Meet Just Jay

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Just Jay. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Just, really appreciate you joining us to talk about a really relevant, albeit unfortunate topic – layoffs and getting fired. Can you talk to us about your experience and how you overcame being let go?

In October 2022, I found out how ugly this business can get. I was working as a maintenance man at a doggy daycare to keep bills paid while chasing comedy. Then a group of comics in Charlotte decided I didn’t belong. I’d gotten sharp on their stages, and instead of respecting the grind, they spread lies — calling me a racist, and a bully to women because I told fat-girl jokes. They didn’t just stop at rumors. They called my job over and over calling for my boss to fire me, tying up the phones so customers couldn’t get through, until my boss finally let me go. To top it off, she kept my last paycheck to cover a loan she’d given me a few weeks prior.

That should’ve crushed me, but instead it freed me. I packed what I could fit, sold or gave away the rest, and hit the road. I told myself: if I succeed, I’ll earn it all back. If I fail, none of it matters anyway. Being blackballed in Charlotte was supposed to end me, but really it pushed me to build my own stage. That’s when I stopped waiting for permission — and started betting everything on myself..

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a stand-up comedian and storyteller performing under the name Just Jay. My comedy is rooted in raw honesty — I’ve lived through incarceration, homelessness, and starting over, and I use those experiences to make people laugh, think, and feel connected. I don’t just chase laughs, I build moments that mix shock, truth, and humor in ways that leave an audience with something real.

My next big step is developing an experiential show that goes beyond a traditional stand-up set. I’m working toward blending stand-up, sketches, and musical elements with a full night-out atmosphere — think comedy paired with a baker’s spread, sponsored beer, wine, or spirits, and a space where art, culture, and community come together. The goal is to create a show that feels like an event, not just a performance — something people remember, talk about, and want to come back to again and again.

At the core of my brand is independence: I’m not waiting for someone else’s stage. I’m building my own, and inviting the world to pull up a chair and enjoy the ride.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

For me, three things have carried me through: resilience, communication, and creativity.

Resilience came first. Surviving isn’t just about coming out of the other end of one of life’s dark tunnels. Each one has a lighted end and a lesson of what to do or not to do that sets you up for the next stage or allows you to sidestep a potential hazard moving forward. My advice? Pay attention to those lessons — that’s where real growth comes from.

Communication doesn’t mean engaging everyone, but staying receptive and open to the people around you while learning who and what is necessary for progression. Not everyone you meet is good for every level in life. Some people are only good for a lesson or a level, while others are good for life. Knowing the difference has kept me moving forward.

And creativity is the engine. Early on I learned that comedy isn’t about cracking one joke that works for everyone. It’s about walking into a room full of people with different senses of humor and making them laugh at what I find funny — my sense of humor, my perspective. Rarely does every single person in a room connect with my content, but I’ve learned how to use my presence and the effect I have on people to bring them in. I’m not afraid to experiment or push boundaries. My goal is simple: to go anywhere my feet can take me, perform in front of anybody willing to listen, and bring laughter along the way.”

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

My biggest obstacle right now is income. Comedy has opened doors, fatherhood has reshaped my purpose, and producing shows is where I see the future — but none of it moves without money behind it. I’m grinding to find better income streams that let me stand on stage, take care of my son, and build something bigger than myself. It’s not about chasing a paycheck, it’s about creating stability so my art and my family don’t have to fight each other for my time. That balance is the real challenge — and the level I’m focused on beating next.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Random pics at random places I’ve performed at in Atlanta with some really great comedians and artists

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