Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Broud.
Hi Adam, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
Greg can capture this part better than I can since he was the one who originally started Comedy Church.
I came in a few years after Greg had started Comedy Church. We knew each other from open mics, but honestly, we didn’t know each other super well.
I was trying to get on to Comedy Church as a guest spot when Greg invited me to his place and asked if I wanted to cohost it with him. I immediately jumped at the chance as I’d heard so many great things about the show, and I was excited about Greg’s plans to take the show to the next level.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has not been smooth. Running a stand-up show is a lot of work for very little pay. So, all the leg work alone is tough. There’s also difficulty at times with the branding and helping people understand what the show is compared to what people think the show will be.
I think a lot of people think it’s going to be some sort of religious bash fest, but I think we’re a far cry from that. We always try to speak to our own experiences first and generalize to others last. Also, it’s a comedy show, and it’s not that funny to go up on stage and say, “I DON’T LIKE THIS THING!” We always put comedy first in the show, then I’d say a little bit of heart comes second, and finally, a little bit of venting comes in at times because religion is a sensitive topic that people are working through.
But yeah, it’s tough growing a show. It’s tough filling seats. And it’s tough doing that while having people tell you what they think you’re doing and how that upsets them, even if that’s not what you’re doing.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a stand-up comedian. And the main thing I do is I’m one of the hosts of Comedy Church, a stand-up show all about religion. Each show has a different theme, but each show is run almost like a church service except for fun.
The show is super unique in a lot of ways. I think one unique aspect is that it’s a show that has a really broad reach (we’ve got lots of followers from all over the country) but it still has a very Utah flavor to it as religion colors all aspects of Utah life.
We’ve traveled with the show too though, and it does well in other places, but I think a show that emphasizes how much religion affects even the non-religious is a show that could only be made in Utah.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
One of my core beliefs is the only thing we leave behind is our story. So, whenever I’m trying to make a decision, but I’m unsure of what to do, I’ll oftentimes ask myself, “What makes the better story?”
A lot of times, the answer is the option that involves more risk, but also more work. And I think a lot of times, you can minimize risk by committing to something. At least I hope so, because I let my well-paid life trajectory of working in the business with an MBA try my hand at stand-up comedy instead.
Pricing:
- $15 for a ticket
Contact Info:
- Website: www.adambroud.com/comedychurch
- Instagram: @comedychurchslc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ComedyChurchSLC/
- Twitter: @comedychurch
- Youtube: @comedy.church
- Other: tiktok: @comedychurch
