Janet Arneau

Today I am interviewing Janet Arneau, a comedian born in Charleston, SC who has been doing comedy for three years. To find out more about Janet, please visit her website.

Why did you start doing stand-up comedy?

I started to do stand-up because I was not pursuing any roles in theater, I came to NYC to pursue a career in theater. I created a reality show called "What's Your Problem?, which was consuming my time, I had to have a creative outlet. With stand-up I was completely on my own schedule, there was no holding to a nightly schedule that I could just not show up to because I was shooting my reality show in France or Miami. The one thing I did learn is Stand-up is a craft completely different from theater, I worked hard not to mix the two. I noticed comedians could spot an actor as soon as they began a set and the first they would say is OH YOU ARE AN ACTOR, as opposed to considering you a comedian. I can go to open mic everyday or once a month.

Do you have a favorite topic in your comedy and what makes it your favorite?

I really like the topic of reality shows, I am all about reality TV. I create reality show ideas and pitch them to be picked up by either networks or development companies. I live and breath reality television, I watch most all of them. I am all about reality television.

I also like the topic of my family and friends boy can they give me some of my best material. My niece almost three has already given me loads of material think what the rest of my family who has been around longer provides me.

I also like the topic of southern people. I grew up in the south, my entire family still resides in the south I have a unique understanding of where the comedy is with the south.

What do you love and hate about stand-up comedy?

I love stand-up because it is all about fun. It is a profession where you have to have fun and make sure everyone else in your presence is having fun. Our reward is not so much a pay check as that we did great work and made someone laugh. The one thing I hate about stand-up is the waiting before it is my time to perform, the newer you are the longer the wait.I have waited at open mics 3 hours before it was my turn to go up. Like every one new to a profession there is always dues to pay in the beginning.