We recently connected with Alexis Bradby and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Alexis, so happy you were able to devote some time to sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our community. So, we’ve always admired how you have seemingly never let nay-sayers or haters keep you down. Can you talk to us about how to persist despite the negative energy that so often is thrown at folks trying to do something special with their lives?
UGH! I feel like there are trolls out there who literally just follow the hashtags that stand-ups use to try and ruin our days. Anyone who is a creative that puts their work out on the internet knows that the one negative comment will always stick out more than the hundreds of positive ones. One thing that has helped me overlook this is to stop seeing the comments as personal attacks on me (even though they can get VERY personal) and to see them as what they are: engagement. I used to think it was toxic to say, “there’s no such thing as bad publicity,” I’m now starting to see how that’s actually just a way of keeping you sane when you’re in the spotlight. And when it comes to haters/nay-sayers in my personal life, I use them as motivation. Nothing inspires me more than a person who isn’t even happy with their life hating on what I’m doing with mine. Usually though, I’m surrounded by a lot of people who love me, which sucks because it’s much harder to succeed when you know that everyone will love you even if you fail.
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’m a stand-up comedian, first and foremost, but because it’s 2023 that means I’m also a TV writer, actress, editor, marketing team, etc. Gone are the days of just doing and being good at one thing. Now you have to be good at showing everyone that you’re good at several things. It definitely has its perks though like I can put myself out there directly to consumers and not have to wait for gatekeepers, but also everyone else is doing the same thing at the same time. Since April, I’ve been in New York City doing stand-up, and I’ve learned so much about the craft and myself by getting up on stage almost every night for the past 6 months. It’s inspiring to see so many comedians of various levels finding success doing what they love here. It’s also made me realize I need to narrow in on what my point of view/brand is. It’s been fun to treat myself like a business and make decisions based on what’s best for my brand. I want to get to the point of not doing anymore stoner shows because I’m very high energy so those spaces aren’t necessarily the best opportunities for me. One thing I’m really excited about is a new project I’ve developed with my friend and fellow comedian Kristal Adams: Astigmatism Comedy. Right now, it’s a stand-up show that occurs in New York City, but we have a vision for it to be so much more. As I grow more in my career, I look forward to helping the comics behind me reach new levels of success. Hopefully, Astigmatism Comedy will be a vessel in that mission.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
There are three quotes/pieces of advice I was given in my young adulthood that have developed me into who I am today.
“Enthusiasm is the greatest asset in the world. It beats money and power and influence.”— Henry Chester
My high school AP English teacher, Dr. Ferguson, taught me this quote. In fact, she made us recite it each class. When I was being forced to say it, I thought it was ridiculous, but as I’ve aged, I realized how accurate it is. I get free stuff, great opportunities, and meet amazing people all the time because of my enthusiasm. So, I would say if you’re known for being dreary, maybe try adding some enthusiasm into your life and it could help with your journey.
“It’s who you know, not what you know,” – Unknown
I went to the University of Southern California, and the very first day the president of the university told us about the Trojan Mafia, which is the idea that once we left USC that we would all continue to look out for each other. I’ve found this to be extremely true. I once got a job offer just because the interviewer’s husband went to USC, but this quote applies beyond USC. As a comedian, I’ve gotten my best opportunities in comedy from other comedians. Relationships are everything. But at the same time, don’t be a snake of a person who only cares about relationships that can help them. I just try to connect with people who I enjoy as a person, and the mutual benefits of us being friends will come naturally.
“You’re young. Debt free. No kids. No responsibility to anyone but yourself. So why aren’t you doing what you want?!” – Michael Bodie
I might be misquoting this a little, but the sentiment is the same. It was right after I graduated college and I was working a corporate job while struggling to do stand-up as much as I wanted. And my former professor at USC let me know that I had no reason to be miserable. I wasn’t responsible for paying expensive bills because I had a full-ride to USC. I didn’t have a spouse or children to impact my decision making. I literally just needed to keep myself alive and housed. So, this gave me the motivation to pursue stand-up as a career option instead of just a hobby. I think this way of thinking is necessary for success in life though. Life is too short (even if you have crippling debt, children, and a spouse) to not go after what you want.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
They let me believe that I could do anything I put my mind to. Neither of my parents are naturally big dreamers. They don’t have a rags to riches story. My dad worked at the same place for 30+ years. My mom has worked at a plethora of jobs that she didn’t enjoy. Despite them not having a dream life, I’m so grateful they encourage me to go after everything I desire. From going to a university across the country to quitting my corporate job to work in entertainment, my parents don’t always understand why I do the things I do (and they question it A LOT), but they never tell me I can’t do something. It has really impacted how I live my life because I truly believe I can do anything. I love those two crazy kids, and I quite literally wouldn’t be here without them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alexisbradby.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/alexisbradby
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/alexisthisbe
Image Credits
Dominic Reyes, Alex Mendoza, Makenna Cooper, Byron Morton
