( ENSPIRE Feature ) Eddie Liles Reveals a Comedian’s Best Practices for Growing Your Brand
ENSPIRE Contributor: Matthew Carbonell
No matter your profession, most people would agree that success isn’t something that comes naturally. Success is earned and usually by large amounts of effort. However, that rocky start doesn’t always end in a smooth finish. From an experienced comedian and performer’s perspective, Eddie Liles knows what it’s like to go through some growing pains in his career.
Born and raised in the NW Washington D.C. area, Eddie Liles is a comedian, actor, writer, and producer of unforgettable talent. Eddie grew up wanting to be a theatre actor on Broadway but quickly found that he was better at making people laugh. Standing 6’5″ at 300lbs, Eddie’s laugh is both infectious and genuine. He is also one of the co-hosts of the “I’ma Get In Trouble” podcast.
Now, as CEO of Broken Diamond Comedy LLC. Eddie has produced some of the biggest independent Comedy events in the DMV. He has worked at Dupont Underground: Comedy and Events, Baltimore Comedy Festival, DC Comedy Festival, a host of venues, and Comedy clubs. But, with these amazing accomplishments came wisdom and knowledge that Eddie was willing to share with anyone trying to get their career off the ground.
How would you say that what you have learned in your profession doing comedy can translate to other fields of work?
In Comedy, I’ve had to learn how to get my point across in a way that’s productive rather than destructive. With managing personnel and dealing with supervisors, it helps me turn things more into jokes than just being a Debbie Downer. So basically I’m super sarcastic now, haha!
What’s the hardest part about starting out as a comedian or any other career choice?
The hardest part of starting in comedy, or any other career, is often overcoming the fear of failure and rejection. Building a reputation, finding your unique voice, and gaining traction. Persistence, resilience, and continuous learning are essential to navigate through the first few years.
Would you say that comedy is at threat because of growing sensitivity within our society and if so, how do you work around that?
Society isn’t more sensitive. It’s just more connected. This means now people can find others to support their dislike of you. Where previously you offended one person and they cried and moved on.
Now because 15 people can find each other and all not like something, we think it’s a bigger deal. We just have to write better jokes. Simple. So we write, write, write. Accept the missteps and then write more.
What exactly is your blueprint for success?
Success in comedy is the biggest joke. We are who everyone wishes they could be in art. It also looks like more of a hobby than a career. Then you have the different categories of Comedians. Stand-up is what most think of.
But recently Social media comedians have moved to the front followed by sketch comedians, improv comedians, and comedic actors. So, success is relative to which categories you’re focusing on. It’s about being happy with what we are doing and always wanting to be better than yesterday. That is the only blueprint.
ENSPIRE Magazine prides itself on being a force for positive voices and positive media, in a way a Comedian is much the same by giving people positive experiences. What is one way you think comedy and performance can inspire people to see the world positively?
Comedy and performance have the power to uplift, unite, and inspire people to see the world in a more positive light. Through laughter, comedians can tackle difficult topics, challenge stereotypes, and encourage empathy and understanding. Comedians have turned into the “Truth Tellers”.
I’m still the class clown. I choose to be serious when I feel like it and choose to let go when I feel like it. We are human after all. Sometimes the truth is needed but, sometimes you just want to forget and laugh. I like to inspire that observational kid most of us were before we had to become cool.
I’m currently working on developing the Empire State Comedy Festival from March 28th – 31st in New York City. We partnered with the Grisly Pear Comedy Club in Manhattan to make this successful. Also, my team is working on the DC Comedy Festival April 8th – 13th in the DMV. So, a lot of projects are going full steam ahead. I’m looking forward to the journey and what else it has in store for me.
When it comes down to it, hard work and positive fortitude are what bring success. As Eddie Liles suggests, it’s normal to fail a few times, but it’s important to laugh it off and keep going. Growing your brand and reputation will always have a rocky start but, refusing to be downtrodden by failure or rejection is the blueprint to success. Stay up to date with Eddie Liles and his growing success through his social media or other projects.
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