Why Are So Many Comedians Sober?

I can't speak for other comedians I don't know personally but I do know many who are sober because they had problems with alcohol and substance. Going sober helped them focus on their comedy career. There are also many comedians who have never had a drop of alcohol or a drug.

For me, I am not "sober" but I rarely drink. I can count on one hand how many times I drank in the last 2 years. Initially I stopped drinking in solidarity with a friend who went sober. But I also had a few health scares that made me change my diet and alcohol intake.

I drank a lot when I was younger. Too much really. I relied on alcohol to entertainment and ease my anxiety and insecurities. Also, it was fun. So many great memories involving partying. and liquid courage led to talking to many ladies who I otherwise would never have the guts to approach. When I started comedy, I also was diagnosed with ulcers likely affected by my schedule (lawyering, stand up comedy, improv and music) and drinking. I had to slow down; doctor's orders.

Also when I started comedy, I needed to do a shot before every show to make me comfortable on stage while also drinking on stage and after. I may have borrowed that practice from my other careers in music and law. I changed that pattern after I did three shows in one night and saw the video of my drunken performance on stage. I thought I was crushing before I watched the show, but I wasn't. I decided after that I would never drink before a show. I added not drinking after a show after I would have a drink and be ready to "party" when everyone else in my age demographic was going home. My choices were to drink alone or go out with comedians who were 20 years younger than me, doing the fun things I did at their age.

Since I have a show nearly every night, drinking slowly became less of my life till it was gone completely, outside of the occasional special event or baseball game. #drinking #standup #comedy
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