Meet Mehr Juneja

We recently connected with Mehr Juneja and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mehr, appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?

After I graduated college, I realized that being a comedian isn’t just waiting for your big break. You need so much self discipline, so much drive and ambition! Because everyday, you’re proving to yourself and others that you are worth the spotlight, and you’re gonna do anything to get it.

I read somewhere once that the only way you’re going to “make it” as a comedian is if you’re unable to go an hour without thinking about your comedy. I find myself constantly trying to find answers to questions like “how can I perform at a bigger comedy club?” “how can I think about my career from a different angle?”  “what projects can I take on?” and “whats next for me?”

My self discipline comes from my love of comedy—on my nights off, I go to comedy clubs and laugh. When I’m about to go to sleep, I’m watching my favorite sitcom or reading a funny book. I listen to comedy podcasts, go for open mics, and write, write, write. I can’t stop thinking about comedy even if I tried!

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I moved from India in 2019, and started work as a comedian and producer in my freshman year! Hopped off the plane at LAX, etc etc!

I got a start with producing and performing at UCLA, where I was the president of UCLA Stand Up Comedy and Live Events at UCLA Comedy. I learned (on the job!) how to produce events for over 200-300 people, and I am forever grateful that I learned that skill so early!

While working at UCLA Comedy, I shadowed comedy producers in Santa Monica and West Hollywood, and learned about what goes into producing live events in Los Angeles. Things I would have never thought about as a student were suddenly problems I had to contend with—How do I build good relationships with venues? How do I reach out to professional comedians as an amateur comic? How do I become a professional comic? Shoutout to Max and Ally—they taught me so much, and I wouldn’t be producing the events I am now without their help!

I graduated college and used all the skills I had learned over the past 4 years to produce something I was passionate about—that was the start of Imposter Syndrome Comedy. ISC is an independent comedy production that highlights queer, POC, female/non-binary comics in the LA community. Over the past year, Imposter Syndrome has transformed into a premiere comedy production that collaborates with creatives from Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Vulture, JFL, and more! We have had headliners like Joel Kim Booster, Aparna Nancherla, Sheng Wang, Dylan Adler, and many more.

What’s new in Mehr’s world is that I just got selected for my first comedy festival—Laugh Riot Grrrl! As of April 2024, I am the recipient of the UCB Diversity Scholarship, and the Groundlings Diversity Scholarship. I am also the producer of the Imposter Syndrome/Hollywood Fringe Comedy festival 2024! I have performed at the biggest clubs in LA—be that the Comedy Store or The Improv, and opened for comics I grew up watching. I’m beyond excited for what the future has in store, and grateful for every audience member that gives me a chance every time I go on stage.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think the most important quality to develop is that you should like talking to people. It might sound simple and reductive, but it’s always good to speak a little too much! On an average night, you might be in the room with someone who knows something that you don’t: utilize that. Ask questions because you might never see them again. Everyone likes to talk about themselves, so ask them about their journey. You’d be surprised at how many people open up with just a question. Also, in a city like LA, you never know who knows who—every person is a door that could lead to a door that could lead to your next opportunity! (sorry for calling people doors!)

The second is, never stop thinking about your end goal—my end goal is to tour internationally, film my hour, and be the voice I did not have growing up. Once you have that end goal, break down what that would entail, and find a way to get experience in each category. From writing, to learning how to produce events, working tech/lighting/sound, marketing yourself, reaching out to industry professionals, and being funny. You never know what muscle you’ve been exercising until you need to use it.

Finally, like I said, never stop thinking about what more you can do. Your journey to making it is a puzzle that you need to think about from different angles, but it is never impossible to crack. If you’re funny, and you’re ambitious, and you have the stamina to keep being funny and ambitious, it’s only a matter of time before you get your next opportunity.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I’m currently looking to produce more live events that have similar values to Imposter Syndrome. I believe that the LA comedy community needs more live events catered to queer/POC/female and non binary comedians. For example, I am beginning collaborations with two of my close friends who are thinking about co-hosting a show, and are looking for an experienced comedy producer to help them with the logistical part of shows. Since I have experience working with venues, ticket sales, marketing, scouting, etc, I’m working with them! I’m also looking to tour the country in the next few years, and I’m looking for opening acts that compliment the aesthetics and themes of my shows.

If you’re interested in collaborating with me, opening for me on tour, or even need someone to bounce ideas off, my email is mehr.juneja8@gmail.com! I’m always willing to chat! (like I said, I love talking to people!)

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