Meet Sean Conroy | Comedian/Writer/Director/Podcaster/Teacher

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

Hi Sean, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
First day of my Freshman Year of high school (all boys, The Bronx, Catholic), they had a Freshman Field Day. Everybody had to do relay races and tug of wars and meet each other and be best friends forever. I didn’t know anybody, everybody seemed to know each other and be so cool (they didn’t and they weren’t, but that’s my brain) (to be fair I’m a Cancer, water sign, very sensitive) (if this annoys you, you’re probably a Libra). A couple of Seniors walked about 20 of us over to a nearby field to play football. When we got there, after our endless (three minute?) hike (uphill!), we realized that nobody (including the Seniors) had actually brought a ball. Everybody stood there for a minute. Stunned silence. I still remember that I managed to break the tension hilariously: “So are we gonna play with a real ball, or are we supposed to just imagine?” Okay, not the funniest joke ever (probably third or fourth at best), but it got a hearty guffaw (or a chuckle at least) (some snickers) from pretty much everybody (except maybe the seniors). I remember thinking, “This might be okay.”

The world can be a dark place, at times (like now). I love the feeling of community I get (and maybe others do too) when people laugh together. I try to share my life experiences in a way people can relate to, in a way that creates joy. I hope it connects people through laughter, even people who don’t know each other and never really will. I do it because ideally it makes people (including and maybe especially me) feel less alone, like I did when people laughed at Freshman Field Day. Also for the drugs and sex stuff.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art (which is really my comedy) (which is an art) is a granular exploration of the universe, a skewed microscopic portrait of humanity’s relentless stumbling and bumbling (shoutout to Clyde), and a way for me to make sense of myself, the world, and no-cash coffee joints. No cash!

I’ve definitely learned a lot along the way. I always tell my writing students there are five keys to success in Hollywood, and in life: 1) Networking- get to know everybody, be nice to everybody, and keep in touch with everybody. All the time, forever. 2) Create your own opportunities- don’t wait for the people “above” you to tell you it’s okay. Spielberg was like 8 when he came up with that movie “Jaws”- you think anybody told him it was okay? 3) Keep grinding! Get better at stuff, and learn everything. Once you learn improv, learn stand-up, write sketches, then write a one-man show, make short videos, then write TV scripts on spec just so you can learn how to do it, then get a job writing for a multi-camera sitcom, then some single cams, then run a couple writers’ rooms for animated shows, then direct short films, then meal prep… what next? Everything you ever learn will come in handy at some point if you let it. Like, as a kid I learned to spell pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcaniconiosis (I didn’t look that up and I won’t- I hope it’s right). 4) Be lucky. 5) Not sure.

Remember this: if I can do it, doesn’t mean you also can.

Shameless plugs: after I answered these questions my brand expert (so she says) told me to to mention that you can see me perform at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater and on various shows all over Los Angeles, and that I am a good person.

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.
Sunday
Brunch at the Magic Castle, can’t beat a few rope and card tricks. A hike up to the Griffith Observatory (I guess that’s more of a walk). Down to Franklin Village to browse at Counterpoint Books and Records. Dinner at Birds- probably some type of chicken, plus a cocktail (mocktail?). or two. Then go over to ASSSSCAT at the UCB Theater (maybe I’m in it, but I’m also fine with just watching). Then an ice cream sundae at Van Leeuwen.

By the way doing one thing in a day in Los Angeles is a big deal for me, so that Sunday itinerary was ambitious, and would probably take me month.

Monday
Head down to Grand Central Market for some Eggslut egg sluts, then wander over to The Last Bookstore. More browsing (maybe pick up a Michael Connolly or a James Ellroy- so LA). Over to Cole’s for a French Dip (and the Bukowski urinal). Over to the Freehand and up to the roof for poolside drinks at the Broken Shaker (I can’t remember, I think maybe I’ve only been up there as a guest, but I bet it can be finagled even if you’re not staying there…). Redbird for dinner. Then over to the Line, through the soda machine (snack machine? again, it’s been a minute) into Breakroom 86, for some karaoke and the speakeasy vibe.

Tuesday
Home State in Hollywood for breakfast tacos (I am particularly partial to the Tijuana Panthers). Cross the street to Soap Plant Wacko to pick up some novelty socks, an incense burner, and a book about how messed up show business is (murder! probably…). Over to Westlake, MacArthur Park, to watch some pickup soccer games. Then Langer’s for a late afternoon lunch. Stop in at Dynasty Typewriter for a show, maybe somebody famous (Sandler?), maybe somebody still aspiring (?). Then hop on the 101 over to Studio City, Jax’s for more karaoke.

Wednesday
Breakfast at The Salt Cure. Pan Pacific Park to walk it off. The Grove for a movie, a wander through Barnes and Noble (too many bookstores? no such thing), and a sheepish admission that it really is just a glorified outdoor mall. Over to Los Feliz, Little Dom’s for a late lunch. Down the hill to a marathon writing session on the outdoor patio at Coffee Bean. How long are you staying?

Thursday
Clark Street Diner. Should we check your itinerary?

Friday
Rest.

Saturday
6 AM ride to airport. I know your flight isn’t til 4, but this is LA, we have to be ahead.

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?
Shoutouts to:
The Upright Citizens Brigade. Matt, Amy, Matt, and Ian taught me a lot about comedy (like were literally my teachers for a while there), then for 25 years they let me do whatever whenever at their theater- improv, sketch, stand-up, even a one-person show. They also created a community of incredibly talented people who I got to work with and in some cases even be friends with who we would go to things together sometimes. Like plays and shopping.

And as far as books and stuff, I’m inspired by James Joyce’s “Ulysses,” that epic, experimental, wildly sophisticated, incredibly dense literary masterpiece I hope to someday read. And buffalo wings.

Website: https://www.seanconroy.com

Other: https://theseanconroylifeletter.substack.com