Check Out Susan Sussman’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Sussman. 

Hi Susan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

I have been a standup comedian since around 2014 and living in the Orlando since 2018. My comedy is basically clean. I love joking about me aging (not so gracefully), social media, marriage and family. Performing has been a fun experience for me. I love entertaining people of all ages throughout Florida. Venues include Bonkerz Comedy Clubs, the Orlando Improv, the Villages, 55+ communities and private parties.

I was 61 years old when I started doing standup. It was totally happenstance when what I thought was a comedy writing class turned into a standup comedy class. The first day the instructor said, “after eight weeks of class you’ll be performing standup in front of your friends and family.” At first, I resisted like a child screaming inside “No way” as I pounded my fists.” I always liked being behind the scenes, not in front of them. The writing and performing became addictive. When I got laughs I got hooked. The night of our “graduation” showcase was scary. Thinking back I must admit I was terrible. But I kept dipping my toes in the water and got better at it.

Eventually, I figured it out. Started getting accepted as a funny woman. I performed in many comedy clubs, produced showcases, and met some really cool people. Would you believe in most cases the headliners were the nicest people? Gave me lots of tips. I have performed in all sorts of venues: LGBTQ bars, comedy clubs including Bonkerz Comedy Clubs in Florida and Las Vegas, the Orlando Improv, Dangerfield’s in NYC, 55+ communities, and private parties, and on Zoom during the pandemic. Today I mainly do private parties and 55+ communities, including assisted living residences.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

There have been lots of obstacles for me in comedy to get to where I am today. They say to succeed in standup comedy you have to write and get on stage a lot. It takes about five years to become yourself on stage. Writing always came easy to me but to see if the jokes worked meant testing them on audiences. People do not realize how much more there is to standup than being a funny person on stage. I’ve had to learn the business: bring people to shows, advertise online, get followers and sometimes even sell tickets on a street corner. Taking the time to do all of this has not always been easy. Before retirement it was a balancing act between comedy, family, marriage, and my appraisal career. Then of course my age always challenged me. I had to learn how to build up energy to go out at night. Started drinking coffee instead of alcohol before my stage time to stay pumped up and drive home safely.

Another obstacle is being an older woman in a scene is full of young people. Performing is about confidence and it takes time to build that. I never saw myself as “old” but the “mean” comics constantly reminded me that I was. Like the time I wanted to do a rap. Some guy said, “You’re an old Jewish woman, you can’t do a rap!” So, guess what? I wrote a rap and people loved it. Fortunately, that rap challenged me to start writing comedy that would bridge the gap between me and the younger audiences. I started quoting Notorious B.I.G. and people went crazy. Once I was in a competition at a popular club and hanging around the bar with the other comics. Someone approached me, “Hey, who’d you come see? Whose mom are you?:” Or the host would say “now coming up to the stage, my grandma…” After a while I had had enough and said, “Hey dude. How about using my name and calling me funny, just like you do for the guys.” I worked hard to get on these stages and demanded to be respected. I asked and he stopped. Gained his respect.

What I’ve loved about comedy is the challenge. Staying current with my material, being relatable, connecting with the audience, and of course, keeping them laughing!

If anything the comedy world has taught me to hustle. I hustle to the front of the line to sign up at open mics; I hustle to get in to meet club managers; I hustle get auditions and send out videos; I hustle to get followers online and friends to shows; I hustle to earn respect.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

Comedians are plentiful in Orlando. What sets me apart from them? I’m an older female comedian with a Southern swag and a Brooklyn attitude! My comedy bridges the generational gap which audiences find relatable. I can be clean or edgy but never blue.

During Covid-19 when all the stages shut down, a friend of mine from Virginia contacted me. We decided to revive an old routine and give our characters a new life. We were two funny Jewish ladies, Bertha & Rona. We recorded the videos on Zoom and then I edited them for YouTube and other social media. This phase of comedy took me to a whole new level. I learned how to work as a team, to edit on iMovie, and study YouTube Studio lessons. I learned about thumbnails and how to get more views. Then I turned them into videos with music, subtitles, and other effects. We even learned what mukbang was and created videos like “Eat!Eat!Eat! Matzoh with Bertha & Rona aka Jewish Mukbang.” The results were awesome. Here I was 71 years old producing videos! Check them out on my YouTube channel at Susan Sussman Comedy or at Susan Sussman Comedy on Facebook.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?

I enjoy being with people and making people laugh. Love when a joke hits unexpectedly. When asked for some advice by newer comics I try to give them some good tips that will help them succeed.

The most meaningful comedy has been performing for residents in assisted living communities. Many of those people are ill and have little laughter in their day. Cheering them up feels awesome!

Contact Info:

• Email: sbsussman@gmail.com
• Instagram: susansussmancomedy; susanbsussmancomedy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susansussmancomedy
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC41LUgTckW09UxmVm7Evtug 
  

Image Credits

Macbeth Studio