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Meet Savannah Hernandez

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Savannah Hernandez.

Savannah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
On January 4th, 2019, I had my first roller derby practice at Arizona Roller Derby. On January 6th, 2019, I took my first Level 1 improv class at JesterZ Improv. On February 18th, I performed stand up for the first time at a ThirdSpace open mic. Two of those things ended up working out.

My comedy journey began at the very start of 2019 when I decided I wanted to try all of the things I ever said I wanted to do. 2018 was a trying year for me. After graduating from college and returning home to Phoenix, I felt completely lost in the direction I wanted my life to go. I guess studying Film and Television wasn’t the most direct path to a concrete future. Who knew? (Absolutely everyone.) I had always been obsessed with comedy, but in the summer of 2018, I decided to get a job at The Tempe Improv. I couldn’t tell you why. It just called to me, like a cake calls to you from deep within the fridge, no matter how hard you try to ignore it. That impulse decision to work at a comedy club changed my life. I was surrounded by working and aspiring comics. I would work in the box office and attend the shows afterward. I remember customers would tell me, “so when are you going to be up on that stage?” And I finally started to have a sense that I was in the right place, at the right time. I got to see what my life could be like, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that comedy was going to be a big part of my life from then on. I knew comedy was something I wanted to pursue, but I was afraid to admit that, even to myself.

At the risk of sounding too cliché (it is insanely cliché), I made my New Year’s Resolution to try comedy by signing up for an improv class and to try roller derby. Roller derby has nothing to do with my comedy journey and it is not a metaphor or significant in any way. It’s just a thing I did and I feel it is worth mentioning because I think anyone that signs up for improv and roller derby in the same week is either on the verge of greatness or a psychotic breakdown. Only time will tell!

I signed up for an improv class to see if I could even be funny. I was completely unsure and even expected to be very un-funny. Improv was my way of opening up myself to performing comedy and developing a sense of what my comedy looked like on stage. To my amazement, it went well. Improv allowed me to gain confidence and helped my ability to write for stand up.

After attending open mics for over a month (and not performing at any of them), I finally put together my first five minute set (with the help of Judy Carter’s “The Comedy Bible), and began my stand up the journey. Since then, I have had the immense fortune of meeting and working with so many talented people in the Phoenix comedy scene. One of my goals for my first year of comedy was “Get booked on a show.” In my first nine months, I have been booked at Tempe Improv, Stand Up Live, and Stir Crazy (along with countless other venues for shows run by incredible local comics), I was also accepted into The Portland Comedy Festival, and am starting my weekly show with fellow local comedian, Zack Lyman.

I have gotten where I am because I have had only one thing in mind, and that is to be good at comedy (or, at least try). I was very afraid for so long because I was terrified of the possibility that I wouldn’t be good at the thing I loved the most. But with lots of late night writing sessions, multiple mental breakdowns, a couple of existential crises and an indescribable amount of drive, I have been able to begin my comedy career, and there is no turning back.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has been as smooth as chunky peanut butter. Or sandpaper. Unsmooth. Which, I think is better. How uninteresting would it be if you asked Jerry Seinfeld how his journey was and he said “yeah it was pretty easy actually. I just walked up here and started talking well. I’m amazing I guess.” I have been faced with plenty of challenges and rejections. I’ve poured my heart and soul into jokes and then told them to a room full of chairs at 12:30 am when I had work the next day at seven in the morning. I’ve had to deal with dishonest people. I’ve doubted whether or not I possess the talent to continue comedy. But at the end of the day, my love for writing and performing comedy always outweighs any negative encounter I have. I could not see myself doing anything else with my life. And I believe if you truly feel that way, it will carry you through any setbacks you will be faced with. No, the road has not been smooth, but that is part of it. It’s a huge part of it. The path is not linear. All I can do is keep my head down, appreciate the good days, and accept the bad ones.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am a stand-up comedian and improviser based in Phoenix. I specialize in pre-planned jokes and unplanned jokes alike. If I could pinpoint one thing that sets me apart from others, I’d say it is my unparalleled ability to replicate the voice of our lord and savior, Shakira. These hips don’t lie, baby!

What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was a combination of outgoing and introverted. I remember taking on roles in my church plays (I was shepherd #1, not to brag), and being very into music and singing. I loved performing for people but remained shy and quiet in social settings. I’ve always been one to have a small group of close-knit friends rather than an entire herd of them. I always enjoyed being goofy and funny with those closest to me. I loved watching movies with my siblings, usually comedies (shocker).

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Image Credit:
Yadira Villarreal, Zack Lyman

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