Kenny Blacc Interview | Respect the Dreamer
Kenny Blacc is a stand up comedian and social media content creator from The Bronx, NY. Blacc has performed all over New York City, including venues such as Comedy In Harlem, New York Comedy Club, Broadway Comedy Club and others. He self produced a comedy special in his home and published it on his youtube channel. He also published the audio from that special as a comedy album entitled “These Ain’t Dad Jokes” available on all streaming platforms. He has even performed at his very own alma mater, Syracuse University, during one of their major weekends performing in front of 100 students, faculty and staff. He has also hosted a founders day celebration for his fraternity Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. at the Renaissance Hotel for over 300 attendees. As a member of the production team called “Another Black Ass Comedy Show”, he has co-produced and headlined in his first sold out comedy show called “A Blacc A** Comedy Show” in Brooklyn, NY in 2019. In the summer of 2024 Blacc hosted the “Black Ass Comedy Tour” with his production team that visited 5 cities on the East Coast of America.
What inspired you to pursue your dream, and how did it all begin?
I've always been a fan of comedy ever since I heard that it was the best form of medicine. I use humor in my every day life but I never thought I was funny enough to do stand up. Until, I was asked to host a R&B music concert for my best friend at venue called "Harlem Nights Bar". He was the headliner but before he was supposed to go on, he asked me to stall so he could handle an incident. Since I didn't have stage fright, I used humor to interact with people that I knew who were in the crowd to kill time. One of the promoters for the venue, who was a stand up comedian named Joe Hill, saw me and recommended that I try stand up. Joe became a dean at the school that I taught at for my day job. I'm a firm believer in signs from the universe. So I took him working at my job as a sign that to try stand up. So I gathered some friends who I knew would be honest with me and respectful and did a 5 min set in my fraternity brother's living room. They laughed. So I took that set back to Harlem Nights for Joe Hill's comedy night and the rest is history.
Can you share a defining moment in your journey that shaped your perspective and fueled your passion?
There are a few but one that stands out is when I filmed my 30min comedy special in my home. It was the first time that I had done 30mins straight of stand up comedy and it was filmed during the pandemic. I was able to write that much material, find a videographer, gather an audience of friends and family and deliver the performance. I also took it very seriously and got artwork created and a marketing plan to promote the special as well as get the audio mixed and mastered in order to publish it as a comedy album on all streaming platforms. This was a defining moment for me because I showed myself that I was capable of accomplishing all of this independently and during a tough emotional time in my personal life.
How do you handle setbacks and keep pushing forward in the pursuit of your dreams?
I try to remind myself that it's a marathon not a race and that you cannot take the good without the bad. I also have very supportive friends and family that help remind me that things happen setbacks are meant to be learning experiences.
Are there specific individuals who have inspired you along the journey?
So many people inspired me. Celebrity wise, Bernie Mac is a favorite comedian and biggest inspiration. Kevin Hart has also been a big inspiration for me. Aside from his talent, he shared a lot of information in his autobiography about the steps he took in his journey that helped me find my way into the comedy scene. Other comedians such as Alex Babbitt and Rashad Bashir who I know personally have been great mentors and inspiration to me. I am truly grateful for them because I get to see firsthand that it's possible.
How do you maintain a balance between pursuing your dreams and handling everyday responsibilities?
It's juggling act for sure! I started to doing stand up after becoming a father so I had to become very focused. It's a lot of time management and trying to kill multiple birds with one stone. For example, if I want to make content but also want to spend time with my daughter, then I'll make content with her or my wife joined me on tour so I was able to do my thing while still spending time with her.
How do you overcome self-doubt and stay confident in your abilities?
I have real vulnerable conversations with my wife and my friends about my insecurities and doubts. They help to reassure and encourage me. I've always been good at showing up and I keep showing up to weekly open mics even when I doubt myself. Since I never thought I'd ever do stand up, I keep a list a significant moments on this journey as a reminder of the progress that I've made in my moments of doubt.
Can you share a memorable success story or achievement that resulted from your determination?
I'll go back to my comedy special. I started doing stand up in 2019 and right as I was picking up momentum, the world shut down. I saw seasoned comedians turning to instagram live or bringing a mic and a speaker to a park just to do stand up. So I did the same and that's how I developed the material for my special. I also got the idea to do the special in my home after seeing Kevin Hart do it on netflix. I had bought a house in 2020 and it was newly renovated so my kitchen was set up perfectly for a backdrop. I also learned from Kevin Hart that if I had a 30min act/set then I could tour with that. So, I film the special in 2021, published it in 2022 and went on tour in 2024.
In what ways do you stay motivated during challenging times?
I lean on my friends and surround myself with other motivated people. They help me remember my why and continue to encourage me.
What dream are you living right now?
I just completed my first comedy tour. I've always wanted to go on tour since I was a kid and wanted to be a rapper. So going on tour doing something that I never thought was possible for me is the ultimate dream. We traveled from Brooklyn, Harlem, Philly, Newark and D.C. Pictures and videos from the tour will be available on the @blackasscomedy IG page and website.
What advice would you give to someone with a dream?
I'd say go for it because not even trying will eat away at you. Listen to the signs and feelings that you get from the universe that lets you know that you are doing something right for you. Also, find people that support you and lean on them. Build with them as best you can because those will be the people that will lift you up when you're down.
Photography credit: @Mark.kaptures - IG
@1clicknation - IG
Website: http://blackasscomedyshow.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealkennyblacc/
Facebook.com: http://facebook.com/kennyblacc5
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/kennyblacc
Twitter: kennyblacc
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