Somehow, you never imagine that telling fart jokes in class is going to amount to much. Grade-school shtick-mocking the substitute and deriding the school safety patrol-might earn a boy status, maybe a class clown honor. But Neko White parlayed it into much more. Barely a teenager, he took his jokes to New York City comedy clubs-and killed it. "Originally I was drawn to stand-up because the stage gives you a multitude of powers," says White. "I can say anything and people listen. People hang on my every word. It's like being a politician, only people usually smile at what I'm saying."
Being so young gave him an edge, says White. "I had this feeling of 'hey, I can do no wrong. I can say whatever I want about whomever I want' then not have to feel guilty about it." But on the comedy circuit, people didn't always know what to make of White. At best, the teen was greeted with a mixed reaction. "Some comedians really liked me, and then there were some who questioned my commitment to this art form. Yet here we are almost five years later and I am still a comedian." And if he ever needed a shot of confidence, he didn't have to look further than homeroom. "Telling jokes made me the most popular kid in my high school. People knew I was serious about my craft."
Adults starting out in stand-up will often go to the mike with a preconceived notion of who they should be instead of being who they are. That's a big mistake, says White-one that he sidestepped because at his age; he simply didn't know who else to be. "Being yourself is what people connect with and it's what keeps you original." The big lesson he did learn: Stay humble. "Never believe your own hype. As soon as you do, you stop working hard. You settle instead of trying to get better."
And comedy, like most professions, demands that you're always evolving; that you bring it each and every time. You push to improve because you're dedicated to your craft. Unfortunately, says White, that's not always the case. "I wish comedy would be less about the greed and more about the art. I know people who have quit comedy because it paid them no money. I was like 'yeah... but you only been doing it for four weeks.' You have to pay dues."
An evangelist on career commitment, White opted out of college for the clubs and claims he'd be doing stand-up if he never made a dime-in a "metaphoric sense."
"You can't put a dollar amount on my love for being a comedian. No amount of money or lack of money can stop me from wanting to be better and better. One day I'll be the best comedian of my time. Now, do not get it twisted. This is the real world. Bills must be paid. So give me my money."
Teresa Palagano of http://www.etalentshowcase.com/ is an award-winning journalist with 15 years of experience. She regularly writes about entertainment and lifestyle topics. eTalentShowcase is the place for Talent to get discovered.
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