it out I just wanted to be funny . Hearing people laugh from something I created was an amazing feeling. I wanted to keep feeling that. That is what I wanted. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes as in, being away from your family , dealing with regular life situations like bills , work life balnce etc. That’s how I really think I found my gift. I am able to take my real life situations ,tough ones, dark ones and find the humor in them. That became my goal.. My comedy is clean. I tried to find a lane for myself also didn’t want my mother to pop up on me a give me the “business”. It’s clean but I’d like to think it’s real because its based on my life. It’s given me an oppurtunity to bring my comedy to Churches, Corporate Events, Cruises and Comedy Clubs.

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 think people find out you are an artist and say, “I know you’re going to make it big one day!” When I first started , I cant lie that was a goal. Now that im in it, I work with people that are considered famous and they are trying to get to the next level of famous like someone bigger than them. So, it never stops. I’m learning to enjoy the journey. When I look back at How I started with just me and my wife at an open mic competition. To now being booked around the country I’m very appreciative . I’m humbled and very grateful. I get to chase and live my dream. There are millions of people that sit and wonder if I only would have tried, or what if I would’ve did that thing. So I am enjoying the ups and downs. I’m living it! I am literally living my dream.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect for me is when a complete stranger stops me and tells me that they were having a horrible moment in their life and listening to me helped them get through it. The comedy took them away from that situation for just a moment. That reinforces to me that this is my calling. What a feeling. It almost makes feel important, Even just for that moment.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rahnhortman.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/granddaddyfresh
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/Granddadyfresh
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/RahnHortman
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/ComedianRahnHortman

Image Credits
Michael Booini Photagraphy Tom Gilbert Jerry Jin