Katt Williams‘ first stand-up comedy performance quite literally happened by accident.
He didn’t wait for someone to hand him a microphone or give him permission to chase comedy.
As a teen, he found himself standing in front of an audience, taking his first steps toward a career that would eventually make him one of comedy’s most unpredictable voices.
But the story behind how Williams landed that first stand-up gig involved an unexpected move that still makes the beginning of his career worth talking about.
At 16, the comedian was trying to get into a small club with a group of older friends when he stumbled upon a comedy competition. He decided to take a chance, and that decision led to his first time onstage.
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During the most recent episode of “The Diary of a CEO” that aired Nov. 8, Williams reflected on his life after returning to the United States from Haiti.
He was trying to figure out his next move when he connected with five or six people who sold flowers.
One night, the group decided to visit a local bar after work. Most of them were 18 or 19, while Williams was only 16. However, he said his dress clothes helped him blend in.
“I’m just 16, you know, and I only have dress clothes. So, you know, everybody just assumes that I’m an of-age young man,” he recalled.
That assumption almost got him into trouble when someone at the entrance started checking IDs.
Williams began looking for a way inside and noticed a few people walking past the line to speak directly to the bouncer. They didn’t show identification or exchange money.
After paying closer attention, he realized they were getting inside by claiming they were comedians. The club was hosting a comedy competition, something he had never encountered before.
“That’s the first time I even know that comedy is taking place here,” he said.
Williams decided to follow their lead. He told the bouncer he was a comedian, and the bouncer let him inside and assigned him the number five spot in the lineup.
He initially thought he could slip inside and find his friends. However, the small venue only held about 30 people, leaving him nowhere to hide. The organizers explained that each comedian had three to five minutes to perform before the audience picked a winner.
The “Pimp Chronicles” comedian admitted he had no idea what he was doing. Although he had several minutes to work with, he only managed to tell one joke.
“I literally got on stage, and I talked about one subject the entire time,” he explained.
Somehow, the audience loved it, and he won the competition.
“I still didn’t understand this was a job you could do,” Williams said.
Still, the win didn’t immediately convince him to pursue comedy. He shared that he didn’t perform again for another five years because he didn’t realize stand-up could become a career.
“I knew you needed a certain level of intelligence to be funny. I knew comedy was more difficult than it seemed,” he explained. “But I assumed my success had more to do with the subject matter I chose that night.”
The “Atlanta” actor recalled only earning $25 for his five-minute performance. Although he appreciated the money, he didn’t view comedy as a potential career opportunity at the time.
The story was one of several topics explored during the candid conversation. He also reflected on his childhood, which offered more insight into the experiences and lessons that helped shape his outlook on life and career.
It makes total sense why his material is so sharp. He used comedy to literally rewrite how he experienced difficult situations
He discovered that comedy could serve as medicine early in life, helping him shift his mood and cope with difficult situations.
Williams explained that humor can bring relief even during moments of grief. He noted that jokes told at funerals can land even harder because people need laughter during painful times.
“As soon as I shut that door, I’m in control now,” he said. “I know things about my brain that I don’t think other people know.”
He also described how he immersed himself in comedy material because of the comfort and relief it brought him.
Although Williams stumbled into comedy as a teenager, he never saw that first performance as the beginning of his career. At the time, he had his heart set on becoming a Marine. His military ambitions fell apart before he could even enlist.
