“BUT YOU ENJOY MARKETING, RIGHT?” How I quit my day Job in 2005!

I have had a passion for mentoring young artists long before I wrote the book, QUIT YOUR DAY JOB. This article is inspired by a conversation with a couple colleagues driving 10 hours round trip, twice in past week, to gigs in Vermont and Washington DC.

One of my young colleagues turned to me, after hours of me babbling, and said, “BUT you like this stuff…” Meaning, I enjoy the marketing, the hustle, the work required getting work using my talent. My response, do you love your day Job?

Like 1000s of artists every year, perhaps every week, I landed in Manhattan back in 1997. I was a relatively talented singer – actor that could move when I moved from Washington, DC area. I had a resume of professional theater credits (dinner theater musicals, stipend productions), paid church singer, directing high school theater and some leads in college shows and community theater. I had aspirations for Broadway and Opera.

1997-2005 was a journey with lots of hours working in restaurants, and later promotional jobs. I finally started singing in churches again, booking theater gigs, and teaching in schools again, all without an agent/manager. In 2002 I discovered comedy, including stand-up, sketch and eventually Improv comedy.

At first our show EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH was meant as a showcases. But by 2005, we were selling 6-8 shows a week at the New York Improv (THE NY IMPROV), booking gigs at k12 schools, corporate events, colleges and working as Santa, Blues Brothers, Abbott & Costello, and Elvis. My last day Job was June 2005.

While I am not working on Broadway or singing at the Metropolitan Opera, working in comedy clubs lead to a series of TV credits. I eventually found a manager that serves as my agent. And every credit gave me more credence as a corporate entertainer. There are 1000s of folks offering Improv Workshops, but I’m the guy that has been on HBO, MTV, LETTERMAN, NETFLIX, CBS, NBC, USA, NICK, WE, TRUTV, commercials etc etc etc

In 2024, I work about 20 hours a week. All 20 hours are performing or teaching, at all times spread joy and laughter, trying to get the world to adopt MY #1 rule: HAVE FUN!!!!

I spend about 60 hours driving to gigs or marketing, contacting, and casting future gigs, bringing talent and clients together.

When I’m bored, I’m inspired to post a pic, video, blog post or otherwise find ways to get more work. The biggest challenge is to remember to keep marketing when I’m busy doing gigs, otherwise I have weeks of work, followed by weeks of no work.

I’m not here to brag, rather, hopefully inspire YOU, a young artist in your teens or 20s or older. I hope to get you to listen less to non working “teachers” or worse, bitter “artists” still serving drinks for a living.

While the “dream” looks different from my would be vision board from 30 years ago, I feel like I’m living it in my own way, paying the bills, owning a house and a car, married for 27 years, and day Job free for almost 20.

• Comedy 4 Life Series is avaliable FREE via Kindle Unlimited,.$2.99 via Kindle or $9.99 via paperback. Students and colleagues, hit me up for free PDF downloads. ALL of my books are designed to allow us to focus on creating laughs, skipping my babke in classes. But sorry, when stuck in car for hours to and from guys, babblingnis what I do 😆
• Improv Comedy: No Script? No Problem! “YES! And…”
• Improv for Business Success
• Stand Up Comedy
• Sketch Comedy
• Quit Your Day Job