Eight Years In: Why Stand-Up Comedy Still Feels Like Home

I’ve been performing stand-up comedy for about eight years now. Looking back, it all started around August 4th, 2017 my very first open mic. I remember being nervous, excited, and totally unsure of what I was getting myself into… and then I went on stage and had an absolute blast.

A few months before that, in June 2017, I had sent out a tweet asking if anyone in hashtag CentralAlberta knew of any comedy spots in Red Deer that someone like me could try. A woman named Cindy from Red Deer replied and told me, “Reach out to Clint W. He’ll get you started.”

So I did. And sure enough, Clint welcomed me with open arms and pointed me toward Meeting Waters Coffee + Roastery, where I eventually walked in for my first open mic. Funny enough, the day I showed up, they were hosting the So You Think You’re Funny Red Deer Comedy Competition.

And somehow… I tied for first.

Originally, I just wanted to try stand-up once. I figured I’d be able to say, “Hey, I did it as a blind person. Bucket list item checked. Hooray, go me!” And then I’d move on with my life.

But that’s not how it went.Not even close. Because the moment I heard that room laugh really laugh at my jokes, something clicked. I fell in love with it. I could make people laugh one-on-one, sure, but making a whole crowd laugh? That was magic.

After that first night, I kept coming back to Meeting Waters every month. And then things started picking up. That October, I got to do a few bowling-alley shows in Red Deer. In November, I performed with Sterling Scott a huge milestone that made me feel like maybe I could call myself a real stand-up comedian.

Back then, my dream was simple but huge a Netflix special. Selling out Rogers Place.Becoming one of those comedians whose name lights up a big arena.

But a few months ago, I had a moment of clarity while performing a show in Calgary.

The crowd was incredible, the laughs were rolling, and right there on that stage… something shifted inside me. I realized I don’t want a Netflix special anymore. I don’t need to sell out arenas. I don’t need fame to validate this journey.

Because the truth is: I already have everything I want. When I’m on stage whether it’s a packed room or three people chilling in the corner I feel whole. I feel like the most authentic version of myself. I feel like I’m doing what I was put on this earth to do.

Every joke about being blind is a chance to educate, to entertain, to take something that might be challenging and turn it into laughter. And every time I get that first laugh of the night, it’s like a hangover disappears. The weight lifts. The world gets lighter.

Comedy makes me feel alive. It’s not about chasing big dreams anymore. It’s about the joy in the doing. It’s about bringing happiness to people even on a small scale. It’s about gratitude. It’s about purpose. And that purpose hits me every time I pick up a microphone.

I don’t need to open for a famous comic. I don’t need the spotlight of a massive stage. I’m performing now because it makes me feel blessed and if the people in the room walk away feeling a little lighter, then that’s a win. Honestly? I’m not chasing the dream anymore. I’m living it. As long as I can hold a microphone in my hand, nothing can stop me.

I like to talk into my phone, save the audio as a dictation, and then turn those thoughts into the blogs you find here on BlindGuyComedy.com. This time, we’re even putting the video version right at the top of the page, so if you’d rather listen than read, go for it.

Thank you for hanging out with me. If you want to stay caught up, keep checking BlindGuyComedy.com and subscribe over on the Blind Guy Comedy YouTube channel  more clips are coming soon. I’m still shaking off that old belief that posting my jokes online means nobody will want to come see me live. But I’ve learned it’s actually the opposite: the more people see my stuff online, the more they want to show up in person.

Here’s to the next eight years and to every single laugh along the way.

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