This is the opening bit of my first-ever comedy show for a group of Christian ladies. I’m forever thankful for them because they made me a comedian.
Back in 2019, I stumbled upon a quote on the internet: “You will be the same person in five years unless you read new books and make new friends.” That sparked something in me, and I decided to make a bold move: to make new friends with total strangers who were not Chinese.
A quick Google search led me to the Collin County Christian Women’s Connection. One Tuesday, I showed up at their gathering, a room filled with 30-40 women, mostly white and over 40. When it was my turn to introduce myself, I said, “I’m a speaker, author, and a Texas Cowgirl made-in-China.”
The room burst into laughter. Then, one of the ladies asked, “Lia, you are very funny. Would you like to do a 30-minute comedy show for our next event?” Without thinking, I said, “Yes!” But then panic set in. I had no training or experience in standup comedy. I went bananas for three months preparing for the show.
On the day of my gig, I purposely left my business cards at home. I didn’t want the ladies to remember my name if I bombed. I was ready to disappear into thin air if no one laughed at my punchlines.
But, as it turned out, I killed it! The success of my first-ever comedy show gave me the confidence to bring joy and waves of laughter to the world.
