As Jin puts it, doing stand-up didn’t really click for her until university. “Everybody was chasing their passion. That’s when I realized, maybe I could give this a try.” She attended Western University in Ontario, but dropped out to pursue her burgeoning calling. Comedy gigs all around Vancouver forged a strong wit. “Starting comedy in Vancouver deeply influenced my style. The audience there is very snobbish and a lot more high brow. They are well-versed in art and culture, which pushed me to develop smarter material, she says.
Vancouver’s training ground prepared Jin well for her eventual move to Los Angeles. “I think that I carried that to LA. It definitely helps. You have people here that are the same, if not more, because a lot work in the entertainment industry. Their jobs are pop culture.”
In developing her beginning material, Jin wasn’t one to shy away from incorporating her family into it, but felt trepidation when it came to herself. “I was always very comfortable sharing because they’re very much a relatable part of me. I feel like I almost use them as a shield so that I don’t have to talk about myself too much. It’s much harder to be vulnerable about my own life,” she reflects. “I’m starting to open up about that more. I feel like that’s how I’ve changed and more comfortable talking about my own experience versus just using my family as an entryway.”
@andreajin1 anyone else have grandparents that hoard rice? or is it just me? #grandparents #asianamerican #costco #andreajin #newcomedy ♬ original sound – Andrea Jin
With that comes a level of confidence and authenticity too. Jin is telling her own story, her own way. “I used to write to what people would think is funny and do what I think people would enjoy. But now I think I do it more based on what I think is funny, and what I think I want to get across,” she admits.
There is an inherent level of…
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