Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlie Hester.
Charlie, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’ve been a performer of sorts my whole life. I can’t remember a day when there wasn’t music or theatre in my soul. In my mid-thirties, I began working for a YouTube show called “Explosion Bus” with Tom Snyder and Jonathan Katz, and everyone I associated with on that project was a standup comic. My friend Ian Abramson encouraged me to give it a whirl. After that first performance (which was TERRIBLE, in hindsight) I WAS HOOKED. It took me a while to figure out integrating music into my standup was the path I wanted to take, but now that I know, I stay very true to myself and what I love doing. Once I got the comedy part down and gained some confidence and a following, I started looking at ways to incorporate my deep passion for charity work.
Last year, during the few weeks leading up to my hysterectomy, I decided to hold a donation drive for my local women’s shelter. I myself am a shelter girl, and without the services provided there I would not be the woman I am today. I decided to focus on collecting pads and tampons, because while shelters get items like soaps and shampoos, “pads and tampons” are the dirty words of giving. It was a huge success, and I knew if I combined the concept with being a road comic- I could help shelters all over the country. That is how “The Great Girl Drive” was born. I collect pads and tampons at every show I perform at, and once my donation baskets get full, I drop them off at a shelter in whatever city I happen to be in. So far, through the generosity of audiences everywhere, we’ve been able to give feminine products to shelters in Chicago, South Bend IN, Huntsville AL, and Dayton OH. When folks donate, they get a fun sticker, but more importantly they are helping a woman or girl who is working to change her life for the better.
Comedy is my dream career, but giving a hand up to women who need it is my life’s work.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
When people ask me what I do, I tell them I play the ukulele and sing dirty songs. That’s the short version. My goal with every comedy song I write is to look at how I can empower women, make them embrace being strong and forward, and to encourage female sex positivity. There is NOTHING wrong with a woman (or those who identify as a woman) enjoying her life as she sees fit, and I encourage a sense of brazenness.
I am not timid about it, because I feel the world is ready for a loud voice encouraging woman to rise up and LIVE BOLDLY WITHOUT HESITATION. Now, I have somehow created this whole hour of ridiculous silly fun where I encourage audience participation, clapping, and sing-a-longs.
On stage I also share about The Great Girl Drive, and how my time in the women’s shelter changed my attitude about life. I chose to face one of my hardest moments with laughter and joy, and my sincere hope is that folks who walked in with troubles and stresses will feel inspired to seek out silver linings of hope.
Life is hard, but laughter is easy to find. I also use the f-bomb A LOT.
Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
STAY TRUE TO WHO YOU ARE.
I’m not talking about what others tell you that you should be. I’m talking about the youness that is deep in the core of your being. For years and years of my life, I followed the typical paths everyone said I should follow. Once I said “screw that” and started living unapologetically as ME, things changed in such amazing ways. Not only in my career, but in my personal life as well.
I stopped hesitating because of fear, or out of worrying how others would judge or perceive me. Once I dumped trying to meet the expectations of others and focused on what truly fed my soul and made me happy? I felt a profound freedom I had never known before. I want everyone to feel it.
Life is a beautiful thing, but living out who you are is EXCEPTIONALLY BEAUTIFUL.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My website is CharlieHesterComedy.com and I’m on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. My home base is in Danville IL, but I travel anywhere I possibly can. Being on the road makes my heart beat at its truest rhythm. I do my best to keep my show schedule updated on a regular basis on the website, but I’m also a wife and a mom of 3 (they are 18, 17, and 16) plus I travel a lot. Sometimes I fall behind a bit. But I do my best to stay connected and available with the world and all the beautiful people in it!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.charliehestercomedy.com
- Email: charliehestercomedy@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliehestercomedy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charliegirl2490
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/alittleoffcolor?lang=en
Image Credit:
Bricie Troglia Photography
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