One Laugh at a Time Featuring Julio Diaz | Open Palette Podcast | Episode 13

In this episode of the Open Palette Podcast, host Brian Camacho sits down with Brooklyn comedian Julio Diaz for an honest conversation about resilience, sacrifice, and the long road to success in stand-up comedy.

Before performing on stages and building his name in comedy, Julio balanced everyday work with late nights at open mics, refusing to give up on his passion. He shares the lessons he's learned through perseverance, the importance of staying authentic, and why laughter has the power to bring people together.

Whether you're an artist, comedian, entrepreneur, or creative pursuing your own path, this episode is a reminder that success is built one step—and one laugh—at a time.

In this episode, we discuss:

•  Building a career in stand-up comedy 
•  The sacrifices behind pursuing your passion 
•  Growing up in Brooklyn, New York 
•  Balancing work while chasing your dreams 
•  Authenticity in entertainment 
•  Turning setbacks into motivation 
•  The power of consistency and resilience 

The Open Palette Podcast is where art, culture, and community come together through real conversations with artists, creatives, entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders who are shaping their communities.

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs the reminder to keep going.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Life is the canvas we paint. Yeah. Opening the dialogue, removing the barriers and restraint. Uh-huh. It's the open palette, insight, access, and the human story mode. The palette is open. Open now.

SPEAKER_02 0:21

Welcome back to the Open Palette Podcast, where art, culture, and community come together through real conversations. I'm your host, Brian Camacho, and today's episode is brought to you in partnership with Village Works NYC. So let's get right to it. As today's conversation is about resilience, sacrifice, and the pursuit of creative dreams. When the pandemic brought the world to a standstill, many comedians were forced off the stage. But instead of waiting for opportunity to return, today's guest created his own, whether performing in parks, on street corners, through live streams, or wherever he could find an audience. He remained committed to bringing laughter to people during a time when it was most needed. In this episode, we discussed the realities of building a career in comedy, the sacrifices artists make in pursuit of their craft, and the stories behind the jokes, and the determination required to keep showing up when success is never guaranteed. Joining us today is one of New York City's rising comedians. Please help me welcome to today's show, Julio Diaz. Welcome to the show. Thank you, bro. Thank you for joining us, my brother.

SPEAKER_01 1:27

I appreciate that, bro.

SPEAKER_02 1:28

Oh, it's my pleasure, man. Thank you for joining us once again. Let's get right to it. Let's tell the people a little bit about yourself. Who are who is Julio Diaz behind the comedy stage?

SPEAKER_01 1:37

Honestly, dog, I'm just a kid from Brooklyn, bro. I feel like all this stuff uh really was just something I was doing for myself. Wasn't even trying to be like famous or anything. I just like stand-up comedy. And I figured if I had to have a day job, then this is what I did at night.

SPEAKER_02 1:55

That's what's up. And where did the spark and the bug for you come? You know, what was the first thing that aligned with you to say, oh, this is my thing, this is what I could do.

SPEAKER_01 2:03

Man, I was just always into stand-up. I used to watch it with my dad, and then we went to like the comedy cellar together, uh, my senior year of high school. And I had too much respect for it, bro. I really thought I couldn't do it. I thought it was just something that I enjoyed. There was a time in my life, like when I was 18, 19, I don't know what I was gonna do. I would just go to shows Dolo. I would smoke some, smoke some weed, go inside, watch a show. Like, shh, I don't even know, dog. They I went to this one spot, uh, the comic strip, they'll have like a nine o'clock, and then it would turn into like uh how do I say it? Like the show would continue. The people that were the comics they booked, that's it. The show was done, and they were like, yo, but y'all, since y'all here, we just gonna do a uh it's like an open mic in a sense, right? But for the newer comics of the club, that's why they don't want to call it an open mic, but it was like, here's the new guys, stick around while y'all paying your bills. Dog, you would stay there from 8 to like 12 in the morning, no lie. Wow. So I sat through like 20 comics, but at that point, I felt like I needed that shit. I'm like, yeah, I just got my mind off of whatever was stressing me out. And I just enjoyed myself. And it honestly, bro, every day, even though I do it like professionally now, I still feel kind of like, damn, I can't believe this shit's happening like that.

SPEAKER_02 3:20

Do you find yourself with jitters before being on stage every night?

SPEAKER_01 3:23

Oh, all the time, bro. Like the two shows I had tonight. Because every time it's different, it's a different crowd. And uh, like a sketch artist, they want to come up with a new thing every time. Same thing. Even if I'm doing a joke that I've worked on, I still like it has to feel new for them, though. It has to be like crafted for them. So, hell yeah, I got stupid nervous. Tonight, too. The show right before I came here, I just got into the comedy cellar, and I've been feeling, you know, I'm like, damn, son, like, can't believe it. But you know, I trust my guns. I I just do it's a million in one set type shit. Like, just amazing. Whatever got me there, just keep. And then for whatever reason, the show I had just before this, bro. I I one of those moments I got into my head. I was telling uh shout outs to AR. Um, that's the OG right there.

SPEAKER_02 4:08

For sure, that's the big brother right there.

SPEAKER_01 4:10

Uh so I'm telling AR in the car, I'm like, yo, bro, as much as like I wanted to like have all whatever bad thoughts, nah, I never put my hands down. I didn't knock them out, but we went 12 rounds and I got the decision. And it wasn't even close, like one judge said this, nah. You just caught me slipping a couple of times.

SPEAKER_02 4:27

That's what's up. That's what's up. And and for those who who are tuning in and don't understand the conversation and the idea of what it takes to step on stage night in and night out, and not just one time a night, you're doing three to four shows a night at times.

SPEAKER_01 4:42

As much as I can, right?

SPEAKER_02 4:43

So in order to step into these rooms night in and night out, you know, and face these different individuals, different, you know, caliber of people from different walks of life, and bring a smile to their face, is not as easy as it may sound. So when when was it for you that you felt that you you can do this? When did you step on stage and and and then did you bomb the first round? That's that's that's what I want to know.

SPEAKER_01 5:08

Just shit. Any uh any given Sunday, nah, legit. Anytime you go up on stage, it could really happen. Like I said tonight, like even though I was having a gray set, for whatever reason I wanted to. What's that word called? Uh self uh uh damn, it's like a self-sabotage yourself, self-sabotage, bro. For whatever reason, I just be going through and I want to self-sabotage for whatever reason it's like a mindset. But comedy's been the first thing in my life, legit. I think just the pursuit of trying to really just fucking do it. That I'm I don't give in to self uh self-sabotage for stand-up, and it's affected every other area of my life. Just like, nah, fuck it, bro. Like if I'm a lose, I'm gonna lose. Like if I'm a bomb, then fuck, I'm a bomb. When this shit is good, everybody wanna be by your side.

SPEAKER_02 5:56

That's a fact.

SPEAKER_01 5:56

When you bombing, that shit is lonely as fuck. So I try to balance that shit out. So with this shit, bro, to answer your question, my bad. But it was like I feel like the last two to three years, because of the consistent momentum and the resume I feel like I've been building up, that's what I try to be like. Now is real.

SPEAKER_02 6:14

This is when you started feeling that this is what is what it was where you're supposed to be. 100%.

SPEAKER_01 6:19

And until then it was like, if it wasn't meant for me, I wasn't gonna be mad at it either.

SPEAKER_02 6:24

Nice. Well, comedy is a very selfless art form. You're getting up every day and getting on stage and you're doing this for the people with you know, no fair exchange in a sense, right? Comics don't get paid the big bucks. You do see those comics that have reached those peaks, and that is a goal for every artist in any space. But art as a whole is selfless when you're just doing it to put out for the people. And you are a comic and an artist who who sees no boundaries and takes every step and every lim pushes every limit you can to be heard, to be seen, to touch and connect with these people. I want to speak to that because um, as I said in the intro, at times where the world was down, you know, at a time where people needed laughter, needed connection, but there was no outlets, you figured out a way and you made it your point to connect with the people, which is what helped you be the artist that you are today. And it's very important. The reason why I want to speak to that is for those who may be at home, who may be lost, who are tuning in and don't see the light, and don't see an opportunity and are self-sabotaging. What is what was it for you and how do you go about you know swaying through those those obstacles to stay the course, remain positive, and keep focused?

SPEAKER_01 7:39

I would say just uh um, you can't do it because of uh need of like um people are laughing, like whatever fame or or popularity, it's more community. I feel like meeting people that do it is what kept me in the game. You you meet friends doing this shit, and AR, like my first time meeting AR, he was a producer for comedy. And then one day I knew that his show is like I lived on South Second, his show was on Union. I'm like, man, that's right there. Let me go. I met him, I met Willie Sweets, shout outs to Willie Sweets, and a genuine connection of wanting to be there to watch the show. I didn't even want to get on the show, and then I met one of my closest friends, not even just somebody that booked me on the show, but somebody that like he saw that I was just hungry, I wanted to become a comedian, and then the community aspect is what kept me in the game. Um Dan, there was um something that you have brought up that I I wanted to answer to that was like Damn bro, my bad. No, that's cool. There was one part in your question where I was I had something for you.

SPEAKER_02 8:47

It was like Well, the question ultimately was how do you overcome self-sabotage?

SPEAKER_01 8:53

Boom. Okay. So you have brought up about during the pandemic, everything shut down, right? And then we started doing shows in the park. Correct. I wanted to give a big shout outs to people that I've met that were already producing their own shows, like you're producing your podcast, where they were going through stuff where I'm like, I wanted to be around them to learn, find guidance. So I met a good friend named Luis Galilei right before the pandemic, like 2018, 2019. He was already producing his own shows. I'm just thinking about getting on stage. Nice. That's another thing. Like, if you're coming up and what whatever you're into, like, don't just try to get on stage. Like, how can you build the stage? How can you build your own platform? Like, provide value to your community. You come into the game, asking, asking, asking, but what can you give? So somebody like Luis inspired me to like just think different and not just go and try to network with people, like, hey, can I get on your show? Provide the show, and then really what we're asking for is an opportunity. So give yourself the opportunity. Um, and comedy is something called barking, where you're selling tickets to get on, get five minutes. Everybody always has something to say, but until you produce in shows, you don't start thinking about shit. Like, who are you? for me to give you a spot. Right. You don't want to work with me, so then whatever. So you don't start learning that until you start barking for yourself. Oh man, shoutouts to Luis. I was doing shows with him. We had like three shows, bro, two monthlies and a weekly. And then I asked him, I was like, I shout outs to my good friend Tyler Harris, another comedian. I was like, yo, bro, I feel like he's like-minded, he's hungry. Can we bring him on board? Bro, and it was the three of us just running these shows, bro, consistent, consistent, consistent. I was in no clubs, no nothing, but we were consistently providing a platform to fail in the parks. So that was before, and then going to the park. Shoutouts to Luis because uh he was like, Yo, I found a bar, and it was like that specifically was the summer of 2020. Right. In April and May, I was doing uh car shows. People sit in their car and they honk if it was funny. Shoutouts to Ray DeJan, shout outs to talented comedian for putting me on those shows. Rest in peace, the legendary. Rest in peace, Ray DeJan, man. He he he put me onto a lot of games. Another piece of advice, because I'm rambling, but always look for guidance, always look for uh OGs, people that doing the shit you want to do. I think everybody wants to feel like they did it themselves, but life really don't work that way.

SPEAKER_02 11:13

No, it's built on community. This is what it's all about. Yeah, your network is your network, your network is your network. Understand that once you got the people aligned around you that are gonna be there to be able to work alongside you, help you build your community, you all win. Because what you can help them with, they can help you with, and you guys can help everybody else with. So always keep that in mind. And for you as an artist, as an a as a comedian, not only is it that you're out every night, you're sacrificing time, energy, and putting this energy out there to connect with these individuals who are coming out to see you and you know, go home with a happy heart after being able to laugh for the night. You know, but they don't see the bigger picture, the bigger sacrifices that artists like you have to take. You know, living in New York City, the dream is to be in a union. Any union job you align yourself with in this city, you're golden. At least that's what a New York City uh resident will tell you. And you yourself had the golden ticket, as they say, right? You were in a union job, doing your thing, locked in, secured. What was it for you that click for you that said, you know, none of this matters if I'm not happy? For you to take the sacrifices that you did, leave that job, and go full-fledged as a comedian and living and breathing what you do today.

SPEAKER_01 12:32

So to um summarize that, shout outs to my parents who are city workers. My mom works at a hospital, my dad works for the MTA. If it wasn't for them, like they felt like I had no type of direction in life. So my dad was like, yo, just start applying for city jobs. Um, once I was 18, he was he shout outs to him, he put me in a driving school, got my license. Now I had all these jobs with my license. And then um specifically, like one night when the Department of Sanitation test came out, I fell asleep and he didn't. So he's like, I fucking stayed up all night and I signed up for you, you know. So shout outs, I always give shout outs to them because it was never just me, bro. They really helped me down. Got the job at sanitation, did what I needed to do. But I still kept doing my comedy, but it was never like I left sanitation for comedy, bro. Like, that's what uh one of my supervisors, there's no going back now, so it is what it is. But one of my supervisors, I had got caught for being dirty for weed. And then uh he's like, yo, you're on probation, don't let them fire you. Once they fire you, it's over. Just say you quit for stand up. So I put that, I quit before they could fire me. So it's not like I fucking took this leap of faith, but I will say, like, it's not like I had a plan B. I was I was like, in my head, like I said, bro, this shit is any given Sunday. In my head, when I was at sanitation, it was sanitation that was holding me down. And I went, you know, like I went to work. I never missed a day because of a stand-up. So what I did was if I'm gonna do sanitation for however long until I retire, to what makes me happy is stand-up, especially at that point. I was eight years in or seven years in with stand-up. Like, I wasn't looking at it like this needs to work. I was looking at it like I'm going to make it work. So I'm going to do both. I'm going to prove my parents wrong, but also, why not do both? Like, not be stupid and be like, fuck sanitation, I'm doing stand-up. Nah, dog, I'm doing both. So I did what I needed to do for sanitation. I fucked up. But in my head at that time, what I did was stand up is like 6 p.m. to like 11 p.m., 12 a.m. Right. So I would try to get the eight to four shift, the seven to three shifts, whatever I needed to do, I transferred to a thing called the broom garage. That's the street sweepers. Yeah. Because they had a specific schedule. I don't want to ruin it, but that you know, so like I made I made plans and I figured it out. Or if I couldn't get on the broom, then I'm working the overnight, the overnight shift 12 to 8 a.m.

SPEAKER_02 15:12

Finding balance within the schedule is what it's all about.

SPEAKER_01 15:14

100%. Like to your point about sacrifice, like I was willing to give away my nights because that's what I enjoyed doing. So it was uh I would start my day at 4 or 5 p.m. Do what I needed to do. That like that's 4 or 5 a.m. for me.

SPEAKER_02 15:27

For sure.

SPEAKER_01 15:27

Boom, go do my stand-up wherever I can get up, and then go to work. And at that point, I had just did Netflix as a joke. Bro, I was in like three clubs. So nah, nah. Low key, I was really getting busy. I was running from club to club to club. I was getting like five spots in, and then I would rush to work, make it there by 11:50 p.m. Put on my uniform. Now I'm doing a 12 to 8 a.m. shift, and I wasn't on the broom. I was picking up garbage. So I wasn't picking up the most. Shout outs to the guys from the Bronx. They they pick up 18 to 20 tons of garbage. I was in Queens. I picked up 10 tons. Come on.

SPEAKER_02 16:01

Sheesh. Still a lot, man. But the point in that, and that and that statement there is the sacrifice that you as an artist need to take. This is not overnight. None of this is overnight. None of this is handed to you. It's hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. The man is working a full-time job, still getting up, getting on stages, doing what he got to do to touch to the people and connect with you. And that's very important. So thank you for that insight. And uh thank you for what you do every day. You know, getting up there, connecting with the people, putting a smile on people's faces. You know what I mean? It's easier said than done. And it's a challenge as well, you know what I'm saying? Because you got people like hecklers and people who expect you to fail every night. You know what I'm saying? So how do you let's speak to that? How do you, as a comic, you know, maneuver to make sure that you stand in staying on your pivot? You know what I'm saying? Staying sharp with this ever-changing world that is a very emotional space at this place.

SPEAKER_01 16:55

I would say, bro, the um the consistency of it all is what gives me the confidence to feel like I deserve to be up there to deliver a show. Because at the end of the day, I am there to make sure that these people feel like they got their money's worth, especially where I'm at now. It's like it's not so much about me. Yeah, I'm trying to accomplish the dream, but there's a job to be done.

SPEAKER_02 17:18

Right.

SPEAKER_01 17:18

These people pay money, give them a great show, give them a great attitude. Like making them laugh is one thing, but like just go up there and make them feel like they made a confident and the right decision to buy that ticket to go there that night. That's what helps me out. Um, and then another thing is just the consistency. So I'm going up there with jokes I know, like the back of my hand, like it is what it is, and I find my places in my time to find the new shit. Like, that's the best way I could put it. So, like the established places, I give them my established act, I come in professional. If I can't pick up garbage no more to make a living, then I got to come in. And it has to be more than just I'm a comic trying to figure out my dream. Right. It's like I'm a person, y'all paid me to be here, and I'm gonna give y'all a great job. And along those lines, I'll find the shit that was meant for me. My little growth, that joke didn't work, blah, blah, blah. No matter what, those people left it like, that's a professional comedian, and we was in a professional establishment tonight.

SPEAKER_02 18:16

That's great to hear, and that's what it's all about, man. Making it happen, getting to work, showing up, and showing out. There's no room to be slipping and slacking out here. You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_01 18:25

Nah.

SPEAKER_02 18:26

It's very important. Not only are you on stage and doing the you know stand-up, you also have a podcast. So let's talk about that as well to give a shout out to you and your shows that you work with.

SPEAKER_01 18:34

Appreciate you, bro.

SPEAKER_02 18:35

For sure.

SPEAKER_01 18:36

I do the uh We Are Rolling Podcast with Talent Harris, Maha Yvonne, and then I do TJ Square podcast with Julio Rivera and Nick Trinidad.

SPEAKER_02 18:44

That's what's up, man. Make sure to check those shows out as well. We're here to support. Those are some great shows. I find myself laughing each and every time I'm tuned in. Keep up the great work with that, man. It's definitely showing and it goes a long way. We appreciate everything that you're doing for us out here as an artist. Continue to keep making us laugh. Do you have some parting words for the people? Let them know where they can tap in with you, how they can connect with you, where they can see your next shows.

SPEAKER_01 19:08

I'm at Julio Diaz Comedy on every social media platform. Julio DiazComedy.com. That's my website. Sign up for the email list. Uh, more importantly, if you're watching this, like trying to gain something for yourself, some insight, yo, just whatever you have to do to pay the bills in a sense of get that day job, whatever it is, no ego, like provide for yourself as an individual, and just use your time wisely. If if you're a comic, dog, just go to that open mic every night. That's all you like to do. Nothing has to come from it. Most importantly, no expectations, and and you can never go wrong being yourself, ever.

SPEAKER_02 19:49

That's a fact. You heard it first right here on the open palette podcast. This is not a comedy show. If you want to hear jokes, you want to see Julio Diaz, check them out live on stage, y'all. Thank you for tuning in. This is the Open Palette Podcast. Make sure to like, comment, share, subscribe. Peace.

SPEAKER_01 20:06

Thank you for having me, bro. Pleasure, my brother. Thank you.