Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sherry Bright. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Sherry, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. What is one issue you feel like stand-up has set you up to address and conquer?
Imposter syndrome.
What are your tips for overcoming imposter syndrome?
The truth about imposter syndrome is it never goes away, but you just get better at doing it anyway, at pushing through the fear. And because stand-up is one of the scariest, most exposed things you can do, it’s a crash course in getting over imposter syndrome.
Here are the techniques I used to get over imposter syndrome in a standup context, but you can use them in any context.
Keep track of your successes. In comedy, one week you crush and feel like a genius. Next week you bomb and decide you’ve fooled everyone. So I keep really good notes and track what I do. After every show, I rate how each joke did. So when I bomb in a bar next to an airport, I can look back and see–hey, that mom bit usually hits. (Also yes, I track it in a spreadsheet. I came from business. Let me have this.)
Lean into whatever thing makes you feel like you don’t belong. I’m usually the oldest one on a lineup and often the only woman. At first I worried I was too old to start this career, so I tried to blend in. But now, instead of fighting that, I do jokes about wanting to be a grandma. I take ownership of the things I thought made me not a great candidate for standup.
Don’t feel bad if you don’t fit in — just build your own thing. Then just casually gatekeep it and make them wonder how to get invited. (Kidding!)
Be imperfect. Start before you’re ready. Letting go of the need to do it perfectly is one of the tricks to getting over imposter syndrome. My life is changing and I’m figuring it out as I go and letting people in on that with my comedy.
Feel the fear and do it anyway. The more you show up, the less power the doubt has. You don’t have to feel 100% confident to do something well.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m Jewish, divorced, and very much in the middle of a glow-up. I started comedy 3 years ago, in my 50’s. After being ‘of service’ for so long as a wife and mom, I’m taking the spotlight back and making it about my wants and needs and interests.
Comedy is the most authentic thing I’ve ever done. And I love that my job is to basically point at life and say, “You guys see this, right?” I’m a professional overthinker with a mic. But the best part is the comedy community — it’s like finding your people, if your people were all deeply sarcastic and aggressively supportive.
I’m based in L.A. and these days I hit 4 to 5 open mics a week and host a couple myself—one of them in my apartment. I also produce a monthly comedy show called The Bright Spot at The Crow in Santa Monica every fourth Saturday!
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?
- Follow what makes you weirdly happy. It’s never too late — trust me, I started comedy after decades of chasing other people’s dreams and approval like it was a full-time job. Highly recommend.
- Find your people. Whatever you’re chasing, find your people. They’ll make you feel seen, supported, and slightly less insane for thinking any of this was a good idea.
- 3. Work hard. Talent can build an attitude problem if you’re not careful. But hard work actually moves you forward. It builds your skills, earns trust and creates momentum.
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
If I only had 10 years left, how would I spend them?
Honestly? I might only have 10 years left, so …exactly what I’m doing now – chasing joy, doing stand-up. I would find ways to give back to the comedy community, like mentor newer comics, and elevate underrepresented voices. I’d also be more intentional about spending time with the people I love. I’d actually prioritize plans on my calendar. No more letting distance or busy schedules get in the way.
And I’d use my voice. I’d speak up for the things I care about, on stage and off.
To keep up with what Sherry is doing and see her perform, check her out monthly at The Bright Spot at The Crow and follow her on Instagram @Sherry_Bright2.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sherrybright.net
- Instagram: Sherry_Bright2
- Facebook: The Bright Spot
Image Credits
Cameron Rice
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