Meet Jessica It’s All Good: Stand-Up Comedian & DJ

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica It’s All Good and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Honestly, I’d like to think that I am not a risk taker at all. I feel I’m big on playing it safe, however, I have a pretty big track record on taking huge leaps and risk when it comes to both my career and personal life. Two major examples include a story from both aspects of my life. For my career, I decided to move to Atlanta after losing my job in my college town. I had almost no money and had a rough time finding opportunities while I was here. I ended up being homeless for about 6 months and struggled pretty bad for about a year or two afterwards. Believe it or not, I actually gave up and moved back in with my parents in my hometown of Greenville, South Carolina. But a few more risk led me right back to Atlanta where the dream of being a famous actress turned into a career of stand-up comedy and DJing.
The big personal life risk story would be taking a risk for love. Or at least a full gas tank. I met my husband online. He had a horrible profile and I am usually more careful when dating online. But the night he gave me only my 2nd phone call from him, I was about to be stranded in the night because I lost my wallet and was out of gas. He offered to turn around from leaving town and meet me to give me gas. At first I thought this was a horrible idea because he could be a serial killer. But then again, I really needed that gas. It was the best risk I ever took. And I got a full tank of gas out of it!
Turns out the best things in both my personal life and career came from taking major risk. I’ll still say I play it safe because I’m stubborn. But deep down inside I am a risk taker and possibly crazy.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a comedian. Specifically a clean comedian. That is what sets me apart from others. I have chosen a path in comedy that many do find difficult, but my way of thinking actually makes it easier for me. I believe everyone should be able to enjoy some type of comedy without feeling offended or alienated. At the end of the day, it is very hard to please everybody, but I want to make the whole world laugh one day. So I’m going to keep trying.

Getting here started off as bit of an accident. During my early improv days I found out how epic my comedic timing was on stage. I was in a family friendly troupe, so keeping it clean was a must. During that time I was given the opportunity to give a speech at my first college, Spartanburg Methodist College. After my speech several students, faculty, and staff members came up to me raving about my performance. They said they felt like they were listening to a real life comedian. And there it began. One of my improv teammates took me under his wing since he was getting into stand-up comedy. The following year, I had officially started doing stand-up comedy performances.

It was actually pretty easy for me to get started because Atlanta has a great scene and I have no shame, fear, insecurities or inhibitions when getting up and speaking in front of people. The hustle can be hard when you have so much going on and you feel like the dream isn’t moving fast enough. But I’ve learned how to deal with that. Your time is your time and what is meant for you is meant for you.

The hardest thing that I have had to face is those moments when something in life happens that is so awful, painful, and heartbreaking that it is utterly devastating to have to get on stage and make people happy when you are going through something intense. I have found ways to compartmentalize those moments. But I’ve also learned over time that it is ok to take time off. People will just have to understand.

One thing that I have been most excited about is the comedy special that I created in hopes to help add to the making the world a better place. The show is called “We’re All Chocolate.” It is my show that is based on discussing race from a positive place. People actually donated to the production of this show. I am excited about the message of this show the most. It’s a great way to use my talent for good and to hopefully help fix this particular issue that is close to my heart.

The thing that I want the world to know is that everyone deserves a moment to smile and/or laugh. Life is short but it can still be very sweet. I’m here to add to that sweetness. My comedy is for everyone. I will make the world laugh one day.

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.
Atlanta is such a cool city and so are the surrounding cities.

We would first kick off with getting you settled in our guest room with some flowers to great you. If it’s warm enough you can expect breakfast or lunch on our back porch at least one day while you’re here and maybe even catch my hubby’s grill master skills for dinner one day. We are big on hospitality.

We would have to go to Metro Cafe Diner at least one evening. I am lucky to also be a karaoke host at this place and it sits in the middle of the hot tourist spots of Atlanta.

We would go to our fancy Braves Stadium right on the edge of the perimeter. This stadium has a wonderful area full of restaurants, shopping and entertainment. It is one of my favorite things to show off that is actually outside of the city towards one of our suburbs. It’s new and upcoming and makes us look cool.

We also have the Ponce City Market. This is another cool place in the city that gives us epic bragging rights. I love the Skyline Park on top of the building. You can see all of our skylines while being in a carnival like park. It’s great for families in the day time and a cool night life when the sun goes down.

We would have to take a food tour because that’s something you should do in every city you visit. Flavors Food Tours of Atlanta is the company that introduced me to food tours in general. I would be so happy to get anyone on this tour.

Honestly, there are so many things to do here that this is just hitting the tip of the iceberg. But they are the first things I know we would do because they came to mind first.

You are just going to have to come through for the rest! The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to shout out my mentors: Colleen Hammond Whitmore, DJ Paul Burns & DJ Vanessa Hundley aka DJ Audioprism for taking major steps to enhance my career. I’d like to thank the original It’s All Good Team for helping me in the early days of my comedy career. From assistance, to photography, to production and everything in between, I would not be here without you! As well as the more recent volunteers who stepped up once my team dispersed to help in other shows. I’d also like to thank my family, friends and anyone who has ever believed in me enough to hire me, supported me, come to my shows, and promoted me, and or donated to my comedy special We’re All Chocolate. I know I have a special talent. But I would be absolutely nowhere without ALL of the people who had anything to do with helping me make more people laugh. Thank you!

Website: www.jessicatisallgood.com

Instagram: @Jessica_ItsAllGood

Linkedin: Jessica It’s All Good

Twitter: @JessItsAllGood

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaItsAllGood

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jessicaitsallgood

Image Credits
Calven Mitchell – Calven Mitchell Photography Sharon King – Photography by Aunt Norah’s House Joseph & Nina Parker -Heartstrings Media