We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Robert Johnson Ii. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Robert below.
Robert, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Since my college days I knew I wanted to be a stand up comedian/actor. However, I knew I didn’t have enough life experience in order to resonate with the audiences. Growing up black, suburban/middle class, my life was formed in a sheltered Christian bubble. I didn’t feel like I had seen enough in order to speak with confidence to a diverse audience. I decided to do something about this an enlisted in the United States Army during my senior year in college. I was burned out with the trajectory of my life and wanted to shake things up. That was my first decision as an adult and my first time doing something that my parents felt was a mistake. After doing 4.5yrs successfully in the Army, I secured a government job before discharging. Once I was hired, I finally was able to select a major city that would provide me the opportunities to pursue my dreams. Initially I wanted to move to Los Angeles, because I hate cold weather, but they didn’t have an opening. That’s when the idea of me moving to New York popped into my mind, simply because it was on the black and white list of cities with government offices. Brooklyn is and was the first city I ever moved to as an adult. No regrets. I love this city and borough. Now it’s all about working hard and focusing on my dreams. Since January of 2024, I have been a full time comedian. No looking back now.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I got into doing stand up comedy in college, well sort of, that’s at least when the idea first came to my mind. I was a sophomore at a evangelical Christian school in Tulsa Oklahoma, bored out of my mind and I made Youtube videos during my down time. My Youtube videos were pretty much me going on rants about various things that I felt were funny at my then school. One of my classmates was in the hallway talking to me about the reaction my videos were getting around campus and simply said, “Rob you should do stand-up.” I will never forget him uttering those words. Up until that point I had a desire to be on TV, but I never once thought about stand up comedy being a thing for me. After that, the bug was planted in me and that was the start of me figuring out a way to pursue it. I definitely took the scenic route in my pursuit of comedy after that conversation in the hallway, but now I am finally focused on just stand-up comedy. Since January this pursuit of doing comedy full time has been the most exciting time of my life. I have filled out one W9 form for a comedy brand with two locations in Manhattan and the goal is to eventually have access to perform at every club in this city.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
The thing I had to unlearn, was that life was never going to roll out a red carpet and tell me to chase my dreams. Life does a good job of beating you into submission and making safe choices, seem like the best choice. Eventually I had to let go of my corporate job safety net and just go for it. I know it’s cliche, but that’s pretty much it. I don’t have a plan B or some elaborate scheme. I know what I want to do and my mind is made up. I will perform and network until the day I drop. It’s all or nothing. Not out of desperation or hopelessness, but out of joy. I know what makes me happy. I know life has it’s cares and worries about bills, but that’s not stopping. Grind and figure it out. I am just happy I no longer am letting excuses stop me from going all in. Hustle everyday, practice everyday and repeat.
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 the biggest thing about becoming a full time artist is that people automatically go, well how will you make money? Biggest concern. Biggest fear. The thing about money, it doesn’t make you happy. The thing about life, you don’t get another crack at this journey, so it is smart to eventually start pursuing things that give you fulfillment. Of course I find ways to make ends meet, but I don’t let that be the sole reason for why I do things anymore. Eventually my art will take care of everything, but until then I find ways to supplement. There is always a way for someone that’s determine. Just have to want it bad enough.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: RobJthoughts
- Facebook: Robert Johnson II
- Other: TikTok: Robjthoughts
