Wanda Sykes Quotes

As a stand-up comic, you have to do the road.

I spent 25 years as a stand-up comedian.

From 1987 to 1992, I was on the road for 40 weeks a year playing comedy clubs, and that was during the 'comedy boom.'

I got into comedy so I could stay out all night.

I basically did comedy there for about a year, and then moved to New York. If I had it to do over again, I would have booked myself on the road for at least a year.

It seems easier to make a career out of comedy now than it was in the 1980s.

In Manhattan, I often do two or three or more shows a night, so I'm always working on new material.

I had no desire to be a stand-up comic until I decided to do it.

My touring has never stopped; from the time I started doing stand-up, I've been on the road.

Being a comedian is probably the only job apart from undertaking that isn't age restricted.

My family were nothing but pleased when I told them I wanted to be a comedian.

When you're a comic, it's like being born gay. It's what you want to do every night when your other friends are out at night going to parties.

We did like 12 shows, then we did the entire Ozzfest with the first half completely booked; then we did the second half with a couple days off here and there.

You start in bars and then restaurants, then you want to get into comedy clubs where you feature, then you headline, and once you sell out clubs you're into theaters. I've been able to get there, and it's cool to do that.

I don't think I'm ever going to retire from stand-up, but what I have retired from is working the road every week.

The best advice I was probably given and the best advice I could give someone who is trying to get into the comedy field is to take advantage of every opportunity you have to work to hone your skills.

I always wanted to be a comedian and actor.

The only way to stay sharp is to do live shows. There is no part-time comedy.

If my career path takes me elsewhere, that's great. But comedy is my forte.

There have been times when I played more than others, but I've been a road comic for a quarter of a century, so I've always played golf on the road because you have a lot of time to kill.

I did, like, one or two plays in high school, but I don't think I realized I wanted to do comedy until I got to college, and I started doing improv and saw the Upright Citizens Brigade perform and did workshops with them.

There's tons of dudes - like David O'Doherty, Tim Key, and Alex Horne - I made a lot of friends with people who are really incredible comics.

I've always been a fan of comedy. I've always enjoyed it. It's something I'm very passionate about; it's like lifeblood to me. I had to pursue it. I thought I had a little bit of talent, and if I could make a living at it, I would do it. It's worked out so far.

I worked as a comedian for 23 years, 51 weeks a year.

I knew at an early age that I wanted to pursue comedy.