An interview with Lee Paul, sober comic rockstar
We've got an awesome blog post for you today with Lee Paul, an NYC comedian who's also living the sober life. I met Lee at his weekly sober comedy show called “On The Wagon” at Hekate in the East Village a few months back and have been wanting to feature him on this blog since. We had an honest chat with him to learn about his journey in comedy, how he decided to get sober, and the challenges of being a sober comic. Let’s dive in!
Sam: Hey Lee! How are you doing today?
Lee: Hello Sam. Not too shabby!
Could you tell me a little bit about yourself?
Lee: I'm originally from Levittown, NY and also spent some time living in the Myrtle Beach area. I've been living in NYC since early 2008. I was a real estate agent for 13 years, but have taken a sabbatical to focus on acting & comedy.
How did you get into doing standup?
Lee: When I was around 9 years old I started doing impressions for my father from movies, saying a lot inappropriate things and it would really crack him up. We would watch HBO One Night Stand & Live @ Dangerfields. Then I started doing impressions of Andrew Dice Clay at Boy Scout Camp and the camp counselors loved me. By the time I got to high school I was being cast as the comic relief in all the musicals & plays. I decided stand-up was the way to go.
You mentioned that you’re sober, and you run a sober comedy show called “On The Wagon”. Can you talk a little bit about what made you decide to quit drinking?
Lee: I was a pretty big fuckup. 6 or 7 arrests, numerous blackouts where I got robbed or my nose broken, bad fire at house party which barbecued my folks’ house senior year, but even after all that stuff it was my partner throwing me out that did it. A badly broken heart was my bottom.
Thanks for sharing that, man. That’s rough, I’m really glad you got to turn things around and we have the chance to talk today! What is the general situation like in the standup comedy scene (in NYC) when it comes to alcohol? Do you think it encourages drinking?
Lee: Comedy is performed in clubs & bars where the majority of people are drinking, and selling alcohol is how these businesses make their real profit. So booze is pretty much an immovable object. Lots of comics when they start off are so nervous, they catch a buzz to kill the nerves. Plus alcohol is kinda romanticized by performers as a way to be truthful & edgy. Plus after the shows there's always audience members who wanna buy you a drink or ask you to take a shot with them. And if you're doing a bar show the only payment you might get is drink tickets.
What is it like being a sober comedian? How does it impact your performances and your comedy career in general? Have there been any challenges?
Lee: In early sobriety I was so fucking nuts, that the crowd thought I was still drinking or high on something. These days I really enjoy being sober and performing, because I'm hyper aware of myself & my relationship with the audience. It was pretty challenging hanging out, especially when some comics like to get loaded and wonder why you won't drink with them. But nowadays, there's much more sober comedians than there used to be & that certainly helps.
What would you say to other people in the scene or the performing arts in general when it comes to drinking?
Lee: I try not to impose my sobriety on other people, because it's really a personal choice. But when you look at great talents like Belushi, Hedberg, Farley, Giraldo and so many more, it's like listening to a broken record. The only thing you can do is be a 100% honest with yourself. Lying to the world is a piece of cake, but bullshitting yourself is one hard pill to swallow.
Thanks so much Lee for sharing your story with us, we really appreciate your taking the time. If you want to catch Lee live, check out his Instagram for his latest show dates!
