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Standup Comic Eliot Chang (Pg 3 of 3)


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GS: How does being Asian impact your standup comedy career?
EC: It doesn’t really. But if anything, when I started comedy I did make a promise to myself to not make fun of Asians in any way as I had seen so many do before me.

GS: Is Asian ethnicity an advantage or handicap for you?
EC: Again, it is only if you allow it to be. Only real talent stands the test of time. Ethnicity can make me unique, or hold me back, but the bottom line is that if you have talent that will always shine through.

GS: What has been your favorite gig so far?
EC: Every time I get to perform it’s my favorite gig. The best one to date is when I taped my first Comedy Central half hour special. The audience was amazing. The applause breaks were thunderous.

GS: Are you able to make a living doing standup?
EC: I’ve been doing this full time for a while now. And I make a very comfortable living. I know I am blessed because not everyone can make a living. But not everyone is willing to do what it takes. I work 7 days a week, 12 hours a day. And I love what I do.

GS: Give us a picture of your daily and weekly routine.
EC: Everyday is exactly the same. 9am-5pm I’m on the phone or computer booking my tour. Then I go to the gym for 1-2 hours. Then a hot shower. Then I eat dinner while watching some TV, which is sometime the only time I get to watch TV. By 8pm I’m out the door to hit 2-3 comedy clubs. Even if I’m not going onstage I like to watch other performers and also find out what’s going on in the comedy scene.

GS: What do you hope to be doing in five years?
EC: I plan to do stand up till I die. Although I would love to work more in TV and film, stand up is all I need to make me happy. And luckily it doesn’t matter how old you are in stand up as long as you’re funny, unlike in acting or music.

GS: What are your interests and hobbies outside of comedy?
EC: I tour and travel so much for comedy that when I’m offstage I prefer to just relax and live a normal life. I’ve always been a movie fanatic. Especially for comedies or action I love that movie going experience with a live crowd. And I still enjoy watching other comedians.

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