Fabulous People: Monica Nevi

Ahead of the third-annual Upper Left Comedy Festival in Seattle from April 25 to April 27, Fabulous Washington introduces local comedians taking part in the highly anticipated event. Today, meet Monica Nevi.

Follow at: @MonicaNevi

Hometown: Renton, WA

First job: Basketball summer camp coach

Favorite ways to spend your free time in WA: I go outside and look at water pretty much every day. It is my favorite thing to do anywhere but WA has the best water to look at. I’ll do it in the rain.

Your biggest accomplishment and why: I would love to say it’s something I have created, and I am very proud of those things. My specials, my mediation album or my documentary series “80 for 80” have all brought me a sense of pride. But by far my biggest accomplishment is finding the most perfect partner for me and marrying her. I think I’m a pretty good step-parent too. The life I have created with my beautiful family is my biggest accomplishment because it is HARD as an artist to do art full-time and find someone who understands you as an artist, supports that and pushes through all the hard parts of it to help you continue to create things. I am a lucky lady, and I thank myself daily for really nailing it in that category.

The biggest obstacle you overcame: I do feel like new obstacles keep popping up but I will say there were many scary moments when I lived in LA or during lockdown times when I wasn’t sure it was feasible to keep doing standup. I have considered getting day jobs again many times but I am proud that I never did. There is a very possible chance I would be happier if I did but lucky for us, I am super stubborn. The late nights trying to sleep on some floor in another comedian’s place in Alabama realizing you made enough money for gas and not food the next day and then NOT quitting is quite possibly insanity. Or love. If it was me now, I wouldn’t be as strong or stubborn to get through those really hard, poor, take-whatever-you-can-get-type of times but that’s what made me good at this.

Someone who inspires you and why: My mother. I know that’s cliche but most comedians hate their moms and I don’t. As a kid, at least I hope other kids feel this, you think your mom is great and safe and your mom. It’s who I got to know she was as an adult that I am always in awe of. My job, this industry and the internet can make you so callous and make you hate yourself. My mother has always been this really hard-working woman, moved up and done great at her jobs, provided for her family, etc. All while remaining extremely nice and caring and helpful and giving to other people. Not just a mother to her children, I mean a person to all people. I am constantly inspired and motivated by that. She also does this thing where she makes these incredible changes in her life no matter how old she is. Just a real one head-to-toe that lady, and I aspire to be even half the person she is. I’m sure she is crying reading this but that’s what she gets!

Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Don’t do it. And if you must, prepare for pain and be open to learning. Comedy is something that everyone wants to do and everyone thinks they understand, especially now with how much you can consume. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING! And that’s OK. In fact, that’s good. Be open to learning and advice and see what the audiences actually like and want to hear. Then keep doing it and keep doing it and keep doing it. Every bad open mic and bar show will eventually lead to bad casino gigs and performing in a tent or something weird. But that will lead to something really great, and you’ll never want to stop. And then you’ll want to stop and maybe you should but if you don’t you’ll love it again and then hate it again and then love it again. That’s what you should prepare for.

Favorite quote: “Offense sells tickets, defense wins games, rebounding wins championships.” –Pat Summitt

What makes someone fabulous: Being told that you’re not and continuing to be you anyway.