Meet Casey Graves | Comedian

We had the good fortune of connecting with Casey Graves and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Casey, we’d love to hear more about your end-goal, professionally.
The end goal for me professionally is to have made significant contributions in my field, to have grown both personally and intellectually, and to have positively impacted the lives of others through my work. By the end of my career, I envision myself as an expert in my domain, respected for my expertise, and potentially in a position where I can mentor and inspire others in their professional journeys. Ultimately, I aim to leave a lasting legacy of innovation and positive change.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets me apart best? I personally think it’s all about my unique perspective on everyday life—finding humor in the mundane and the absurd. I’m proud of my ability to connect with diverse audiences and bring laughter into their lives.

Getting to where I am today wasn’t a walk in the park, let me tell you. There were plenty of late nights, tough crowds, and moments of self-doubt. You never know where or when you get work. One time I had to perform at an all black hookah lounge, I had to follow a Michael Jackson impersonator and then the dj brought me up to Billie Jean. Needless to say, she’s not my girl.

I ate it hard time and time again. But I overcame those challenges by staying persistent, refining my material, and learning from every performance, especially the tough ones.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to embrace failure. In the beginning, comedy to me was like an awkward teenager going through puberty, but like my 6’ 8” real estate guru Dante Gentile says, “You’re doing great man, you just gotta trust the process, now buy one of my houses.”

Not every joke landed, and that was okay, but it’s all part of the process. Another lesson is the importance of authenticity. Audiences appreciate genuine humor that comes from a real place.

One of my biggest inspirations was a man by the name of Patrice O’Neal, a lot of what he said made people hate how much they agreed with him, his skills came from a place of truth and authenticity which united everyone in the room in the most absurd way.

What do I want the world to know about my brand? I want people to see me as more than just a comedian—I’m a storyteller, an observer of life’s quirks, and a purveyor of joy. My comedy is about finding the humor in our shared human experiences, and I hope to keep spreading laughter wherever I go!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Whenever my out-of-town friends come to visit, they usually stay in New York or Los Angeles. Consequently, when they think of “Florida living,” they imagine South Beach or the Everglades. I play along with that assumption. The Versace Mansion on South Beach has a restaurant, and the Everglades offer fan boat rides. I typically take them to one of these attractions to satisfy their curiosity, and then I steer towards a more practical itinerary. We wake up, hit the gym, freshen up, grab a bathing suit, then hit the beach bar. I’m talking Elbo Room (cash only), stumble into Blondies, beat a leather faced local in a game of pool, we’ll go back to the Elbo upstairs for one more, decide to take a golf cart taxi and enjoy the sun going down over the bridge. Before you know it, we’re at Moxies for a $52 New York strip and an $85 espresso martini. By the end of the night we’re tossing pieces of steak in peoples mouths from across the bar on a bachelorrette like they’re ping pong balls hitting the rim of a solo cup. Eventually there’s always some guy there who is going to absolutely hate us, but the root of his hatred is that he’s from out of town on a business trip, he’s in a blazer and we’re still in beach attire, we befriend him by shots of tequila, then proceed to the next location… It’s fun for the whole family!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A big thank you to the three guys who really helped me pursue this: Scott Forchette, Mike Richard, and Marshall Chandler. They played a crucial role in helping me establish myself in this industry. It wouldn’t have happened without them.

A big shoutout to my mom and grandmother for always supporting me on stage. Another huge shoutout to my Aunt Tina and Uncle Carlos, who have always been there for me; they’re basically my management. Shoutout to my cousins Roberto and Giovanni for being ridiculous yet providing great material.

A big thanks to Nick Wucher, who runs the fantastic clothing company called “Yifno” and provides all my stage gear. Also, he co-hosts our tremendously successful podcast, Serving Sunshine.

Thank you, Grandpa John, for giving me thick skin. Last but not least, I thank my dad for everything he’s done.

Website: https://www.caseygravescomedy.com

Instagram: @CaseyGravesComedy

Facebook: Casey Graves

Youtube: Main: Casey Graves / Podcast: Serving Sunshine

Other: Follow, like, and subscribe to my GLOBALLY successful Youtube podcast called “Serving Sunshine.” Buy tickets to my upcoming shows through my website at caseygraves.com and of course, hug and call your family members… or else.

Image Credits
Image credit from the Miami improv, Dania Beach improv, YIFNO comedy, the Taurus, coconut grove, comedy, The Elbo room.