“80% of your success is networking”. It’s important to know that it’s not about asking someone to do something for you, it’s about asking what you can do for someone else. The comedy world is a community and it’s about what we can do for the community. It’s about patience because it’s about planting the seeds.
As a part of our series called “Five Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became A Professional Comedian”, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Billie Lee.
Billie Lee is a Los Angeles-based writer, actress, producer and stand-up comedian who’s performed at some of the biggest venues in the country including The Comedy Store, Jimmy Kimmel Theater, The Ice House, New York Comedy Festival and many more. She was the first openly transgender cast member on BravoTV’s Vanderpump Rules, and has continued to be an advocate and outspoken voice for the LGBTQIA+ community. She left the show in 2019 and has since begun developing several new ventures with conversation, conscientiousness, and kindness at their heart. Her new projects include selling a half hour comedy pilot to ABC Disney, writing and producing the first trans Christmas movie. Billie also just got the IP for the hit teen romcom book The Hot Dog Girl. Billie has also finalized a deal to develop a podcast called Billie And The Kid produced by comedy powerhouse, Jam In The Van, which will debut January 24. Billie is releasing her first book, WHY ARE YOU SO SENSITIVE: Navigating Everyday, Unintended Microaggressions (published by Andrews McMeel Publishing, Fall 2024) and will be announcing a nationwide tour come Spring 2024.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I grew up in a small town in Indiana. I was born and raised as a boy, but was later diagnosed with gender dysphoria by my therapist in my 20s. After experiencing a lot of bullying and rejection, I moved to Los Angeles to start my career in the entertainment industry. And, once I moved to LA, I had the freedom to start my transition.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path as a comedian?
Well, it all started when I accidentally sold a pilot.
I sold a half hour comedy pilot to ABC/Disney and my team suggested I take comedy classes. And my teacher (shout out to Lisa at Pretty Funny Women) said I had very natural comedic timing and that my point of view was very important. She then offered me a free scholarship.
Then, after my graduation show, I started booking a lot of shows. Ever since then, I feel like I’ve jumped on this stand up comedy train that is moving really quickly and not stopping. I’m blown away by how well my comedy career is doing and I’m super grateful that I get to make people laugh for a living.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
The most interesting story since I’ve started my career is the first time I shared a stage with really big comics (Tiffany Haddish, Adam Ray, Craig Robinson, etc). I was shocked by how supportive and encouraging everyone is. As a trans woman in comedy, I didn’t realize it was that supportive to be honest. I was so afraid to make fun of my personal story, but I discovered that the more I make fun of it and own it, the more acceptance I get.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
That has to be making fun of how Republicans treat trans people in a room full of Republicans. But that made me create a really great joke that’s now one of my favorites.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Yeah, I mean there are so many. It’s still very challenging being a woman in comedy, but so many women have helped me along the way. I especially want to mention Sammy Weiser. She’s become my comedy sister. It’s become one of these things where we really help each other and uplift each other. And that friendship has led us to create our own podcast Billie & the Kid with Jam in the Van.
You have been blessed with great success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?
I was told by my mentor that 80% of your success in the industry will be from networking. I encourage everyone to network as much as they go on stage. If I go on stage two nights a week, I want two nights a week for networking. It’s still work, you know? Also, the importance of being kind and wanting others to succeed. There’s room for everyone if you’re not an asshole.
You have such impressive work. What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? Where do you see yourself heading from here?
I’m really excited about my spring and summer comedy tour. And my TV and films projects that will showcase me as a lead actress and my book Why Are You So Sensitive being distributed by Simon & Schuster this year. I also just launched a vegan merch line called “She’s So Vegan”.
What do you do to get material to write your jokes? What is that creative process like?
All comedy is best when it comes from truth. I get real things that happen in my life and I write those things down in a notebook for my monthly comedy writing sessions with my coach.
Super. Here is our main question. What are your “Five Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became A Professional Comedian” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
- The pay is shit. I think the compensation slacks in the comedy world because there is no union. I’ve done several shows where I’ve been paid $10 and sometimes no payment at all
- Being a morning person and being used to being up late is an adjustment. I’m a morning person so being up late at night and doing late shows can be somewhat challenging for me. My days are very busy, so by nighttime I’m exhausted. But then I go out and being up on stage gives me energy and that keeps me going.
- That it’s okay to sit down on a stool. Some people like using it and some people don’t, but it’s literally there for a reason. I’ve always loved it when I’ve seen people sit down. They seem more in control on the stage and, when I do it, I feel like I own the stage.
- No matter how much you make fun of yourself, dudes will still wanna fuck you. No explanation needed.
- It’s okay as a trans woman to like Dave Chappell. He’s one of the few people in Hollywood who’s given resources to trans people and, as a vegan, his joke about trans pussy being “impossible meat” had me on the floor.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“80% of your success is networking”. It’s important to know that it’s not about asking someone to do something for you, it’s about asking what you can do for someone else. The comedy world is a community and it’s about what we can do for the community. It’s about patience because it’s about planting the seeds.
You are a person of huge influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Veganism. I truly believe us humans have the most power with preventing climate change with what we chose to do with those hands and what we choose to eat. Agriculture is one of the leading factors in climate change and people feel powerless but there’s stuff you can do. Which is why I created my vegan merch line.
Is there a person in the world whom you would love to have lunch with, and why? Maybe we can tag them and see what happens!
Of course I would love to have lunch with Oprah Winfrey, but if we’re talking about comedy, I would either have lunch with Amy Schumer or Dave Chappell. Amy Schumer is one of the funniest women and I just get her humor. I love that she just makes fun of herself and her self deprecating humor. And with Dave Chapell, I think it would be really powerful as a trans woman comedian to sit down and have lunch with him.
Are you on social media? How can our readers follow you online?
Yes, I’m on social media. On everything (except TikTok), you can find me @itsmebillielee. And on TikTok you can find me @billieleecomedy
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
Billie Lee: Five Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became A Professional Comedian was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.