Today we’d like to introduce you to Just Jay
Hi Just, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m 46 years old, and have spent almost 23 years of my life incarcerated in Florida. Didn’t do it all at once. From 14 to 41 I spent less than 5 years accumulative in the free world. My longest bid was 9 years and my shortest time out was 7 days. I got out completely broke with nothing but the clothes I was wearing, and a drive I couldn’t understand. I’ve been out five and a half years now, and have been doing comedy for just over 3 years. In the last 6 months I’ve performed in 9 states, been on 4 podcasts, a magazine article about me and made it in a rap video. I live in my car for survival, and because it’s all part of being able to go anywhere, perform in front of any audience and making anyone laugh. The past 5 and a half years have been the hardest time of my life, but they’ve also been the most rewarding.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been smooth. I got out July 11, 2019. In Florida all felons have to register. I went and registered on July 15, 2019, and got a message from the local sheriff’s department that I had 48 ours to come back and re-register as a career criminal. I went back in on July 18, 2019, less than 24 hours after receiving the message and got arrested for Failure to register and failure to change the address on my id, the same id that had just been issued to me by the Florida Department of Corrections less than a week prior. Was held for 40 days and when I got out I wasn’t a prison releasee anymore I was a county jail releasee and wasn’t able for any assistance. The same sheriff’s department got me blocked from being able to stay at the homeless shelter. I started working day labor. After 3 days I got a cheap phone from metro pcs, and kept going to the day labor. But I start propositioning the bosses, and offering them my number saying “Instead of paying them $15 an hour to pay me minimum wage give me a call. Got out of Florida in February 2020. By March of 2020 everything in every city was locked up because of Covid. There were no assistance programs available. I’ve dealt with racist and discrimination on levels I never thought possible. I either can’t get a job because of my record or I can’t get one because of my appearance. I keep moving. I just tell myself it’s not the door for me. Right now I’m broke down in a parking lot in College Park at a housing development called Camelot. Have been here for 2 weeks now. Car won’t start and I don’t have the funds to get it fixed. But I’m lucky enough to have a comedian friend who lives here so it’s no different than living in my car elsewhere. So no it’s definitely not been smooth, but all the highest moments in life have been so much greater than all the lowest ones.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m comedian and storyteller. I travel anywhere, perform in front of any audience and making anyone laugh. Most comics rarely if ever leave the city they started in, and usually perform in all the same establishments. Most establishments attract the same demographic of people, and they are usually all on the same wavelength. I don’t box myself in. I’ve performed in big cities and small towns. I’ve performed in comedy clubs, coffee shops, dive bars and other venues. I’ve also performed off the beaten path at poetry and spoken word spots. I’ve take a PA system to a laundromat that had a singles night in Charlotte, and I’ve performed a 40 minute impromptu set at a fried chicken joint in the west end of Atlanta. Black establishments and white establishments. Laughter has no race, sex, religion, gender or political affiliation. I’m gonna make you laugh.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I’m not sure. I probably could’ve used a mentor. Guess I have a bunch of them that make appearances at different stages and levels of my life and development. As far as comedy and the entertainment industry, networking is key. Almost everything is sewed up, and if you aren’t apart of a group it’s hard to get stage time. Talent doesn’t always cut it. There’s plenty of cheap talent within. It’s almost always the ppl you meet along the way that put you in a position to be seen. It’s also sometimes the ppl you start your journey with who get an opportunity, and they give you one. I talk to everyone. Trade information with lots of comedians, rappers, singers, poets, musicians and other artists all the time. Art compliments art. No one can see your dreams and visions even if you tell them, and you can’t see theirs. But they can be fundamental in bringing yours to reality just as much as you can theirs. Be available, receptive and ready.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5o_shades_0f_jay?igsh=cDN1OTNuc3hqNDlu&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/James-Cathey-100091405281513/
- Twitter: https://x.com/5o_shadesof_jay?s=21&t=zv_7U2VzPLtI-pE5Gc7OEg
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@50_shades_of_jay?si=PjekxbIcIWIlNKpq
