Jess Delfino is a contributing writer to a variety of outlets in print and television. She has a book, “Dumb Jokes” (Humorist Books, 2021) which was an Amazon #1 bestseller. She has been a comedian since the early 2000s and has appeared on Good Morning America, Flea Market Flip, The Tyra Banks Show, The Jim Gaffigan Show and more. She produces a monthly show with comedian Boris Khaykin. She lives with her husband, two kids and one cat. Her favorite food is probably pizza.
What is your favorite kind of performance venue / opportunity?
I love to perform on TV the best. I love sitting in the make up chair, getting my moment to shine, and being treated very special for a short little while. But most of all, I love to perform, so I am careful about turning down chances to do that.
Is it hard making a living as a comedian?
Yes! It can be. But as they say, do what you love and the money will follow, and I’ve figured out how to survive as a comedian for many years. If I can do it, others can, too, so it’s probably not that hard, especially if you have a plan and a little bit of determination.
Is there something else you would have done if not comedy?
Sure, there are lots of things I’d be doing if not comedy. I’d love to be a small plane pilot, I’d love to be a figure skater, I’d love to work with autistic kids and their families, I’d love to work in real estate development. I have an entrepreneurial spirit, and many interests, which can be challenging—it’s hard to say no sometimes when opportunities come my way that aren’t necessarily comedy related.
What is one big lesson you learned from being a comedian?
I learned that relationships are THE VERY MOST important part of performing, and I make it a priority to guard them and nurture those relationships.
Talk about one of your favorite performances ever.
I’ve had the pleasure of performing in some really fantastic places. One thing that was really fun was a time I performed at Latitude Festival in England. I traveled with Stuckey and Murray, who are comedian friends of mine. We flew, took a train and a bus and then got a car ride to the camp site, which was sprawling and fantastic. We performed alongside some really great acts like Grace Jones and Faith No More. I remember at one point there were 8000 or more people in the audience for one of my shows, and it was really a fun and fantastic night. It was one of the largest crowds I ever performed in front of live. The energy was huge and wonderful.
Daily inspo:
Mark Normand in the news | Chortle
How many of these comedy shows have you watched? | Metacritic
Um, WTF is this? | Philadelphia Comedy College
See you next week, ol’ chum.