Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Berrios
Hi Alex , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always loved comedy and was such in awe whenever watching comedy specials. Watching theaters or arenas full of people captivated by one person. It had never crossed my mind, that could actually be my career one day. Having 3rd world parents, I wanted to make them proud, especially my dad. In middle school, I told them I wanted to be a cardiologist, and I remember their face lit up. Then, I got to high school and barely passed biology. I couldn’t fathom being a comedian, because I THOUGHT it wouldn’t be a career my parents were proud of. Then I went off to University of Wisconsin at Green Bay to be a teacher, and even got a scholarship, but end up flunking out. My own fault, always partying and chasing boys. Then I went to community college with the plans of getting my GPA up and then transferring back to the University. I didn’t tell my parents for a year, that I had flunked out and when I did, they were so upset and disappointed. I had only told them because at the time I was living with my best friend and her roommates, and I just wasn’t making ends meet, and ask if I could move back home. They simply said no and i had to figure it out. I just always felt I had to make it up to them by finishing school. My parents couldn’t afford to pay for my school, my grades were too low to get a scholarship. In my twenties, every other semester I was in school and I was working 2 part-time jobs. Then when I was 27, I was really at my lowest. I lived in an almost empty 1 bedroom apart, all I had was my bed, dresser and a TV. Living paycheck to paycheck, and on top of that I was broken-hearted. I had just ended my 1 year relationship with a boyfriend, while I loved him, he didn’t love me. He said, “I thought we were just having fun.” And he apologized for not loving me.
My first open mic was at Hyenas when it use to be in Plano, TX in 2017. I was shy and kind of scared, but fortunately 3 of my homegirls came with me for support and stayed until the very end because I was almost the last comic of the night. By then I was only able to tell my 3 minute set, in front of 6 people (it wasn’t a lot of people left), including the bartender. My 3 minute set consisted of my mommy issues and failed relationships. I got some laughs and granted 3 of them were my friends. Hearing the laughs, took away the shame, embarrassment of being my parents disappointment. I’ve been hooked ever since. Comedy the only place where I’ve found you can become successful off of your failures, and I had plenty of those.
I didn’t tell my dad for almost a year, that I started doing comedy and was pursuing this as a career. Even through all the years of my failures, we always remained close. After he got over me flunking out of college, we became close again. Then I told him I was comedian, and that I had been going to open mics for over a year and done a handful of shows. He was only upset I didn’t tell him sooner. He was so happy for me. He kept saying how proud he was that I found something that I loved and was consistent with it (comedy the only thing I’ve ever been consistent with). He even started calling me Ms. Hollywood when he called. My thoughts were never true. He was always proud of me. Although I didn’t have my degree, and was still in community college and at the time was a secretary, he said he was still proud of me. Proud of how independent I was, that I still kept trying to finish school and that I found something that I loved and that I was happy again.
Comedy continues to help me accept who I am and take away the shame of what I’ve been through. All my failures and future failures have a purpose and will eventually end up being material
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely was not a smooth road to finding comedy, I was always finding ways and switching a career that my parents would be proud of and brag about to their friends. I was doing all that for them and not me. I truly didn’t think there was anything wrong with that. Growing up, the majority of friends had immigrant parents and it felt like we all did that. No one was really talking about passions, we were taught you go to school or the military and thats how you will be successful. At 27, I started learning to do things for me and to be proud of myself, but this continues to be a journey
My biggest struggle has been love and finding love, because besides comedy, there is one thing I want a bit more. Its love and marriage. Every time I am in a relationship, I immediately start picturing our life together, and give it my all. I see the potential for marriage in every man I date. I am that friend that over romanticizes marriage. I have married friends, and they will always remind me to enjoy my singleness, and wait. I haven’t listen but I hear them. My parents were not an example of marriage that I would ever want. It’s not as if I had the best example growing up. And one of best friends went through a divorce and I’ve seen first hand how ugly things can get. Even with being exposed to all that, I still want to be married some day. And I don’t think my astrological sign has anything to do with it.
My dad would stay yelling at me, saying “forget about boys! Focus on your future.” He was right and I always knew he was. I just couldn’t help it and I still can’t. That’s why it took me 10 years for a 4 year degree, I would get distracted from my relationships. Always wanting to spend time with them, spending hours on the phone either cup-caking or arguing, making me tired for work and school the next day. And in my twenties, I was a certified crash out. It wasn’t love if it wasn’t toxic. If a guy wasn’t picking up my calls, I would get dressed and see if he was at his regular club spot cheating on me. Or call a friend and do a drive-by their apartment and stake out to see if another girl came out his place. Many years later, I learned if it even gets to the point of thinking about doing those things, the relationship should end.
I’ve always been consistent with comedy, but I loosen up on the grind when in relationship. I wouldn’t go to as many open-mic nights, I’m posting our pics instead of my stand-up sets. I know relationships can distract me. And the only good thats ever come out of my relationship is the material, but that isn’t the intent. I was looking for love not jokes. But eventually when my heart heals, then I am able to joke about it.
I hate saying this out loud, but I think if I focused on comedy like I did on finding love, I’d be further in my career. But I stop myself from thinking that often, because there is no way to prove that could be true unless I had a crystal ball.
I’m 35 now, and it seems like everyone is just dating for content. I’ve never been married, purposed to, or even had a relationship last no more than a year.
I’ve stop dating since I turned 35, so I don’t know how my future husband will find me but he will one day. Until then, comedy and I are locked in, and we’ve been going together for 8 years now. Its been the longest relationship I’ve ever had.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m proud I have stayed consistent with comedy, and continue to enjoy the work I do. I’m either at an open mic or on a show. I’ve never been consistent with a diet, piano lessons, or projects outside of comedian. So the continue effort and practice I put into comedy makes me feel this is where I am successful at, and this is my purpose.
I think that I find no shame in being a lover girl, sets me apart from other. Those are where half of my jokes come from (the other half is my mommy issues). I don’t find looking for love or having the desire of it as weakness. Telling my journey on searching for love helps me release the shame to it, especially after I hear people laugh at the jokes I made from it.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
For me, what has worked well is telling my truth. talking about my past and my desire for my future. Don’t be in a rush to find your voice, it will come. And be kind to everyone on every show and open mic. Comedy can get lonely sometimes, and causes you to be in your head a lot. You never know what someone is going through. Being kind and acknowledging one another, it matters.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexberrioscomedy/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexberrioscomedy
Image Credits
Sam Brand and
Cherelle Gay
