Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cherie Danielle. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Cherie, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
A wise person in my life always asked me, “How bad do you want it?” With that question, I have always modeled my life. The love, passion, and determination for what I want will always outweigh my fear of going after them.
I faced this last year more than any other year of my life. I experienced one of the biggest heartbreaks of my life, and it had nothing to do with my dating life. I spent almost a year preparing for a huge comedy showcase that I believed would be a game-changer in my career. I had worked harder than ever to put myself in a position where I would be showcased along with people who had been doing stand-up much longer than me. I spent months doing shows and practicing new material while still working. I wanted my show to be a success. I overthought my jokes and material because, as a newer comedian, I felt pressure to perform something new. My goal was to wow the audience. “This is my big shot,” I would say often.
The night of the show, I was overwhelmed with emotion. My entire career was riding on this moment. Several things went wrong. I had decided it was more important to perform all new jokes rather than jokes I knew were undeniably funny. I got nervous about my jokes being too clean after hearing other comedians’ sets were not. This caused mental panic up until the moment I hit the stage. While on the stage, I could feel my heart racing and my body shaking. I forgot words, beats that make jokes funnier, and at one point, my mouth got so dry it was hard to talk. It felt like I was dying on the stage.
Imagine dying on the stage. The stage was always the one place that kept me alive. It was my happy place. The place I could always count on to deliver. It was my escape. I’d never experienced such a failure. Sure every comedian bombs, but this was the wrong time for me to mess up. It was like a slap in the face. I felt like I had disappointed everyone who had invested in my career and was counting on me to pull through. Some nights I still cry from the pain.
After a loss like this, most people would give up or reevaluate what they want to do with their lives. But through my pain, I continued my fight. I went on to compete in two more comedy contests that same year. I placed as a finalist in one. I was a part of two more comedy festivals that year. To perform while you are emotionally broken is a different type of dedication. It all comes back to my opening quote, “How bad do you want it?”
I still want this badly. That means pushing through on the days I’m questioning my abilities. I took some time away from to stage this year to focus on my finances. I was honored to have the opportunity to open for the comedian Aida Rodriguez at The City Winery in Atlanta. We first met at the showcase this story is about. I often see that moment as a part of my life that I want to block out. But if I did, it would have stopped me from connecting with a successful performer who has experienced similar obstacles.
Failing tremendously allowed me to explore how badly I want this. I get my resilience from knowing this profession will not always reward me, but I will receive the reward from within by knowing I never gave up on my dreams.
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 currently focused on creating my own work. I’ve been pitching my pilot, “Super Funky Afro Chick,” to many contests. My writing is unique because I pay homage to Afro-Futurism while remaining in the comedy genre.
Regarding comedy, you can catch me doing stand-up at local open mics around Atlanta and improv shows with my improv group “Controlled Trauma.” We are currently developing several sketches.
This August, I will be going to LA to compete to be featured on The Laugh Factory’s “Chocolate Sundaes” Special.
I also have a supporting role in the upcoming movie, “The In-Law Gang,” which will be released in select theaters in June by the Global Genesis Group as a part of Cannes.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
As mentioned earlier, my resilience is one of my best qualities. If you can push forward and reinvent yourself constantly, it will work in your favor. It is crucial for all artists to have this because we deal with such a heavy load of rejection in this field.
Fearlessness is another quality that is essential in this industry. You can not be afraid to go out of your way and try new things. It will always be scary at first, but you will receive the greatest reward if you push through it.
Lastly, dedication. You have to be able to sacrifice time, money, and energy to get to where you want to be. This might mean missing a social event to practice, staying up all night to write something, or saving up money to invest in your own personal project.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was believe in me. So many people in the arts lack support from their families and feel alone. I couldn’t imagine having to do all of this alone. And I will never have to. They never forced college or a different career choice on me. From a young age, this is what they saw I had a passion for and loved. They have done everything possible to allow me to go after my goals.
Not only did they believe in me, but they also put action behind it by financially investing in my career. They have always had my back, whether it was classes, the cost of living, or paying for me to rent a space to put up a show.
They have always seen an investment in me as an investment in themselves. There was never a time limit for me to stop having their support. I never took that for granted, and I owe my parents the world. They are the motivation behind my reliance and why I’ll never give up on my dreams. I couldn’t be more blessed.
Contact Info:
- Website: cheriedanielle.com
- Instagram: actresscheriedanielle
- Facebook: facebook.com/actresscheriedanielle
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/cheriedanielle/
- Twitter: @cherie_performs
- Youtube: youtube.com/freelycherie
Image Credits
Headshots by Maurice Bagley
