Meet Robert Wagner | Stand up comedian

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

Hi Robert, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk is vital to life and having a strong career. Risk helps build confidence in whatever you do in life. Without it I wouldn’t have fallen in love and I wouldn’t be pursuing Stand up comedy or writing. Risk helps you connect with things and people you love and gives you that thick skin for failure. Sometimes, risk is all we have in life and that’s important. It’s important to fail and risk is the fuel that helps us face our fears.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I feel what sets me part or any artist for that matter is our life experiences and our individuality. Stand up comedy is great because you really bare your soul through a comedic way and may or may not get the laugh, but that’s what makes so many comedians incredibly vulnerable yet bullet proof. Our vulnerability is our strength. I think my proudest moment so far in my comedy career was performing at the Comedy Store in Hollywood, having my friends and family there to support me and laugh at my silliness. I’m grateful for having a wild life through my point of view and I get to share this with the audience.

It hasn’t been an easy road. The first couple of years of stand up are really challenging, it’s still challenging but you take those hits where you bomb. You get knocked down and get back up because you are searching for the laugh. You’re searching for the perfect joke. Stand up isn’t easy but then again I love a challenge. Stand up will teach you perseverance, humility and a sense of redemption. You bomb but you want to get back in that ring and laugh your way to the top. This art form has really taught me the more repetitions and work you put in, the better you will get. Those hard hits early on are great, they build a thick skin for you.

I think the world should know that I’m an incredibly flawed and imperfect human being but that’s ok because we all are and that’s what makes me and many other artists relatable. I want to share my point of view through my life experiences so people can laugh and have a good time. I want people to laugh at my pain, it’s what gives me purpose in life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
So many great spots to hit up in LA. For breakfast I’d take us to the Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker or Urth cafe for amazing coffee and pastries. Masa of Echo Park has incredible Deep dish pizza or get a delicious hot dog at the iconic pink’s hot dogs on melrose. Home restaurant is another amazing spot for food and drink located in Los Feliz. As you can see, I love to eat!

My favorite dive bar is The Roost in Los Feliz or we can go and visit The Dark Room on Melrose. One of my favorite bars is Good Times at Davey Wayne’s located in the heart of Hollywood, this place has great music and drinks.

And for our comedy tour in LA I’d come check out The Aafter School Special open mic show at the Roost which my friend, Kevin Heisinger, and I host every Tuesday at 7pm! Best mic in LA! I’d also take us to the World Famous Comedy store, The Hollywood Improv and Laugh Factory where some of the best comics in the world come to perform making the masses laugh. LA is a never ending place of fun and entertainment. There’s a little something for everyone in the City of Angels,

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to really thank my family. They are the funniest people I know. My dad and sister were a huge influence on my comedy career. We loved watching comedies starring Robin Williams, John Candy, Jim Carey, Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, Steve Martin and so many greats that jumpstarted my love for comedy. I have fond memories of going to the movie theater with my dad as a kid, and us laughing our asses off watching the greats do what they do best… making the audience laugh! My sister is the true clown and jokester in my family and she could always make me laugh at my highest and lowest moments in life. My family and I didn’t have much money growing up but we had each other and laughs to go along with it.

My friend, Christina Schuch has also been a huge influence on me as a person and my comedy career. She’s the one who pushed me to take the risk when I feared doing stand up comedy and I haven’t looked back since. She made me fall in love with stand up comedy and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I thank her for that. Facing your fears is EVERYTHING!

Instagram: @Robbybobby32comedy

Facebook: Robby Wagner