stand-up. Like, onstage. Sometimes, I would get to MC,
sometimes do a set. At first, it was all during the day.
Later, I was going up to the Laugh Factory on a Friday or
Saturday night. Night shows are much bigger. I was too
young to go real late, but they would let me go up on the
eight o’clock show and get like mve minutes. I would do my
set, and I would leave. I wasn’t allowed to stay in there,
’cause of the alcohol.
And they would give me like ten or mfteen bucks. ͳat
was just enough to cover bus fare, but it was cool. I was
getting paid to tell jokes. I was on my way.
I did that all through high school, till I was like eighteen.
And then, I had to quit.
I had to quit comedy, because I was homeless, and I was
supposed to go to NYU, and I had no idea what to do.
I know, it’s confusing. Here’s how it went:
Once I turned eighteen, my grandma sat me down.
Grandma: “Since I ain’t getting paid for you now, you
need to go to school. You grown. Go on, get out there.
You got friends. You’ll make it.”I had gotten accepted into NYU, but they weren’t paying
my way. I didn’t have no money, and my grandma was still
taking care of my brothers and sisters. I was like, What if
something happens to her? Who’s gonna be here for them?
So I decided I’m gonna go to Santa Monica Community
College, and I’m gonna get a job.
I was basically couch surmng then. I was just going to all