Today we’d like to introduce you to A.j. Demello
Hi A.J. , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
First off maybe I’m interesting being a comic but I don’t know about insightful; my Tinder bio says, “I’m Looking For My Father”. Anyways, I’ve always been a big football fan. I wanted to call NFL games and talk about the sport as a broadcaster, but in college I realized I wanted to tell jokes. In an extra credit project for my broadcasting class, I filmed a few short sketches that killed in class. After months of writing I went up onstage at the Brainwash in San Francisco California for the first time in April 2011 and bombed so hard I felt my hairline go back half an inch.
Ever since then I’ve moved from the Bay Area to the Central Valley (where I was a caregiver for my Dad) then to Sacramento before moving to Austin Texas in July of this year. Unfortunately in California it’s very hard to travel and keep a roof over your head at times being so expensive so I figured I’d rather get out of there. There’s a lot of clubs here in Austin, it’s a growing scene and I want to be a part of it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I had to move to the Central Valley with my father where I was my his caregiver for four years until he passed a few weeks before the pandemic started. He always used to introduce me to people by saying, “He Thinks He’s A Comedian.” He told me he’d come back from the grave and haunt me if I ever worked for the postal service. It was a true struggle to keep two fingers crossed while shipping boxes from a warehouse last year! It was hard though taking care of him because I could only do comedy maybe half the time. The night I got a call from his Dr (as I was about to go onstage for the Finals of the Rooster T Feather’s competition in 2018) about his condition worsening was one of the worst bombs of my life. I didn’t have my own car that day and couldn’t get a ride back to the hospital until after the show and, well, I felt terrible. Having sat with him through so many hospital visits he told me to go that day but instead I might just be going to hell. Pray for me. Lol?
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a stand up comedian. I’m known for my delivery and weird brain which I guess I can thank my mom for having butterfingers when I was still in diapers.
I specialize in jokes, I guess? I’d tell a story but I’d probably lose my place while you lose your mind. I’m most proud of moving out here to Austin where I feel like I might actually have a chance to chase my dream.
I like to make people laugh telling a joke about bananas – or how I look like I bet on the Little League World Series.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
The Talisman by Peter Straub and Stephen King is one my favorite books. I was inspired to do comedy by George Carlin. And I’m inspired by other comedians that it can work out.
Bill Burr slept on a couch until he was 36. Louis CK was doing stand up for 15 years before he felt like his act really made him start to stand out. So it could work out. If I make an effort to write, and not suck more than I do well onstage, I think things could go well.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @ajdcomedy
- Other: ajdcomedy@gmail.com for booking
