Jimmy O. Yang (performing a bit)

I always want to create something. Whether it's with chopstick wrappers or a pen drawing on my arm. And then when I went to college, I studied economics. Well, first I studied mechanical engineering. And then I switched to economics, which was much easier. I just wanted to graduate.

Yeah, that was still appeasing Asian parents. Yeah, that was the joke in my first day, which is true. You know, I couldn't do like, I don't know, archaeology. I don't know. I don't know what is like communications. I don't think my dad would like that. Economics, at least it sounded real. You know, not to disparage any communication majors out there.

Yeah, that was still appeasing Asian parents. Yeah, that was the joke in my first day, which is true. You know, I couldn't do like, I don't know, archaeology. I don't know. I don't know what is like communications. I don't think my dad would like that. Economics, at least it sounded real. You know, not to disparage any communication majors out there.

Yeah, that was still appeasing Asian parents. Yeah, that was the joke in my first day, which is true. You know, I couldn't do like, I don't know, archaeology. I don't know. I don't know what is like communications. I don't think my dad would like that. Economics, at least it sounded real. You know, not to disparage any communication majors out there.

So I did economics, but I secretly had a minor in theater and music. It never came to fruition. I think you need seven classes, but I took like six classes on each of those. And I remember those are the things I got A's at and those were the things I did the best at because I was passionate about it.

So I did economics, but I secretly had a minor in theater and music. It never came to fruition. I think you need seven classes, but I took like six classes on each of those. And I remember those are the things I got A's at and those were the things I did the best at because I was passionate about it.

So I did economics, but I secretly had a minor in theater and music. It never came to fruition. I think you need seven classes, but I took like six classes on each of those. And I remember those are the things I got A's at and those were the things I did the best at because I was passionate about it.

And then later on, you know, after I graduated, when I was like trying to figure myself out, stand-up was just one of many things that I've tried and it just spoke to me. You know, you can literally create something out of thin air without anyone's permission. And I thought that was very liberating.

And then later on, you know, after I graduated, when I was like trying to figure myself out, stand-up was just one of many things that I've tried and it just spoke to me. You know, you can literally create something out of thin air without anyone's permission. And I thought that was very liberating.

And then later on, you know, after I graduated, when I was like trying to figure myself out, stand-up was just one of many things that I've tried and it just spoke to me. You know, you can literally create something out of thin air without anyone's permission. And I thought that was very liberating.

Yeah. Even open my comics. And we still do that now. It's called giving each other tags. If you have a tag after the punchline that makes the joke better or switching a couple lines together. I listen to my openers sometimes and they'll give me great ideas that I didn't think of. And yeah, it was just like a sense of community. And the thing about stand-up, there's no barrier of entry.

Yeah. Even open my comics. And we still do that now. It's called giving each other tags. If you have a tag after the punchline that makes the joke better or switching a couple lines together. I listen to my openers sometimes and they'll give me great ideas that I didn't think of. And yeah, it was just like a sense of community. And the thing about stand-up, there's no barrier of entry.

Yeah. Even open my comics. And we still do that now. It's called giving each other tags. If you have a tag after the punchline that makes the joke better or switching a couple lines together. I listen to my openers sometimes and they'll give me great ideas that I didn't think of. And yeah, it was just like a sense of community. And the thing about stand-up, there's no barrier of entry.

And you don't have to look a certain way. There's no certain look like... Of a stand-up comedian. It's everyone. And almost it's like the weirder you are, the more like a stand-up comedian you are. So all the angst and insecurity of me not fitting in in this country, it kind of got washed away on the stage of stand-up comedy because everybody... was on equal footing, you know?

And you don't have to look a certain way. There's no certain look like... Of a stand-up comedian. It's everyone. And almost it's like the weirder you are, the more like a stand-up comedian you are. So all the angst and insecurity of me not fitting in in this country, it kind of got washed away on the stage of stand-up comedy because everybody... was on equal footing, you know?

And you don't have to look a certain way. There's no certain look like... Of a stand-up comedian. It's everyone. And almost it's like the weirder you are, the more like a stand-up comedian you are. So all the angst and insecurity of me not fitting in in this country, it kind of got washed away on the stage of stand-up comedy because everybody... was on equal footing, you know?

It's not about who you are, how rich you are, how tall you are, what ethnicity you are, it's just how funny you are.

It's not about who you are, how rich you are, how tall you are, what ethnicity you are, it's just how funny you are.

It's not about who you are, how rich you are, how tall you are, what ethnicity you are, it's just how funny you are.

And what did they say? I don't know. I think I invited my dad out to like when I finally got a showcase at the Laugh Factory. I don't think he came. And then it was later, way, way, way later when I was finally doing well and selling tickets in like San Francisco. And then I think my dad came. And he loved it. Not just for me, but I was talking about him in my set.