Hi, My name is Seth Hartley and I’m an amateur comedian. I specify amateur as I cannot support myself financially from doing this yet. I mean, I guess I could live in one of those tent cities that everyone’s talking about, and I’m pretty good at stealing food from Wal-Mart, but I do love heating and air conditioning just a bit too much. Oh yea, and hair gel, I have a complex.
I’ve got my true start in comedy after another dream of mine fizzled out. I had always loved comedy, and was obsessed with watching stand up, but I never had much free time as I played baseball year-round. I even got a scholarship to play college ball. However, during my sophomore year of college, while playing baseball in Shreveport, Louisiana, I ruptured my patellar tendon. Unfortunately, with the rehab associated, I was essentially done. Baseball fills up a lot of time so when that ended, I was bored.
With not a lot to do, I started going to open mic comedy shows. Thinking it was an easy route to go, I hopped up on stage. My first time crushed, I thought to myself, “You did it, you’re a comic. You’re a pro. Move aside, Seinfeld you freak, I’m going to be the new kid in town.” Boy, was I wrong. My next…20 times on stage were all bombs. I quit, I decided that comedy was dumb.
But, it stuck in my head. I don’t like being bad at something. I mean, I am bad at a lot of things, but I still don’t like it. So, I began writing and practicing for friends. I did this for months before I ever got back on a stage. And when I did, it was good. Not great. But I kept on. For a while…then I quit again. Yet, this want for the laugh still stuck with me. Over the next 7 years, I’d quit and start again, quit and start. Smoke a lot of weed, eat a lot of Cheetos, and generally be a smelly hippy. Somehow, I’ve had a successful career in sales throughout this time, however this hasn’t fulfilled me. My thoughts always go back to comedy. This persistent nagging of wanting to be better, the obsession with finding the right words to solicit a laugh, and getting your audience to eat out of the palm of your hand.
I’ve done a lot of work over these past few years as this side passion has grown. I’ve hosted shows, traveled around, and opened for some big-name comics. I’m still an amateur, but I promise I’m damn good…pretty good…I’m alright. Better than you, so suck it. In the next 6 months, I’ll be picking up my life and dropping the “normal” job to pursue comedy full time in Chicago. Well, not exactly full time, I’ll have to spend part of the time dodging bullets…but the rest of the time, comedy. If I’ve learned one thing in life, it’s to listen to that inner voice in your head and that feeling in your gut. But if you have multiple voices in your head…you may need think of becoming a Batman villain.
Anyway, I’m here to help you get better with your engagement, whether it be written or spoken word. I’m an expert in public speaking, and can help you captivate your audience. Comedy is universal. Whether someone is giving a TedTalk or making a sales pitch or even writing copy for a product placement, your audience enjoys the laugh. It eases them, and it makes you more relatable. Just look at Bill Cosby ;) I challenge you to find any public speaking engagement where there aren’t jokes sprinkled throughout. It’s all about placement and timing, and I’m here for it.