We recently connected with Rodney Watts and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Rodney thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

When I was a kid, I enjoyed making people, smile and laugh. I never knew I can make a career in making people smile and laugh. I just enjoy seeing people happy when I was in school. I constantly got in trouble for always cracking jokes and being in a class clown, but I never understood why nobody embraced the class clown. I grew up, looking at stand-up comedy and comedians, such as Cedric the Entertainer and D.L hughley and they was making millions of people laugh without no consequences. I was raised in a Christian household and we went to church every Sunday and I was very active in all the church plays and anything dealing with entertainment that I can make people laugh and smile so one of the mothers in the church taught me that I can become a stand-up comedian and actually make money by doing what I naturally do, but growing up the Internet became a outlet for comedians like me to show our talent so I started making funny videos and started going viral, but I want more, so I pursued a career and stand-up comedy and never look back

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?

My name is Rodney. i’m from Atlanta Georgia. I grew up in a Christian household and I was very active in the church. Our church used to put on plays ,showcases,talent shows, fashion shows ,musicals and host concerts but growning up as a kid. I always had a natural Born talent of entertaining people and making them laugh without trying. So one of the others of the church put me in one of the plays that she was writing it wasn’t a funny play, but I knew how to play my part in a way while making people laugh. Ever since that day that I took on that role and I saw I can make 100s of people laugh and I forever wanted that feeling. Forever so I started hosting talent shows at the church and invited other churches so once other churches saw my potential, they started booking me to host their events. Then I realize that I can be a comedian so I started practicing writing comedy in the process of writing comedy the Internet started booming with social media platforms such as Vine, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram and I seen a lot of other inspiring comedians, taking advantage of them platforms so I started making skits in a couple of the skits start going viral and I started getting known for making skits and making people laugh, but I knew that I can make money off of what I’m doing, but I felt like don’t platforms help me back with my creativity because of certain jokes you couldn’t do at the time due to the climate of society so I started back right in stand-up comedy and my best friend one day forced me to go to a open mic and once I went to the open mic and seen that it was a total crowd. I was kind of nervous of going up, but I realize that I like the challenge so once I stood in front of the crowd and made the tough crowd laugh, I realize that this was my calling.I just started doing comedy no more than seven months ago and I have already been booked over 10 times for shows now I’m running my own open mic for comedians and I’m booked at least three shows a month.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I feel society can have more programs and opportunities for creative artist to build a successful portfolio and better paying opportunities for an artist content

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Early in my career, I had to learn that there are no gatekeepers if you want to show your talent create your own avenue to broadcast it and if you talented then the audience will come, and if you consistent, the money will come, and if you’re great the Fame will come

Contact Info:

• Instagram: DELTADAGREAT