[Insert Title Here]: Don Armon Shares His Story as a Rising Comedian

 by Don Armon

The Love Trollinger Initiative LLC (c) 2024.  All Rights reserved.

My comedic origin story began at my birth and has been an ongoing process since. Raised as an only child by my grandparents, much of my childhood was spent in solitude. Entertaining and amusing myself became my everyday norm. Once I made friends, I took every opportunity to keep them amused and entertained, as much as I did for myself. This approach to comedy has always felt natural for me, based on my personality and perspective on life through my sense of humor. I've always felt destined to be a comedian.

It wasn't until adulthood that I decided to actively pursue comedy. I reached a point where working a 9-5 job was no longer fulfilling, and that's when my improv journey began. Through improv, my comedic skills expanded, leading me to explore puppetry, sketch comedy, skits, and voice animation. As I grew more confident in my comedic pursuits, I took the leap to become a stand-up comic. Leaving Maryland without a support system, I moved to Austin, Texas, to pursue stand-up comedy.

Pursuing stand-up is not for the weak; it requires a tremendous amount of work for a small amount of stage time. Comedy is a profession where the work never stops. To be the best comedian, you have to be the best version of yourself. Balancing the demands of life with the need to be funny can be challenging. Financial hardships, physical health, and family matters are just some of the concerns comedians face.

One of the recurring challenges for up-and-coming comics is accepting performance opportunities without compensation, especially when money is tight. Starting out, jokes don't pay the rent. Being a comedian is a different kind of grind; when your 9-5 ends, your 5-9 begins. From writing material to performing on stage to listening and reviewing your sets, the work is constant. And then there are the "Runs," where you sign up for open mics one after the other, sometimes doing up to five in a night. The cycle repeats itself day after day.

But one of the greatest feelings is when all your hard work pays off—when a joke you've been working on finally lands, or when a stellar performance leads to booked opportunities from showrunners. This can happen even before the money starts rolling in. Once it does, you start to think that maybe you can make a living from this passion. The more you invest in comedy, the further you travel past the point of no return.

When I started comedy, I thought I just wanted a 1-hour special. Now, I aspire to master the art of stand-up. My advice to those following in my footsteps is simple: if you have a dream, go after it. Life is too short and too long not to. My biggest fear is growing old with regret, wishing I had pursued my dreams more vigorously. I am, so I can, and I will. As 50 Cent said, "Get rich or die trying."

Don Armon can be found on Instagram.  Click Here to view his profile.

(**Material may not be suitable for children.  Parental discretion is advised)