Joe Hill
What Are Your Thoughts On….
On the importance of work-life balance and ensuring that your dream doesn’t drown out in your day-to-day responsibilities?
It is always important to keep your dreams and aspirations in your clear view. Working is important because we all need to survive as well as live. Doing what you love or maybe passionate about shouldn't be work. Finding balance is key to your success. Planning and organizing your time is a great way to start. I work as an educator by day and at night I work on things I love.
On creating spaces, such as the Concourse Comedy Festival in the Bronx, that provide entertainment and laughter for a demographic that has continuously had their smiles stripped from them?
Well, we believe creating platforms for comedians to be seen and heard is very important and a priority to us. We all understand the seriousness of this pandemic that's why we created our comedy panel that hosts comedians from around the nation discussing topics that matter. This has helped us maintain the platform. Once the pandemic is officially in the clear we will be excited to return to the stages throughout the Bronx.
On the role of comedy in the fight for justice + equality in this present-day Civil Rights Movement?
As comedians we have a responsibility a lot of times to respond or speak on issues currently around us. It is important to use our platform to speak on injustice that has plagued this country and still is. All lives can't matter if Black Lives Don't. We are facing times like never before and we must continue to push the conversation around equality.
On creating opportunities for other comedians and how creating these opportunities benefits the industry as a whole?
One of the biggest things we can do for comedians is providing validation and support. Providing them a platform to be seen and heard is important to us. Some of the funniest comedians you prolly never heard of. It pushes the comedy culture forward by empowering comedians. This leads to growth and more opportunities for them.
On the future of stand-up comedy. How do you see virtual comedy/standup influencing the comedy industry? Do you see it continuing post ‘Rona?
This is a question I love to answer. I think we are now seeing a new normal for stand-up comedy. Virtual comedy has always been present. There were a bunch of producers and platforms using zoom a few years before the pandemic. I feel it's a great way for comics to work on something new. It also prepares you for television being in front of a camera and not being able to see or maybe see folks. Either way, I think it will still be going on for years to come. As comics, we just gained an expansion.