Today we’d like to introduce you to Mel Mitchell.
Mel, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
As a comedian, my story is very is funny. I have always loved stand-up comedy, even as a child, no matter how inappropriate it was for my age. I used to watch comedy specials and television shows with my dad, that’s how we bonded – through laughter. I was inadvertently studying the craft for years.
When I started my podcast in 2016, I would always say whatever funny thought came to my mind. My friend told me that I was hilarious and needed to start writing my jokes down. I was petrified of the idea of stand-up comedy because I only thought I was conversationally funny, not comedian funny. I wrote jokes down for months but never went on stage because I was scared. One day, my same friend invited me out to one of his open mics and told me to bring my joke book. Once I got there, he forced me to get on stage.
The rest is history… No, I’m kidding. I was so nervous that day and I’ve just been working on and perfecting my craft ever since. I’m getting better by the day.
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?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road at all. Comedy is twice as hard as it looks (and it looks very hard). There is a lot more to it than standing there and telling jokes. You have to know how to work the crowd, deal with people who aren’t laughing, and be prepared for hecklers.
In addition to the comedy itself, I have to know how to navigate as a young, Black female comedian. There’s this assumption that women aren’t funny and people will judge (or prey on) you because of how you look.
Please tell us about Mel Mitchell Comedy.
I am a comedian. I do stand-up, skits, act, you name it! I’m known for my jokes and natural hair, they’ve become kind of a “thing.”
I’m proud of the fact that I took a leap of faith and conquered something that scared me. I’m even prouder of the fact that it worked!
I have a few moments when I was the “proudest,” each one outdoes the last moment. My favorite so far has been my performance at my mother’s church and doing a great job without cursing. That was huge for me and I realized how truly versatile I could be!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory is spending time with my loved ones that are no longer here, specifically my late father. I have experienced a lot of loss in my life and those memories are what keep me going.
Me and my dad had the same zodiac sign (Cancers) so we really *got* each other.
That was my road dog! We used to stay up late and watch standup comedy that may or may not have been age appropriate, but it sparked my comedic funny bone.
He was also super protective of me. So much so that I vividly remember him confronting my elementary school bully’s mom about how her child was treating me or him defending me in front of my fifth-grade teacher. At the time I thought he was being extra but now I appreciate it. I’ll cherish those moments forever.
Contact Info:
- Email: bookingmelmitchell@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsmelmitch/
Image Credit:
Ryan Coleman, Giles Williams and Sandy Wyckoff
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