Interview Alicia Jacobs is a stand-up woman

As a cosmetics salesperson by day, comedian Alicia Jacobs encounters plenty of material. Her stand-up weaves these stories of off-kilter makeup-counter customers with those of the gangster rap-influenced white kids from her own Midwestern high school (as portrayed in her yet-to-be-realized fictional film, Corn Rows). Jacobs talked with The A.V. Club prior to the Comedy Works' Funny Final Four competition this Wednesday—which she is a finalist in—about what’s it’s like growing up in the middle of nowhere and how having boobs is sometimes the only thing that sets you apart from (most) other comedians.

The A.V. Club: There is an underwhelming amount of women doing stand-up. What got you into doing it?

Alicia Jacobs: I think there’s close to 200 local comedians in Denver, and maybe 10 of those are female? Most of the time when I do a show, I’m the only woman. If there is another female there, it’s like “Oh, cool!” [Laughs.] You’ve got to hunt us down like Bigfoot. I’ve been doing stand-up for three years, and before that I did improv. There are definitely a lot more women in that arena. I’d always wanted to do stand-up, but was totally scared—I think it’s intimidating for a lot of women. With improv, you’re with a group, and it’s a little less intimidating. With stand-up, it’s just you and a spotlight. Silence is all around you. [Laughs.] But I got to a point with improv where I was like, fuck this, if I never try stand-up, I’m going to regret it forever.

AVC: How did you know you wanted to be a comedian?

AJ: I didn’t know much about stand-up before I started. I grew up in the middle of nowhere—North Dakota and Montana—so my biggest influence came through basic cable. There was a show on A&E called An Evening At The Improv, and my brother and I watched it every single night. There weren’t many female comedians on the show—none that stood out, anyway—but I didn’t assume that meant I couldn’t do stand-up.

AVC: What was your first experience like?

AJ: I did an open mic at Club 404. I went down and signed up, and I didn’t know anybody. Of course, it’s unusual when some random chick shows up, so all of the male comedians were circling me like sharks. [Laughs.] The guy emceeing introduced me by saying something about my “sweet tits.” I have three brothers and a ton of dude friends, so being the only girl doing comedy doesn’t intimidate me. Once I got onstage, I loved it. Getting onstage and getting laughs felt amazing. I knew I had to keep doing it.

AVC: How do you deal with hecklers?

AJ: There’s this resident heckler at the Lions Lair. He’s just a drunk who sits at the end of the bar, and he’s there, like, every Monday. If you start out asking a usual question like, “How are you guys doing tonight?," he always answers really loudly with “Fine.” It’s so awkward. A good comic—although I’m not at this point yet—can heckle a heckler. If you acknowledge a heckler, it sort gives them the okay, and they think they’re awesome. I just try to ignore it.

AVC: Who or what influences your material?

AJ: I do a character that is sort of based around my mom, and many other small-town Midwestern ladies I have known and loved. She has this pleasant Midwestern accent, but tends to say really inappropriate things. My mom has seen me perform once, and I didn’t do any of the jokes that involve her. But after the show, every time she said something, it was, “Oh, Alicia, you should put that in your jokes!” I think my mom really enjoys the thought of being a part of my act. But usually, a joke will come about because I’m telling a story, and it will hit me, like, hey this might be funny. I’ll test a story on a couple of different people before I use it, but I won’t tell them like, hey, this is my new bit! [Laughs.] Actually, I kind of wish I could do that—have a brick wall behind me at all times, and a microphone handy. Or even better, freeze time like Zack on Saved By The Bell, and turn to the audience and try my bit.

AVC: You work at a cosmetics counter during the day. That has to influence your work.

AJ: The majority of my material is based on real-life experience. I believe the truth is funnier than fiction. I deal with the public all day long. When people are shopping, they don’t think about how they come across. They don’t necessarily treat retail employees like human beings. [Laughs.] In cosmetics, I deal with women who are insecure about themselves, and with that, a lot of freakiness comes out. I keep a notebook with me at all times.