James Camacho: Being a Comedian Is Actually a Full-Time Job

Mixed Asian Media - October 1, 2024

By Naturally MonaLisa

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If you are Chinese and Puerto Rican, should you be quiet or loud? This is the dilemma that New York-based comedian James Camacho is facing. He’s an only child, and he wishes his therapy sessions were cheaper. His new hour-long comedy show Mutt touches on a variety of topics including dating woes, people being offended for no reason, expensive clubbing in New York City, and getting pulled over by the police in Ohio. Mixed Asian Media’s Naturally MonaLisa spoke with Camacho about comedic superpowers, debunking myths, and how he learned to be himself.

*This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

What can comedians do that other people in entertainment can’t? What is the “superpower” of a comedian? 

I think comedians have a third eye. We see things from different angles, and we see both sides of a coin. Most people watch the news and have one view of it, but comedians ask questions and think about the news from different angles. This could be because comedians are always looking for a joke or looking for new materials. But it could be a curse because we may overthink things and stress ourselves over every little thing.

Do you remember the first gig you got as a comedian? How was that experience?

The first time I got on stage as a kid was during seventh grade in middle school. I had an English teacher who turned the last Friday of each month into what she called a “coffee house” or “study hall.” There’s no lecture and every student could do whatever they want, and people could sign up for a performance. I watched Comedy Central as a kid so I thought, why not try telling jokes at school? So I signed up to do a performance at school, and that was the first time I ever went on stage.

The first real show that I did was after college at a hookah lounge. I had a flier and it’s probably still on Instagram if you scroll down my page. But that show didn’t go well, and I smelled like smoke for weeks after that. But I was very excited because I was finally not doing open mic. 

In a previous comedy special, you mentioned performing at many fascinating places, including performing for soldiers in the Middle East? What was that experience like? Did you have to create specific jokes just for them? 

It was an incredible experience, but a lot of work!! It was not just one performance for the troops. I did around 17 shows over three weeks with a group of other comedians. Even though we were in the Middle East, we were performing to American soldiers so we didn’t have to change up our jokes too much. I focused on much broader materials like relationships, race, and fart jokes. The soldiers were actually great crowds. They were living a strict schedule and doing the same thing every day, so they appreciated the comedy shows and experiencing something different.

What is a misconception about comedians that you would like to debunk?

I think most people have a lack of knowledge about comedians, and they lump everyone together that tells jokes or has done a show before. Sometimes when I tell people I’m a comedian, they proceed to tell me that their uncle or nephew is a comedian too because they just did an open mic or they just went on stage. Being a comedian is actually a full-time job. I have been doing comedy for 10 years, I do 400 shows a year, and I have been on TV. I’m not a guy that does one show a year when I’m free. 

Another misconception is that people think comedians are always funny. They think you are a laugh track or a walking joke machine. People also expect comedians to look a certain way and dress a certain way. I get this all the time when I check into hotels. I reveal to the front desk that I’m part of the comedy club, and they look at me confused. They look at me like I can’t be a comedian because I look like a normal guy that can’t afford to stay there. People expect comedians to be goofballs or class clowns, when many comedians are in fact the opposite. They can be quiet and introverted.

In an interview on Medium.com, you said one of the five things you wish someone told you when you first became a professional comedian was to “be yourself.” That is easier said than done. How did you learn to be yourself over the years during your performances?

To be completely honest, it doesn’t start from performance. Rather, it starts with your real life. How can you be yourself in real life, and then bring your real life onto the stage.

You need to trust in yourself. Trust in your abilities and trust that what you have to offer is good and it’s funny. You also need to learn to block out what other people are saying. Criticism and feedback are good, but you have to trust in your instincts and listen to yourself. Try not to people please. I wanted people to like me, and I wanted people to follow me on social media. But then I realized I should not sacrifice what I like. I should not sacrifice who I am to please others. 

Don’t take people’s crap, and don’t be pressured to do things that go against your morals. Learn to say no to people, and trust that you are great, you have a gift, and you have something to offer to others.

How has your family and mixed-race background inspired you and make you the comedian that you are today?

Being mixed race has helped my comedy because it’s a unique thing. A lot of people are drawn to my background. I built pretty much my entire following on saying, “My mom’s Chinese, my dad’s Puerto Rican.” I think growing up mixed race has planted the seeds to becoming a comedian. I had a lot of identity issues and I felt like I don’t fit in anywhere.

Also, my parents raised me in a way that you could say, that’s how any parent can raise a future comedian. My mom was very hard on me, and she controlled a lot of aspects of my life. She wanted me to go to school and get one of those safe jobs, such as a doctor and lawyer. My dad was quiet and we never bonded. When a kid feels neglected and not being seen, they want to go on stage and show the world that they have good ideas and they got something to prove. So that’s the formula to making a comedian!

Camacho has a brand-new special called Mutt, which is out now on YouTube! He is currently touring the country, and you can visit his website for a full list of performance dates. If you can’t make it to any of his live shows, you can check out his podcast, “Kicking it with Camacho,” available on YouTube and most podcast platforms. And of course, you can follow him on Instagram, X, and TikTok.