Talk about doing and being all that. Behind-the-scenes, she possesses the skills to recruit talent and organize successful comedy shows. In front of the microphone she can deliver a stand-up routine with the best of them. And she is the creator, producer and star of an upcoming movie based on her life as a female comedian in Hollywood. Meet the funny lady con sabor Latina, Kiki Melendez.
I&S: You are known for promoting female comedians via your Hot Tamales franchise. How do you select the comics for your group?
KM: I have a saying: “You have to be a better comic than ME!!” Stand-up is one of the most difficult art forms in the entertainment business. You have no props, no lines, no staging, it’s all you. It is also the least rewarded or acknowledged art in the business. You rarely see award shows that honor talented comedians or TV specials with stand-up comedians, yet being a great stand-up comic is at the root of any other genre in entertainment. If you look at most of the top A-List movie stars, talk show hosts, etc. they came from the field of stand-up comedy.
I&S: In this issue we are focusing on women in business and women working together and supporting each other. What has your experience been in organizing women? What if anything have been the obstacles in getting women to work together?
KM: The major obstacle is the competitive nature of the women as a whole. Sometimes the egos get in the way. I have been blessed because most women realize that I am doing it for all of us. In Kiki Melendez’ Hot Tamales Live (which I created and produced for Showtime Networks), I got loads of audience feedback asking “Why aren’t you on longer?” I took 7 minutes to open the show and gave 15 minutes. No creator/producer in their right mind would do that. So the girls know that I am doing it for all of us so they all respect me and will do anything for our show and for me.
I&S: On the lighter side, where does your comedy instinct come from?
KM: While interviewing my family for my Docu-Comedy “The Journey of a Female Comic”, I realized my father was a stand-up long before the word or the genre was created. When he would visit me (my parents separated when I was just a year old), my family told me he would do a comedy routine for all of them and they could never figure out where he got the jokes…were they real or had he invented them etc. In my subconscious mind I equate my father’s visits and watching him perform with happiness.
I&S: What are your go-to topics for creating new humor?
KM: I am constantly writing things down that I say or a friend says that make me laugh! I feel the first person that has to laugh about a joke is the person telling the joke. If you find it funny you will deliver it funny, therefore the joke will “work”. The other day a friend suggested I hire an au-pair (young nanny) to help me around the house. I was like, are you kidding me? In this house I would never hire a nanny or maid that wasn’t a “50-50” – 50 pounds overweight and at least 50 years old. I got to protect my marriage! My friend died laughing. I am sure you will hear that one as part of my future repertoire.
I&S: How has your experience as a female comic been different than your male counterparts?
KM: The truth is that I have been blessed, taken seriously, and treated with the utmost respect by the comedy world. Although, I can tell you that no one thought an all female show would work, especially with a diversity of women, cultures, ethnicities, sexual preferences, and or religions. I proved everyone wrong. We are a great show and have delivered greatness every time.
It is a higher BAR for women no matter what area of work we are in, we have to PROVE it over and over again, and we HAVE to be better!
I&S: What does being a Latina bring to your comedy?
KM: I think the Latino Culture has so much funny. We are over-exaggerators and Criticonas (yentas).
We are high energy, passionate, opinionated, independent, and spitfires…all form a great basis for comedy!
I&S: How have you been doing at balancing your roles and businesswoman and mother?
KM: It is extremely stressful. The only thing that keeps me sane is that this career allows me to work from home, but my family never sees me. I do however remind my kids and my husband that it would be so much worse if I was working from 8am-7pm then came home just to sleep like most two income families have to do. So I tell them, “Hey, at least when you need a hug, something to eat, help with your homework, whatever, I am here. You can come grab mommy and I am here.” I remind the twins that a lot of parents can’t be there like I am…and they usually agree.
I&S: If you were starting out today, how would you best shape your stand-up career for success?
KM: It took me years to be on social media. I just started 2 years ago. If I could do it over again I would have started my own channel on the net a long time ago! Because there is one thing I am good at and that is great content!!
I&S: In your soon to be released documentary, “Journey of a Female Comic”, you are the star as well as the co-writer and co-director. When did this concept take shape and how long have you been developing it?
KM: One night I could not sleep thinking of how hard it is to get into Hollywood – all the disappointments were keeping me up. I started running them through my head and thought the next morning I am going to make a change and just give up and think of something to do.
In Hypnotherapy (a field in which I am certified), they say if you think of your main problem before going to bed, the solution will come to your subconscious mind by the time you wake up. You will dream it or it will pop into your head. In the middle of the night, I was awakened and I remember sitting up in bed. A voice that seemed to be outside of me said, “You need to do a documentary about your journey.” I knew it wasn’t me because I never even liked documentaries and the thought of doing one never crossed my mind. The voice continued, “This way they will all see how talented you are”…and I was like, this is insane! But I followed the voice (or I should say revelation) and it has proven to be right thus far – the audiences are really loving the movie. Best of all through my struggles and pitfalls they are feeling inspired and motivated. It’s funny the movie has all those moments of heartache that almost killed me but they are related with a comedic twist ala Curb Your Enthusiasm. It is a true story and people and feel it.
I&S: Any upcoming dates or contact information you’d like to mention?
KM: The Journey of a Female Comic / La Trayectoria De Una Comediante will be coming to theaters in 2014. I will be doing new “Kiki Melendez Presents” shows at the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club at Universal City Walk on the first Sundays of the Month featuring Hot Tamales Live, Fried Bananas Live, and a variety of RAW Talent. It will be a showcase for industry and all people to give opportunities to the talented youth in this town!!
And in closing I want my tombstone to read: THE ANGEL OF FANTASY…The one that helped make others dreams come true ‘cause she knew first-hand how hard it was!!
Seeing a need and having the drive to find a way to fill it. This is what we like most about Kiki. She is a do-er. And to also be a creative type with ideas that keep her up at night. What could be accomplished if everyone were so troubled? Suffice it to say we are impressed by her accomplishments to date and cannot see anything holding her back. We at Image & Style Magazine were proud to present Ms. Melendez in our pages and hope to catch one of her shows next time we are down south.