Q&A with comedian, alumna Amber Bixby

East Texan Opinion Editor Chancellor Mills recently had the opportunity to interview A&M-Commerce alumna and comedian Amber Bixby about her recent selection to perform in the Women in Comedy Festival in Boston, Mass. The festival, which is in its third year, is designed as an event where comedians and comedy troupes from all over the country gather to perform as well as hold workshops and panel discussions with award-winning comedians.

So, Amber, how exactly did it come about that you started doing stand-up comedy?

[Daniel Tosh] actually came to the campus and did his show, and I remember going to see the show and only like 50 people showing up. I remember laughing so hard that I was crying and just really enjoying it, and that made me want to try it.

Was there anything or anybody here at A&M-Commerce who encouraged you or inspired you to do comedy?

I took a humor series class with Salvatore Attardo, who I think was the head of the English department at the time. And then I also took a creative writing class with Robin Reid, and that really made me want to start writing some different things. Also, another teacher who really encouraged me and always made me laugh is Cissy Akin. She was one of my Psychology professors. I had her for 3 separate classes and she's just great. She was really supportive when I told her I did stand-up.

Well, I have actually heard some of your stand-up comedy and I have to say that some of that stuff you talk about – like unplanned parenthood and your ex getting a restraining order for you – is pretty depressing. How do you come up with your material? Have all of these things actually happened to you?

Not everything is 100 percent true. You always want to embrace a little creativity. But the feelings are usually the same: frustration, feeling genuine depression or hopelessness. Stuff that everybody feels and maybe even if they haven't gone through the same thing, maybe they'll take from it the same emotion and it'll help them realize that after a while you can laugh about it or gain something from it.

I want to talk for a minute about the Women in Comedy Festival. From what I understand you are one of only three women from Austin to be selected to go the festival. How does that feel?

Getting into that festival means more to me than almost anything else I've ever done. It feels really, really good. There are moments in comedy when you doubt what you're doing and that's easy because everything is so subjective. It feels good to just feel like I'm on the right track.

A phrase that gets thrown around a lot with musicians, comedians and artists is "struggling artist." Would you say that is an apt description of your comedy career?

I'm somehow making it okay right now, but it's really hard. As hard as it is to get people to come out and see your band, I think it's harder to get people to come out and see your comedy. The money isn't why I do it. It's not about money for me. Anyone who gets into comedy for the money should rethink doing comedy. Obviously, there are ways that people could make it but I have to have a job.

If comedy isn't paying the bills, why do you stick with it?

[Comedy] has become this thing now where it's just a part of my life. I need it more than I want it now. I need comedy; it's my passion. After a good show or comedy news, I can't sleep because I'm so excited and happy. For most it is a creative outlet, but for me, if I didn't have comedy I would probably go insane. If I go too long without writing or being on stage I start to stress and feel nervous. Comedy is what gets me through adversity. It just kind of comes from my heart. What helps me get through is to listen to other comics talk about stuff that's real. And that stuff ends up being what I write about.