Shot on my Fuji x100 outside of CreativeLive Studios
In 2019, I had the pleasure of sitting down with comedian Nate Bargatze for a hilarious conversation about his journey to becoming a successful stand-up comic. If you haven’t listened to this episode yet, be sure to add it to your list. His lessons coming up as a comedian can be applied to anyone cutting their teeth in a competitive and difficult art form.
This Tennessee native found his passion for comedy at an early age, drawing inspiration from his everyday experiences to create his unique style of clean and relatable humor that resonates with audiences. “I always tell it through me. You either laugh at me or you laugh because you’re doing what I do. Or your wife is like my wife. And I want it to be that,” he shared.
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Nate discussed the challenges of touring nationally and internationally and how it has exposed him to different cultures and comedy styles. He shared his lessons learned from these experiences, including how learning to adapt contributed to his growth as a comedian. “It’s like golf. You have to commit. If you don’t do those things, you have zero chance of making it,” he humorously explained.
Nate shared his insights on balancing his stand-up career with writing for television and his approach to comedy writing. “Obsession and commitment are essential. If you want to be great at anything, you have to be obsessed with it and committed to it every day,” he advised. We also talked about his collaboration with comedy legend Chris Rock and how it has impacted his career. “It was amazing to work with Chris. He’s been in the game for so long and has so much knowledge.,” he added.
Any creator can benefit from Nate’s advice to “be very curious and ask questions. Go to someone that’s just right above you and just say, man, I love what you do. How’d you get to this point?”
Some highlights we explore:
- The journey to becoming a stand-up comedian, including the challenges and lessons learned along the way
- Finding inspiration in family and childhood experiences to create comedy material
- The importance of clean comedy and relatability in connecting with audiences
- Touring the country and the world as a comedian, and adapting to different cultures and audiences
- Working with Chris Rock on the Total Blackout Tour, and the lessons learned from the experience
- Balancing a career in stand-up with writing for television, and the benefits of working in both mediums
- Nate’s tips for crafting jokes and storytelling, including the importance of being authentic and finding your own unique voice
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Listen to the Podcast
