Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Kirkman.
Brandon, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I originally went to college at NIU for a Bachelors in Fine Art in Illustration but found I enjoyed doing performative pieces and running social clubs. My girlfriend at the time, now my wife, suggested I should try stand up and the rest has been straight up magic since then. I did my first open mic in 2012 at Shambles (RIP) and soon started making my way in the scene. I’ve now produced a handful of stand up showcases, including two currently running, help run two podcasts on the Machine Culture Collective (a Chicago Podcast collective) and have traveled and toured for comedy both in the states and internationally (I’ve done a showcase in Canada and got to do three in Tokyo). I also have done a lot of artwork and poster design in the Chicago comedy scene which has been a fantastic way to combine my artistic passions. My artwork can be found at https://kirkmanbrandon.weebly.com/
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been mostly smooth but there are definitely a few bumps to deal with. Comedy, like illustration and any artistic field, comes with a ton of rejection. It is constant and can take a toll on your self-worth and image. You also have to fight against bad emotions like envy and insecurity if you start comparing yourselves to others, which is never a great idea. Also comedy is a constant grind so with all the rejection you also need to be out at mics and showcases regularly to make a place in the scene and if you even take a week or two off, it feels like your 3 years behind when you get back to the grind.
I think the biggest challenge is self-awareness. To become truly funny, you need to understand yourself but also know how your material comes off to others which is hard to scope sometimes. It reminds me of the path a Buddhist would take for self-enlightenment; it takes a life time and you need to truly kill your ego
Brandon Kirkman – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
For the business aspect of comedy, I don’t make the most but I do pride myself in running a showcase that pays it performers thanks to donations from a constantly great audience. I do make some money off my poster work which is nice but not enough to live off of so my full time job is currently as a hotel supervisor.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
A toss-up between my 3 shows I got to do Japan or my set I got to do this year during the Cream City Comedy Festival in Milwaukee at the Strip Joker showcase when someone broke a beer glass from laughing so hard at my set.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kirkmanbrandon.weebly.com/
- Email: brandonskirkman@gmail.com
- Instagram: @kirkmanbrandon
- Twitter: @kirkmanbrandon
Image Credit:
Beth Leung for the wedding picture!
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