Meet Chad Fogland

We were lucky to catch up with Chad Fogland recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Chad, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
I developed my confidence and self-esteem from my study of improv and comedy. I had always been a shy, unassuming young man. Where once I was happy and playful, middle school was not kind to me and I pulled more inward and reserved. The confidence I had as a rambunctious 7 year-old was quickly smothered out by lack of popularity and friends as a pre-teen. But I had always loved comedy and had always had success in making people laugh. In my teenage seclusion, I studied old comedies. Not only did they help me find joy and made me happy, but they taught me how to be funnier.

After college, I finally grew enough courage to perform at an open mic for stand-up comedy. I completely bombed. I got no laughs. After the show, the host of the night came up to me. He said, “You’re terrible. You shouldn’t do this.” But what he didn’t know was for the first time in my life, standing up there behind that microphone, I felt like I was right where I belong. It was scary, yes. But it felt honest. I knew I had to keep facing that fear and get up there as much as I could.

I continued to do stand-up comedy. I took risks and stumbled me way into pockets of laughter form time to time, but mostly people didn’t like it. One night a man stood up from the crowd, holding up a fifty dollar bill and said, “I will give you 50 bucks to get off stage right now. You suck!” So, I took his fifty dollars and stayed on stage for another 10 minutes.

Finally, I moved to Los Angeles. It was rough, but I kept at it. One day I saw in the LA Weekly that Steve Martin was doing a book signing at Book Soup, a book store in LA. Steve Martin was a hero of mine. Someone I would often emulate as a kid because I thought he was hilarious. I was nervous about going to the book signing, feeling like I was an imposter or maybe I’d just come across as totally lame. But, in the end, I went.

As it turned out, going to that Steve Martin book-signing was one of the best decisions I ever made. While waiting in line I met three people. A woman behind me was also out in LA trying to do stand-up comedy and told me about a “bringer” show she had. I went to it and met a comedy booker in LA, who ended up helping me get more shows. The Guy next to her told me about the Groundlings, which I admit I didn’t know anything about. He convinced me it was a good idea to go audition and learn to do improv comedy, which I did and completely opened my world up to new friends, new ways of performing. One could say that much, if not all of what I have put together as my “comedy career” started at that moment.

Finally the girl in front of me in line was telling everyone this story, “Guys, two months ago I was living in Minnesota and I had a dream that was making out with Steve Martin in front of a library here in Los Angeles. I woke up and was like, ‘I don’t live in LA?!’ But heres the thing, you guys! Every time I have a dream where I’m making out with someone, It comes true in real life!!” In waiting in line for the next few hours, I must have heard that story over 30 times, as this girl told everyone who would listen. Eventually, we made it up to Steve Martin. First was the girl who had the dream and of course, she told Steve Martin the story ending with, “…here’s the thing, Steve Martin. Every time I have a dream where I’m making out with someone, it comes true in real life!!” Steve Martin, as cool as ever, simply looked here in the eyes and replied, “Well, I’ll be at the library in Santa Monica at 6pm tonight.” The girl squealed and promptly ran away.

Now it was my turn. I was super nervous. I handed him my book and my autograph card. You see, when I moved to LA, I had these cards printed up. On one side was my signature and on the other side was a certificate of authenticity. What I did while living in LA was whenever I saw a movie star or celebrity, I would go up to them and ask, “How about an autograph?” If they replied positivity, I would give them mine and walk away. It was a great shtick! At any rate, I gave my card to Steve Martin, who read then stood up and shouted to the rest of the line behind me, “See! Maybe I want autographs as well- This guy gets it! It’s not all about YOU!” Embolden by this sudden expression of comedy from one of my heroes, my nervousness washed away and before I knew what I was saying, it just came out, “Oh my God, Steve Martin- Two weeks ago I had a dream where I was making out with you in front of a book store here in LA and then I woke up and I was like ‘I’m not gay’ BUT here I am!” There was a beat, then Steve Martin laughed, smiled and said, “That was funny.”

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am Chad Fogland, a bespectacled performer dishing out comedy or various sorts, from improv to sketch and beyond. I spent 20 years in Los Angeles studying & performing comedy. I was intrenched in the Groundlings, UCB, iO, Second City and many others while there. I learned and developed my own brand of comedy fearlessness during this time and eventually moved out to the southeast, where I now teach, coach and continue to perform comedy with DareDevil Improv here in Wilmington, North Carolina.

There’s nothing I love more than performing and passing on my comedy and comedy knowledge in hopes to help more and more people realize the best way to live life is to be be fearless, say “yes and” and to laugh as much as possible.

I produce and perform in a variety of events here in the Wilmington area including DareDevil Improv’s weekly show, the “Dead Crow Improv Show” 8pm every Wednesday at the Dead Crow Comedy Room; 511 N. 3rd St. in Wilmington, NC.

Follow me and DareDevil for more info & fun!!
Just search “Chad Fogland” and “DareDevil Improv Comedy” on all the socials; Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
One of the first things I learned with improv was “Always make eye-contact, always be listening and always make your scene partner look good.”

Making eye contact and listening fully, makes you a much more engaged human being. When you allow yourself to fully take in what someone else is saying, even if it’s something you don’t fully agree with at times, giving them your attention allows those people to feel comfortable with you and in turn they will give you their full attention. Miscommunication is such a road block in our society, but if we can allow others to be heard and understand, then we can also be heard and understand.

But that bit is what truly made me a better person. “…always make your scene partner look good.” It means to support your teammate, your friend, your loved one. Be someone they can depend on and they will cherish you and in turn you can depend on them. Every improv community I have been apart of is full of people who truly love and support one another. In this day and age, it’s so hard to find that. Typically our world is full of a self-centered, every man for himself ideology. That’s such bullocks. We can all lift each other up and if everyone is “making their scene partner look good” then both you and those around you will be lifted up!

The connection we have as human beings is so very important and in that importance is the power to except, listen, support and love everyone.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I often get the feeling of being overwhelmed with the amount of projects I am doing at any one time. For me, the best thing I can do is allow myself to take a break. Take a night off to just stay at home and watch something funny, so I can decompress and recharge. The best gift I ever gave myself was telling myself “it’s okay to miss that event and disregard any FOMO I might have.” As exciting as anything may seem, there will always be another show, another event, another time when you feel at your full 100% for you to enjoy.

It’s okay to say “No”. My wife will often say, “If it’s not a ‘Hell Yes’, it’s a ‘Hell No’!” I’m sure that’s totally an original saying of her’s. Haha! But it helps me whenever I’m feeling tired and overextended and that new offer of something I’d love to do comes up. I ask myself that question and I know if I’m truly up for it or not.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
That one “Pants” one is from Getty, but I purchased it…you know, because it’s me! LOL

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Where does your optimism come from?

Optimism is the invisible ingredient that powers so much of the incredible progress in society

Confidence
Stories of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Learning from one another is what BoldJourney is all about. Below, we’ve shared stories and

Resilience
The Power of Persistence: Overcoming Haters and Doubters

Having hates is an inevitable part of any bold journey – everyone who has made