We were lucky to catch up with Ramon Rivas II recently and have shared our conversation below. Ramon is a stand up comedian from Ohio with specials on Comedy Central, HBO Latino and can be heard regularly on Sirius/XM comedy stations. He runs a weekly series at Dunlaps Corner Bar (3258 w 32nd street, cleveland) every Sunday at 7p, along with other special events at the same location. So if you’re in the greater cleveland area make a point to check out what he has going on details can be found at http://blazerramon.eventbrite.com

Ramon, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I don’t think you can know something before you’re ready. You could get all the best advice before you started and most of it would just wash over you.

The most essential skills are LISTENING and MAKING ADJUSTMENTS and SEEKING CONSISTENCY. Obstacles that can impede folks from learning more can run the gamut from TIME – stuff like day jobs or other obligations leaving folks not much time to pursue the craft, EGO – thinking they’re better than they are and not learning from the errors their ego blocks out.

For me, personal finances were a constant obstacle as early on I’d have to borrow cars from family members to drive from Lorain to Cleveland to do shows where I wasn’t getting paid. Trying to grow as an artist without a sense of stability (emotional, financial or otherwise) can be pretty hard.

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?

I used to work at a law firm as a mail room clerk, opening mail, making copies, pulling files, doing the dishes. Nothing major. I saw an ad for a comedy class at a local community college and signed up. I was assuming I’d meet other young folks pursuing comedy, instead I was the youngest by about 30 years and it was definitely a “bucket list” experience for the others in the class.

It gave me a first performance and told me other places I could perform. So, I started going to the only weekly comedy open mic every week whether I was performing or not. Then started crashing music and poetry open mics around town to do some jokes. Eventually, I started co-hosting that comedy open mic and then began to produce other shows at different venues in order to be able to perform more.

That DIY / self production route really helped me learn multiple facets of the craft, not only the performing side but also the business side as booker-curator-talent buyer, the promotional side as the street team-public relations-advertising point and also as a community builder between a neighborhood, the artists and the audience.

Over the years, I produced weekly, monthly and annual comedy events ranging from open mics to showcases to special events to a comedy festival. It was a lot of labor and dealing with peoples expectations, egos and emotions was pretty draining. So in 2018 I stopped producing stuff.

Recently, started back up and changed how I do things. Now, I focus my efforts at ONE space, DUNLAP’S CORNER BAR 3258 W 32nd Street CLEVELAND where I have negotiated exclusivity for comedy bookings and factored in some semblance of equity for my community building efforts.

Being able to have a space where once a week I can work on stuff, bring different artists together for an audience of folks taking a chance checking out a new space is lovely. I’m proud of being able to make sure everyone who comes thru feels comfortable, safe and welcome regardless of their socio-economics, age, race or gender is pretty cool. Cleveland can feel like a very segregated city at times, so creating events that offer places everyone can come together is really important to me.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Society? Um, probably universal healthcare, universal basic income are the big giant things that’d enable more folks to pursue artistic endeavors. Also, applying song writing copyright and legal protections to comedic works would be a big societal thing that’d benefit comedians.

On a smaller, individual scale I think it’s more participating and patronizing shows, venues and community spaces where performances take place.

An an even tinier scale, liking/sharing content and posts help within the algorithm.

Audience members are as important as the artist for comedy, without them a show doesn’t happen. They are a vital part of the alchemy. So, find somewhere you can be a part of one and embrace it. Learn your city’s cultural hubs and let your presence be known.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Right now, my main goals are to keep equity attached to my efforts. I’ve been fixing my personal credit, I’ve set up passive income streams by getting my work placed onto Sirius/XM independently, so hopefully there will be a point where I have the appropriate credit and savings to invest in a space of my own to build up.

Until then, I just use my resources (financial and experience) to help other artists on their journey. That’s a mission that never ends, uplifting your community. That doesn’t always gel with infrastructure, but it gels with my spirit.

But I tend to not focus on one goal or one thing because that shit tends to be a moving target. I used to say if I could do a Comedy Central special I’d have it made! That one goal would change everything. Then I did one, and happiness didn’t wash over me. Doors didn’t open any wider. I just achieved that goal and realized now I had to chase something else to be “better” or “happy”.

Now, I just focus on feeling less sad which leaves more space for happy. So, putting together events that bring people together, being able to watch the growth of other artists in those spaces, being able to spend time with my family and friends, having the stability to keep my bills paid and splurge on different artistic equipment and opportunities are the things that uplift my spirit. And keeping my spirit in a good place helps to keep my creative juice flowing.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.blazerramon.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/blazerramon
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/blazerramon
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/blazerramon
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@ramonrivasii
• Other: http://blazerramon.eventbrite.com