Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephen Hoover.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Well, I moved to Chicago from Florida about 5 years ago to pursue comedy. When I first came here, my goal was to just learn as much as I can and absorb as much information as possible. I wanted to do it all which lead to my first 3ish years here being kind of all over the place creatively. I signed up for improv and writing classes at the iO and Annoyance Theaters, I did a couple of sketch shows, I was a background extra for the TV shows, I made my own little video sketches for the internet, I started a couple of podcasts, I went to open mics as much as could stomach, and I even did a play once. I found myself trying on all these different masks trying to figure out what really stuck for me.
While I was doing all this, I kept waiting for someone to open a door for me and be like “This is where you’re supposed to be” but that never really happened. I think that only happens to a very select few people to be honest and coming to grips with that is hard. I think it leads a lot of people to quit. The truth that I had to face reality with all of this stuff is that if you’re waiting for people to open a door for you then there’s a good chance you’ll always be waiting. You kind have to say screw it and kick that door down and say, “I’m in here now” by creating your own opportunities, which is the realization I had probably about 2 years ago. That was when I stopped paying for classes, quit improv, and really started focusing solely on creating my own projects and stand up comedy. Now, after figuring out that line of thinking, I produce my own show (Boy/Girl Sleepover at the Pony Inn), an open mic (Bump City at Under the Gun Theater), and am a Writer/Director for the iO Comedy Network.
It’s weird because stand up was the thing that always made me the most nervous and I know now that’s because deep down I cared it about the most out of all that stuff that I tried. There’s nobody to save you when you’re up there. It’s your job and if you’re good at it you can become undeniable. The laughs don’t lie.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As you can probably tell from my first answer, no, it hasn’t been smooth, but that’s okay. It’s not supposed to be. Everyone hits a wall at some point. That’s part of the game. The thing is when I started I wasn’t very good. I still don’t all the way think I’m that good. If anything I’m competent, but that comes with doing the work. You have to do the work and learn to love the work because at the end of this that’s there is in this game.
There’s a lot of jealousy from people because the talent isn’t fair. I’ve been guilty of that myself, but you can’t compare yourself to people who get better faster or get spots faster or jobs or whatever. That’ll kill you. Just do the work and get better and believe that you’re on the right path and if you’re not there’s no shame in changing course. Just keep going. That’s all you can do.
Please tell us about Boy/Girl Sleepover: A Stand Up Comedy Show.
So, our show is a showcase style stand up show where we bring in 5 of the best comics in Chicago to do 8-10 minutes sets, plus a headliner who does 20 at the end. We really try our best to put up the best product that we can each show. Tickets are only $5 which that money goes straight to the performers. It’s every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. The doors open at 7:30 and the show starts around 8 pm. They usually last about 90 minutes.
It’s great because The Pony Inn, where we perform, has given us the upstairs space that they have and we basically convert it into a comedy club. We can fit around 70 people in there when it’s really packed, but if we hit 30 audience member then you’ve got a good one.
It’s been cool because our show is actually kind of like a continuation of the previous show at the same bar which ran for three years called ‘The Blind Bet’ so there’s a good history of the room with comics. It definitely gave us a leg up when we started. My other producer, who I started the show with, Sarah Perry and I were interns for that one and when it ended we took over the room just the two of us. That was almost a year ago now.
Then, around December, we asked another funny comic, Sohrab Foroozesh, to join as a producer so from then on it’s been the 3 of us. We basically trade off hosting, doing a feature spot, and then, one of us is off each show. It’s a perfect space for us to get better all while giving other comics opportunity as well.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I don’t know that I’d do anything too different. I like who I am now and the experiences I had brought me to this point. If anything I’d probably just tell myself to worry less and to just enjoy what I’m doing and if you’re not enjoying it then get out and live a little bit. There’s a lot more to life than comedy and having those experiences outside of being on stage actually allow you to bring more to the stage.
I remember when I started I was 23 and like “Man I can’t to be 30 cause then I’ll actually have something to talk about.” Now, I’ll be 30 in October and I think I was right. I had to live a little bit to actually become funny. There’s a lot of growth to go through which is kind of cool. I know I can continue to get better.
Pricing:
- $5 Tickets online or at the door
Contact Info:
- Address: 1638 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
- Website: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3058070
- Email: boygirlsleepovercomedy@gmail.com
- Instagram: @boygirlsleepover
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boygirlsleepover/
- Twitter: @bgsleepover
Image Credit:
Shannon Jenkins (www.rsjenkinsphotography.com)
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