We had the good fortune of connecting with Shaun Patrick Flynn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shaun Patrick, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Experience and education have been the two most important factors for me.  I recorded my first standup comedy special and album in May, and all of my education and experiences over many years went into creating it.  I wrote and produced it all on my own.  I had to wear many hats to just make it happen, but I’ve worn almost every hat over the years. I’ve been a performer, a photographer, a filmmaker, a music manager, and a promoter. You have to do it all to keep growing.

As a performer, I’ve been doing comedy since 2005. I trained extensively at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in NYC and The Groundlings here in LA. I also studied acting at The Ruskin Theater and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts.  Some performers don’t believe in a formal education when it comes to the arts, but I embrace it.  What I’m doing as a performer was learned in a classroom, and then worked out over hundreds of performances (the experiences). I took something away from every institution I’ve attended, and every instructor that has taught me. Then I went out there and experimented, and I created my own brand of comedy.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I’m a standup comic, but I work as an ICU Nurse during the day.  I spent the last 2.5 years working with some of the sickest Covid patients in the country, and as you can imagine, it’s been insane. At one point during the pandemic, I felt like I was losing my mind. I was working 50-60 hours a week in the ICU, we weren’t vaccinated yet, and there seemed to be no end in sight. I had to find a way to cope, so I started writing new standup material.
Initially, I started out taking improv classes at UCB in NYC, and got into standup a short time later.  I loved standup immediately. I love a good joke and I was always a wise ass of sorts, so it fits me. I did the NYC comedy thing for a while, but I struggled a lot in New York.  I bounced from job to job, I had a ton of debt, and I partied too much. Finally it all caught up with me and I had to leave NYC.  Suddenly, I was back in my hometown with no job, no money, and I was living in my parents basement. You know, killing it. I ended up going to nursing school because I needed a big change in my life. I’ve gotten a bit more than I bargained for.

I moved out to LA in 2017, but I didn’t focus on standup initially. I work on a very specialized Intensive Care Unit, so training took up most of my time and energy.  I didn’t have the stamina to run all over LA doing standup, but I took improv classes at the Groundlings to stay creative. However, the pandemic changed everything. For months on end, I saw people from all walks of life suffer, then die.  After seeing so much death, I realized we only have some much time. I started to think about what was important to me and I realized I needed standup in my life again.  So ,I got back on stage in May of 2021 and I haven’t looked back.  I spent 12 months doing shows all over LA, working on my material.  Then I recorded my first comedy special and album in May.  It was a lot of work, but after 16 years, I was ready to record something. 

I also started a monthly comedy show called Essential Comics where I invite some of the funniest comedians in LA to come and perform with me.
The shows are really fun and I try to make the tickets low cost or free so they are accessible to everyone. It’s been a great way to create some stage time for myself and to work on my hosting and producing chops. It also allows me to do a little philanthropy too.   This summer, I’m partnering with a nonprofit organization, SURF Ukraine, to help raise money to send supplies to Ukraine.  On July 20th, we are having a benefit show at The Laugh Factory in Hollywood.  Hopefully we can raise some real money for their organization.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I haven’t really had time to get to know LA well because of my circumstances, but I’m working on it.  However, most of my friends are comedy fans, so we go to The Comedy Store when they come to town.   Nearly all of the comedians that influenced me worked there at some point, so I love going there to see shows there and taking in the history.  The improv and sketch comedy shows at The Groundlings are fun too. Even though it’s a small theatre, their shows are big productions. Every show feels like you are watching a taping of Saturday Night Live.
I’m also a fan of the unique live music venues here in LA, like the Troubadour and The Greek Theater.  I like The Venice West too, which is a newer music venue on the west side that hosts my Essential Comics show.  LA is a great place to see live music and I’m hoping to take advantage of that more post pandemic.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my awesome Heart and Lung Transplant patients. They are rockstars. There is nothing more inspiring than watching people fight for their life, then receive the gift of organ donation, then go on to live their lives to the fullest.  I am fortunate enough to see them thrive. They are incredible.

Website: https://www.shaunpatrickflynn.com

Instagram: @shaunpatrickflynn

Twitter: @grinlikeflynn

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3HadiQ_wZF7nEQvS48HEhQ

Other: If you would like to attend an Essential Comics Comedy Show, featuring comedians from TV, please www.essentialcomics.com and sign up for our mailing list.

Image Credits
James DiPietro Marci Manklow Jason Delgado Jake Lloyd Bacon

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.