Meet Britt Ammons | Comedian, Event Coordinator, Writer, Mother

We had the good fortune of connecting with Britt Ammons and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Britt, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I pursued a Creative career because its just as important to feed the soul as it is to feed the body. We need money or resources to survive, but we need inspiration and purpose to thrive, and I would rather contribute to helping the world thrive than anything else. Living without means is difficult, but living without meaning is much worse.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I dunno exactly how you explain performing, especially comedy. I often refer to it as a toxic relationship in that there are a lot of ups and downs and you just keep at it because you love it so much and you hope that in the end all the struggle will be worth it. Comedy will have you questioning everything about yourself one night, and then over the moon with confidence the next. It is a much more personal form of expression than I think people realize. I have performed in other ways ( theater, dance, sports, etc) and while there is some element of personal truth there it is very limited. You are performing steps in an order to music, or throwing a ball, etc and while you can gain or lose the approval of others from how well or not well you do these actions, the amount of actual risk is low. When you stand on a stage, alone, with nothing but a microphone and you make a joke. You are exposing yourself. You are showing your thoughts, your opinions, your perspective, to an often non receptive audience, hoping for a positive reaction, or at least a neutral one. Your trying to make a connection with strangers by being vulnerable and honest and it can be terrifying, but also rewarding. Comedy is so subjective there is no right or wrong, just you and them. I would like to believe this is an element that sets me apart from other comics, my candor and transparency. A genuine presentation of who I really am and how I see the world. This approach is painful when there is rejection, because it feels like they are rejecting you personally. But alternatively there is no better reward then when people relate to what your saying and an organic connection is made. There is still a lot of egg shells you must walk on, especially these days with people being increasingly unpredictable and reactive, but as comics we must continue to try to keep social dialogue open and evolving. Comedy is a great way to start conversations, and hear oppositional points without need for defensiveness. It is not a challenge to agree, just an invitation to consider. An audience members reaction to a bit often says more about them than the comic and it is an incredibly interesting and important experiment I hope we are able to keep going.
This journey has been very hard and I know that it will only continue to stay that way. But I aspire to always keep intrinsic motivation and not become disenchanted with the negatives. I work with many comics who have been grinding in this industry for decades longer than I have and are still trying to make it. There is a lot of gatekeeping and favorites played in any industry but I think entertainment can be one of the worst. Opportunities and credit should be given for talent and hard work, not for reciprocal advancements or popularity points, but that is the business side of this creative pursuit that can be very difficult to endure. A price of admission of sorts. If you want to make your living expressing yourself and provoking thought, you have to accept there will be criticism and aggression from not just the audiences but your peers. There is a misconception that we are all competing with each other and if one succeeds that is less opportunity for the rest but that is a fallacy. The only true competition is within ourselves. Between what we are capable of and what we actually accomplish. Most people that succeed do so simply because they did not give up.
I am a wife, mother, and have several other ” jobs” like most people these days just to get by. Comedy is a very time consuming activity. You must find time to write, rewrite, practice, present, refine, promote, market, rewrite, produce, and network. which can drain the creative juices from you very easily, but just keep going. one word in front of the other, one show at a time, ignoring the criticism unless its constructive and then take it more to heart than any compliment you ever receive. But most importantly just dont give up, if your still trying you havent failed, you just havent made it, YET. Thats what I say and will continue to say, Im not where I want to be YET, but I will be.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live OTP which makes me basically the uncoolest kid in the lunchroom to all my cool city dwelling friends. But I think its even more interesting because while I love going into the city for certain things, there are a lot of cool places out in the burbs that people miss out on. So I do a combo.

Day one: LOCAL

Activity: Catch sunrise hiking up stone mountain. Then take a film tour in Covington ( tons filmed in Ga and the tours are great. especially if you like vampire diaries/ stranger things )
Lunch: Smokey Gringo – Winder
Activities: Catch outdoor concert on the lawn Lawrenceville
Dinner: Local Republic- Lawrenceville ( they catered my rehersal dinner it was amazing)
Chill: Grab your pet and get a beer at Slow Pour Brewery- Lawrenceville ( They have live comedy, food trucks, and an artist market on Sat)

Day two: ATL

Activity; Atlanta History Center ( Especially the Swan House!!)
Lunch: Mary Macs Tea Room ( Great Southern Soul food family style)
Activity: Fox Theater Tour ( shows are great, but the tours of its history and architecture are to die for)
Dinner: Trader Vics
Chill: Pink Pony ( ATL is famous for its strip clubs and this OG is a big reason why! always a good time, Free admission with any sports ticket)

Day Three: ATL

Activity; Ponce City Market ( endless shops, City views, and the rooftop carnival is a blast)
Lunch: Ponce City Market Dining Hall
Activity: Laughing Skull ( one of the best comedy clubs in the city! Where I started and still perform)
Dinner: The Vortex ( Resturant that houses the laughing skull, Famous burgers and tots)
Chill: Jeju Sauna- Duluth ( open 24 hours. tons of different saunas and spatreatments)

Day Four: ATL

Activity: Atlanta Botanical Gardens
Lunch: Cafe intermezzo ( their open late too so circle back late night for a coffee/ night cap)
Activity:/ Dinner: Shakespeares Tavern ( Amazing cast and delicious food)

Day Five: ATHENS

Activity: Athens Farmers market ( great local handmaid goods)
Lunch: Mamas Boy ( its more brunch 7-2:30 but its worth it. )
Activity: Catch show at the 40 Watt ( comedy or otherwise its a great local venue)
Dinner: D92 korean BBQ ( wear stretchy pants, youll be stuffed)
Chill: Bar Hop downtown( nothing like cheap beer and great people watching in this college town. No where bar and Cutters pub are my favs. )

Day Six: Hidden Gems
Activity: Hike indian seats at Sawnee Mountain
Activity:/Lunch: Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary ( this place is iconic, went as a kid and now take mine. The new owners have done a great job renovating the park and supporting the rescued animals. and they have great food trucks)
Chill: Dynamic El Dorado ( Hidden gem for performance especially Comedy. Improve, Stand up, Skits, you name it this treasure has it. The owner is a staple in the ATL scene and we want to support this venue any way we can)

Day Seven: Best of Best
IActivity: Atl golf and Social – Chamblee ( everyone knows topgolf, this place blows it out of the water. High end indoor golf simulators that instruct and challenge your game in a lavish social environment. Super yummy drinks and snacks)
Activity: Cloudland Vineyards ( beautiful family owed, live music and free range chicken mascots)
Dinner: Bare Bones- Buford ( Literally beyond amazing food!
Chill: The velvet Note- Alpharetta ( intimate spot for amazing live jazz and blues)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Aristotle said ” The whole is greater than the sum of its parts” which is true, but all those parts sure help! And I am no exception. I would not be who/ where I am today without the support and inspiration of my friends and family. The biggest of those would be my best friend of almost 20 years Amber, my Husband Reid, and of course my kids. Amber goes to every show Im on even though she has heard all my jokes a thousand times and still laughs louder than anyone else there. She is also my right hand woman whenever I produce any event. She gets right in the trenches with me and theres no one I trust more to have my back. Reid supports my ambitions and ideas no matter how outlandish. He spends hours ” talking Comedy” or ” Events” with me till I have worked through a concept, and he is always a good sport when he ends up the butt of a new joke. And then of course my kids, they are my motivation for so many things to do with business, and inspiration for so much of my comedy. They are quite literally the why and the how of my life. And big shout out to some of the amazing comedy connections/ producers Ive had the pleasure of working with! Especially The Bad ATh Babes of Athens. They have cultivated once of the most supportive and inspiring shows Ive had the pleasure of being a part of and I cant wait to keep working with them.

Website: linktr.ee/brittammons?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=149b6cea-6d85-4959-979d-9fe0050bb3a2

Instagram: @bammcomedy

Other: linktr.ee/brittammons?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=149b6cea-6d85-4959-979d-9fe0050bb3a2

Image Credits
Bad ATH Babes, Katherine Blanford ( Comic), Amber Lemelin,