Conversations with the Inspiring Rachel Eppstein

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Eppstein.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started stand-up comedy three years ago when I was 25 years old. I had graduated college six months prior and was planning on going to China with my boyfriend at the time to teach ESL, and then within a week my car got repoed, that boyfriend broke up with me, and I lost my job. I have always wanted to try stand-up but was always too intimidated, but at that point in my life I really felt like I had nothing left to lose, so when I visited my friend working at a restaurant and she told me they were having an open mic later that night and I should try it, I went home, came up with my first 5-minutes set in the shower, and came back and signed up. I ended up having to go last and didn’t get up till past 1 am, but got a few chuckles from a couple of people still in the room and from that point, I was hooked.

I kept going back to that same restaurant every week and only did that one open mic for around three months before I started trying going to other mics. Eventually, I started going to more and more open mics throughout the week. Eventually I just showed up to enough open mics for a long enough period of time I started getting booked on showcases, then I got to be Laughing Skull resident in August 2018, and now, I host my own little open mic, Sunday Funday, at The Highland Inn last Sunday of the month at 8 pm.

Yeah, I honestly don’t know why I get to be interviewed for this I don’t produce any shows or anything. I just do standup when I can and people like it sometimes.

Has it been a smooth road?
Oh, definitely not a smooth road! It took me a long time to feel accepted in the comedy scene. No one talked to me for my first six months doing it. I would go outside to smoke a cigarette and they would literally close their smoking circle from me and walk away. I used to be so mad about that, but I just used that bitterness I had for not being accepted to fuel me to work harder so I can be funnier than the men who wouldn’t acknowledge me.

My advice for other women who are starting comedy is to be wary of any advice. You’re going to hear a lot of advice from mostly men, but comedy is different for everyone. You have to just find your own process that works for you and trust that.

Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a stand-up comic in Atlanta. I guess I’m known for being “honest” and “brave”, but really I just talk about my mental health and traumatic stuff that’s happened because that’s a symptom I suffer called “oversharing”. I have been playing the ukulele lately in my set sometimes and I like to make up songs with that about my mental health struggles or the new heartbeat bill. My goal in comedy has always been to be so good that I can make people laugh at my trauma.

Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
I don’t really think I’m the best at networking, especially around new people. I usually just stare at someone I don’t know until they walk away or they talk to me (I do not recommend doing this). If you’re in the comedy scene, though, it can be pretty easy. All you have to do is be generally nice, know basic small talk/communication, and not start or get involved with any drama or beef, and you should be fine.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: instagram.com/racheleppstein

Image Credit:
Ngozi IK

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