Damon Royster, originally from Chicago and now residing in Los Angeles, has made a name for himself in the world of comedy. He has written and directed sketch comedy for both Second City in Chicago and the Pack Theater in L.A. His writing has been featured on The Gag, a Comedy Central-owned LGBTQ Instagram account, the tabletop game Cards Against Humanity, and Cracked. Damon is also the creator of the award-winning web series AppQueen, which was a finalist at the 2019 Outfest Film Festival. Additionally, he co-wrote the parody play Love, Factually, which was performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in 2018 and 2019. Currently, Damon serves as an executive assistant for the award-winning documentary production company Firelight Films.

In this episode, Dante and Damon discuss:

• Damon's multifaceted career as a writer, actor, and comedian
• Early influences and the desire to understand the formula of comedy
• The interplay between acting and writing in self-produced comedic work
• Creating comedic characters based on real-life encounters
• Damon's approach to stand-up comedy and connecting with the audience

Key Takeaways:

• Comedy brings together the unique skills of acting and writing, drawing from personal experiences.
• Exaggerating quirks of real-life people can be a source of comedic character creation.
• Establishing a connection with the audience through personal stories is crucial in stand-up comedy.
• Aspiring actors and comedians should have a day job while constantly creating and refining their craft.
• Setting short-term goals is essential for personal and professional growth in the comedy industry.

“If you're going to go into the world of comedy and call yourself a comedian, you do need to have a little bit of both acting and writing skills, because both those things coincide with comedy.”

- Damon Royster

Connect with Damon Royster:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damon-royster-29667540/

Connect with Dante Royster:

Website: https://www.danteroyster.com/

Epic Mortgage Website: Epic Mortgage, Inc. NMLS 1885086

Facebook: EpicMortgage1885086

Epic Mortgage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epicmortgage/

“The Ultimate Mortgage Guide” book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKTRWLRP

LinkedIn: Dante Royster | LinkedIn

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanteRoyster

YouTube: Epic Spotlight

Email: dante@epic.mortgage

The 9 states that Epic Mortgage is licensed are: Illinois/Indiana/Michigan/Colorado/Maryland/Virginia/Florida/Georgia/Texas

Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelo Paul Tagama

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.