Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelechi (K Jay) Jaavaid.
Kelechi, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My first experience with stand up comedy was on the road with Deon Cole, B Cole, and Jay Deep with Eugene Meaux; we went to a small venue name Peaches-N-Cream, the promoter was Chris Williams a friend of mines from Chicago, He said I only had to do 10-15 minutes. I was all excited until I realized they had a stripper pole in the middle of the stage, my first joke killed I said I don’t know whether to tell a joke or spin around in this pole, but they don’t make a pole for guys to spin around because otherwise, it’s going to be a nutcracker dance.
After that joke went well, my set list went completely downhill to a bomb. It wasn’t until I got Improv scholarship for telling a monologue about my dad teaching me how to drink, did I start to get the concept of performing stand up comedy. Fourteen years later and four years of sobriety I’m on pace to experience greatness with my craft. Now that I have a handle on my drug of choice which is the Stand-up comedy. Since then I performed with Lewis Black, Lavell Crawford, and Tony Woods Tom Rhodes and more plus participated in over a dozen comedy festival.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Oh hell no there is nothing smooth about trying to achieve your dream, My first week in LA was pure hell, from the place I tried to rent to a shady promoter that didn’t want to pay me for my set. A slum lord wanted all this money up front but didn’t want to charge my roommates their half of the rent, I told him that if the roaches ain’t paying their half of the rent I don’t want the place. And then I started taking pictures of the roaches, he said why are you taking pictures, I said so I can send them to you so you can put them on your website with rental property.
One day I was headlining the Ice House Comedy Club for a promoter friend, We put a lot of butts in the seats, I couldn’t have had a better set. I went to collect my money he said I ain’t paying you. Now my friend name Q Robinson, a comic friend saved me from getting a felony, he said hey man I see Muhammad Ali in one eye and George Foreman in the other, It ain’t worth bro, I’d like to take you out to eat, he pulled away from making a big mistake. I was in LA to pitch my film idea and to showcase talent in stand up, I quickly learned that budget for LA was just a small stipend.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with K Jaavaid Enterprises – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I’m an entertainer with services in Stand-Up, Actor, Writer, Poet and Public Speaking. I’m also a teaching artist and a former educator, that trains students and adults with diversity and decision-making skills for conflict resolutions. I have workshops based on self-love and self-empowerment, as well as, entrepreneurship. I’m known for Stand-Up but my speaking career is starting to make some noise.
What set me apart is my unique skills set, having spent 15 plus years in the classroom and 10 plus as a teaching artist. Today I mentor and life coach so many young comics and young men on the value of being productive and having some leadership skills. My stand-up is witty and hilarious because I have very different experiences in life, from growing up with homelessness to my dad shooting at me.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I’m a screenwriter, producing a documentary series “Inbetween Unknowns” to pitch to TV or film companies. I finally finished my poetry book, “The Black Light” a series of short poems and spoken word. My buddy Q has a friend that works for Netflix, so a pitch for a stand-up special is in the cards after I complete my stand-up cd first. Other than I will speak to young people and try to make this a better world for all of us, one joke, one poem, and one show, and speaking engagement at a time.
Contact Info:
- Address: 9024 Woodhall Crossing St.
Brooklyn Park MN 55434 - Website: www.Kjaythecomedian.com
- Phone: 612 437-3981
- Email: Kjaythecomic@gmail.com
- Instagram: Kjaythecomedian
- Facebook: Kelechi Jaavaid
- Twitter: Kjaythecomedian
Image Credit:
Quintin Robinson
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