TTH: Who are you?
Amaru: I am a man driven by the need to teach and show my children by example that they can succeed and not become a statistic.
TTH: Where are you from?
Amaru: I was born in Gary, Indiana and raised primarily in Kalamazoo, MI. I also spent some of my childhood in Arizona.
TTH: You say you have been doing Stand Up for 10 years. Why are you not famous? A lot of people have never heard of you. Which begs the question, are you funny?
Amaru: Wow! That's a loaded question and I'm the one asking them! Okay, the first part. Why am I not famous? Well, I have learned in this business that it's all about opportunity meets preparation. I've had many opportunities early on but like a teenager coming into their own you think you're ready when you're really not. Am I funny enough to be famous? I think so. I'm not funny just to be famous. Meaning, I don't do comedy just to be famous or the wealth... anymore. We all at some point in time have dreams bigger then life itself. I do it because I sincerely enjoy making people laugh. It is the truest form of joy. I come from a rough childhood as have a lot of Americans. I found that talking about it in a comedic format is a release for people who have gone through the same thing. A connection is made and now you have a new friend who's been on that ride before. If you get into this business just for the money and fame you'll lose everytime! This is an art form and should be respected! I've paid my dues and in due time you'll hear of me.
TTH: Do you think you will be famous?
Amaru: What do you consider to be famous? iLike "Drake" says, "I just wanna be successfull". (And a friend of mine said to me the other day) I think I will make it to where I'm supposed to be.
TTH: ...and that is?
Amaru: ...to the top of my game. I think I will make household name status. I don't just do comedy. I write films and make music as well. My children need to learn to be leaders in a world of bad leaders. We need to reinforce to the kids today that it's cool to dream and reach for it and not the video game controller.
TTH: It says in your BIO you have been in the entertainement business for 15 years. You were homeless correct?
Amaru: Yes. For a short time.
TTH: How do you become homeless after being in the business for 15 years?
Amaru: Some of those 15 years was paying dues and doing favors to get my foot in the door. Like, maybe writing a spec script... for free! Or doing a show for free... after driving a million miles to get to that free gig. I can't count how many times driving 200 miles for 5 or 10 minutes paid off! My ultimate struggle was having kids at a young age. When you have children it doesn't stop you from moving forward but it sho does put a monkey wrench in your dreams and your wallet! A few times in my career I didn't have a place. My family always did but I had too much pride sometimes to except the help that may have been offered to me.
TTH: Why the lack of stability?
Amaru: Chasing the dream. Making sacrifices that sometimes were counter productive in regards to my family. No communication skills between my young bride and myself. Sometimes it would even be my way or the highway frame of mind. I wanted the world to see what I had to offer it so bad. Sometimes just down right selfish. Ain't no sugar coatin it. I was the man of the house. I'm supposed to do right by my family a hundred percent of the time. Sometimes it was 85% of the time. My father didn't show me how to be a man so I was winging it with the the example my Grandpa set but my association with him was only when my real mother took us over there. She sheltered us. She was a strict bible thumpin Jehovah's Witness. I don't know. I really didn't have the support needed from my spouse and I WANTED IT SO BAD! I don't care how this sounds but I wanted my wife to be proud of me. I would damn near beg for it. We were young when we got together and we didn't have a game plan. It just happened. I did, however, tell her from day one that one day I was going to be famous and her and her mother looked at each other and laughed in my face.
Here it is today, I've been on television, worked on films, music videos. I have had movie deals, I worked for Master P. I am a music publisher SESAC affiliate and I do stand up around the country for a living. Get this. she has never told me in 17 years, "I'm proud of you". Reminds me of being a kid. I don't remember my real mother ever saying that and surely my father didn't. One of my foster parents said it to me before but other then that. That's why I make sure I let my kids know, Daddy is proud of you when they make accomplishments. Even when they fail sometimes. They need a boost in moral sometimes.
TTH: Did all that have a price?
Amaru: It sure did.
TTH: What was that?
Amaru: My marrige! My family!
Stay tuned for more of an "Interview with Myself" in the days to come. True stories from a comic that will tell you the truth about life through comedy... even about himself.
If you have any questions for Amaru send them to mistawoosaa@gmail.com and they will be asked in the order they were received.
Please leave a comment! Thank you!
Follow @homelesscomedy @therealamaru @nataliecrue @saymichalsexy @BrandName1st
No comments:
Post a Comment