DELRAY BEACH – Brittany Brave’s 2021 return to South Florida made an immediate impact on the comedy scene.
Within a year of her return from a nearly eight-year relocation to New York, Brave claimed the Miami New Times’ Best Comedian honor.
Between writing, acting and performing stand-up, Brave is constantly working. In 2022 she starred in the streaming series “The Disastrous Dating Life of Diane Damone,” which is available via Roku and on YouTube, among other places. Brave is also constantly performing.
In the coming weeks she’ll appear at the Imperial Moto (Aug. 9), the Lincoln Eatery (Aug. 24), and the Miami Improv (Aug. 28) as part of the Only in Dade Bad Bitch Brunch. All those shows are in the Miami area, but Brave does frequently drive to Broward, Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties to headline comedy shows.
On Friday Applause Break caught her show at the Pompano Beach Brewing Company. In this Q&A, Brave provides insight into what drives her comedy, and some of the weird events that happened along her comedic journey.
APPLAUSE BREAK Q&A: Brittany Brave
Why did you start performing stand-up comedy?
TRAUMA! LIKE ALL THE GREATS, BABY! I actually have spent the better part of my life on stage and being a “ham”, which is a term we use for people who are annoying but mask it as a performer. I was a dancer, actress and really involved in improv and sketch, and swore off stand-up. Then, after life did its thing and I had some stuff to say, I decided to hit an open mic and never looked back. I loved the control I had on stage and how stand-up helped me reclaim some things I went through and connect with others.
Who is your favorite comic and why?
It’s a long list. I ADORE Jessica Kirson, Judy Gold, Mark Normand, Chris DiStefano, Chris Rock, Tom Segura. I really love Iliza Schlesinger as well. I think her perspectives are really fresh and unique and she’s both an awesome writer and performer. Her comedy is really brainy but energetic and goofy, and that’s what I strive for.
What do you do when you’re not performing stand-up comedy? What is your job and hobby?
Nothing. I am always performing, writing, working, sending emails, stressing out, editing clips, booking shows. It’s a job I love so I love to do it around the clock. Whenever I find free time I am probably sleeping, at the beach or baking but I don’t run into that often. I’m okay with it though.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had and what made it so bad?
I worked for a store in NY and Miami that claimed to be The Most Interesting Store in The World. They called themselves a “retail concept” and any time someone drops the word “concept” that means they haven’t done the work to figure out what the fuck they’re doing yet. I was the stage manager for an immersive theater experience inside the store where we tried to merge brands and theater (didn’t work, spoiler alert) and everything was backwards. No one knew the brands, no one knew what they were doing but like all good shit shots we charged forward with blind confidence. So badly overworked, confused for months. I quit then went back to work for them again at their Miami location because I am a glutton for punishment and got fired. So. Happily Ever After.
How often do you write? What’s your process and inspiration?
Daily and in different capacities. I always free write every morning just to dump whatever is happening in my brain, out. Joke writing and writing with that specific purpose is usually a few times a week but I have to be inspired by something that happened to me, impacted me or a whole bunch of bombs.
What’s your pre-show routine?
Put together a set. Sit in the back of the room and observe. Avoid being social. Coffee and a nap if I can.
How do you dress for a performance and why? Describe your look.
I aim for comfort always. Outside of major headlining spots or opening for people or bigger gigs, my concern isn’t my looks and outfit, it’s my material and using that time to work my shit out. That’s it. There’s enough distractions when you’re a female comic and people have enough reasons to think you’re not funny and don’t deserve everything you get so I like to simplify and make sure I step on stage and feel ready to use my time wisely and do my job.
What’s the best comedy movie ever and why?
Always been a big fan of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Never get sick of it. Timeless, innocent, funny, silly. Just a classic.
How does your dream performance go?
As a comic I can tell you no performance will ever be enough or fulfill the dream. I will never be satisfied with any performance FULLY. That’s why this profession is so unhealthy but also that’s how greats are built. Always hungry, never settling.
What’s the strangest thing a heckler has ever said to you? How did you respond?
I had a woman blow her tongue at me? Like mouth farts? At joke she didn’t like? Which was sad. Because that’s how my little toddler cousins react when people put vegetables in front of them. I think I said exactly that to her on stage and she started slurring and the joke wrote itself. Then I put her in time out.
What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to you at a show?
I’ve had the club I’m performing at be currently under construction. I’ve had the mic get grabbed out of my hand. I’ve had someone vomit in the front row from drinking too much or my comedy, IDK. There’s something about this art form that it just brings out the animal in all of us.
Where do you see your comedy in five years?
Hopefully on NETFLIX! Hahaha. I hope it ages well. I hope it gets smarter, more personal and comfortable. I hope I continue to find ways to connect even better with audiences. I hope I find myself even more. Both on and off stage.
What else should comedy fans know about you?
That I am 4’11 and to stop asking, it’s rude.
What are your IG, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts so that we can link to them?
Follow Brittany Brave on: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
