Meet Gregory Virgin | Writer & Comedian

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gregory Virgin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gregory, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
How are we defining “give up”? I’ve given up so many times, but it never seems to take. It’s really easy to get discouraged and this has led me to take some extended breaks. There’s a part of me that wishes that I could have discovered early on that I have no potential. Like if I performed 100 times and I bombed every one of them, the decision to walk away would be easy, right? I could just wash my hands of this whole thing with the comforting knowledge that I gave it my all and discovered that I have nothing to offer. But sadly that hasn’t been the case, so when things get hard, my brain is left searching for a different reason to give up. As of this interview, the only thing I’ve been able to come up with is fear. And that’s not a good enough reason. Lest my candor comes across as a tad negative, let me just add that comedy can be an incredibly joyful experience. Making people laugh is one of the best feelings in the world.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I’m a comedian. I’ve performed at various clubs around LA such as Flappers and The Ice House. I also write satirical articles for online humor publications.

Lately I’ve been testing new stand-up material around the city. I haven’t performed a lot since the pandemic, so it’s been fun getting back in front of audiences. Developing material is a challenging trial-and-error process and I’m a bit too perfectionistic for my own good, but I’m excited to start doing shows again.

When I tell people I do comedy, they usually want to know what I talk about onstage. Some of my current areas of focus are Christopher Columbus, Barbra Streisand, and diabetic mice. I try to stick with the universal topics. Also, I promise to never pick on anyone who sits in the front row. Unless you’re like wearing a Big Bird costume or eating the napkins. Then I might have to say something.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well my best friend actually did visit for a week last year, so what an incredible question to be asked. Now we know that everything happens for a reason.

For brunch, we went to The Waffle on Sunset. They have really great pancakes, I mean waffles. But more importantly, they offer pure maple syrup. I’m a stickler for pure maple syrup, and I always ask waiters to confirm syrup authenticity with the kitchen. They really like that.

Then we headed over to The Last Bookstore, which is a downtown gem. It’s got hardwood floors and for some reason, that always enhances the bookstore experience. Plus there are a bunch of charming artisan shops upstairs.

If you’re hanging out with me for more than an hour, it’s pretty much guaranteed that ice cream will be involved. We stopped by Jeni’s in Los Feliz, Wanderlust in Atwater Village, and McConnell’s at Grand Central Market. Not all in the same day, but if anyone wants to go for that record, I offer my full support.

Finally, we finished out the week with a Steve Martin & Martin Short show at the Hollywood Bowl. One of the best things about LA is all the amazing live entertainment that is available on any given night. In terms of smaller venues, I like Largo, the Troubadour, and The Glendale Room, which also happens to be my favorite place to perform.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My whole family has been supportive of me. I’m very lucky. My mom shares my sense of humor, so she’s always been especially excited about my comedy pursuits. When I was a kid and started getting interested in show business, she would take me to see my favorite performers and wait with me outside the stage door so that I could get autographs. She even took me to Las Vegas to see my idols, Jerry Seinfeld and Ellen DeGeneres. Without that encouragement, I might not have gone the artistic route. Imagine, I could’ve ended up with an advanced degree, job security, and my own home. Thanks, Mom! I’m kidding, of course. No one in my generation can afford a home.

Website: gregoryvirgin.substack.com

Instagram: instagram.com/gregoryvirgin

Youtube: youtube.com/@gregoryvirgin

Other: pointsincase.com/author/gregory-virgin

Image Credits
Weekly Humorist