Maureen Langan – stand-up comic, radio talk show host, and award-winning broadcast journalist – knows that hard work won’t get you nearly as far as good looks will.
Kidding. Sort of.
Maureen’s craft goes much deeper than job titles. She’s not just telling jokes, she’s sharing her authentic experiences. On stage, she releases her frustrations by telling her stories. In her own words, she says, “what I’m expressing is truly myself; I’m a sharer of my truths.”
That honesty is what carries her in the competitive business of comedy. Maureen has experienced the struggles of being an up-and-coming comedian first hand and knows it takes thick skin and true grit to make it work.
“To make comedy happen, you have to get in with your audience,” she said, “particularly in a business that won’t facilitate that for you, because of the focus on image and how many social media followers you have.”
On top of this, the performance world is also known to err on the side of the discriminatory.
“Everybody, white middle-aged men included, has to deal with prejudice in this industry,” Maureen said, and rightfully so. The typical comedian highlighted in Hollywood is young, beautiful, and full of one-liners, making it an unfair race for comics of any other demographic. “Ageism is even worse than sexism, since for business owners, it’s no longer about the craft as much as it’s about how many people you can fit into a comedy club.”
But, Maureen knows that “despite all of this, you can find your audience out there – even if it’s a small audience, take it.” She’s carefully cultivated a fan base through patience, dedication, and of course, her witty disposition.
“There are always going to be audiences out there who appreciate smart and funny combined together,” she said, which is why her audience keeps coming back for more. She knows who she is, and she won’t change that for anybody.
She’s a maker of conversation, of laughter, stories, words, and perspective – but above all, she’s really a total trailblazer. “The way I’ve made my work, work for me is to go through the forest and create my own path,” she said. “Comedy makes people laugh, but it can make us think and feel more.” By making her audiences think and feel, she’s created her own formula of comedy that stands out against a sea of jokes 140 characters or less.
When Maureen brings her unique experiences to the stage of TEDxNavesink, she’s going to be stepping away from her typical sarcastic style. She wants to show audiences the business behind the jokes, and hopes to give “a better insight into the world of comedy in a time when America doesn’t seem to value authenticity like it used to.”
To see the serious side of making fun, and many more insightful perspectives, mark your calendar for April 9 and grab your ticket to TEDxNavesink Makers today!