Amy Poehler just dropped major wisdom re: breaking into comedy

Gather round, all ye aspiring comedians, Her Royal Majesty, Amy Poehler, just gave some straight-up amaze advice about breaking into the biz.

While at the Upright Citizen Brigade (an improv institution Poehler co-founded)’s Del Close 17th Annual Marathon, People reports that Poehler spoke to the crowd about getting into the comedy scene.

If the goal is doing good stuff and working with your friends … if you’re doing that then you’re succeeding,” Poehler explained. “If the goal is to be famous and make money – then you’re in real trouble…It happens rarely and when that is your goal – being famous and making money – then you’re not paying attention to the things that will make you money.”

We wholeheartedly agree with Poehler. Making comedy, making ART, is about making a contribution, and if you’re too busy worried about being famous, you’re probably not worried ENOUGH about what your real job as a comedian is (to make people laugh) and what your real job as an artist is (to make people think/feel, to make life more comprehensible/bearable, to delight and astound and inspire). As Poehler awesomely says, “being famous and making money” are not the things that define success, it’s the “making good stuff” that makes a comedian successful, and solely focusing on the fame and money thing is a great way to ensure that you never live up to your full potential as a creator. Have you ever heard someone whine about not being rich and famous? If you haven’t, you’re a fortunate soul, it’s super-duper boring and is probably not material that merits a stand-up set (or a TV show, or a movie, or a career). So take Poehler’s advice. Work with your friends and make good stuff. After all, that exactly what Amy did and it DEFINITELY worked for our girl. Also, “making good stuff” and “working with your friends” sounds like an A+ recipe for an awesome life, and ingredients that would make us all way happier than, you know, constantly running away from the paparazzi in really expensive shoes.

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