Bret Raybould (’14)
Comedian
New York City
WFU Class of 2014
Major: Business Enterprise Management; Minor: Communications
DeacLink: Please walk me through your path from graduation day to your current job.
Bret Raybould: Well, currently I am a stand up comedian… although, the return of that is a hazy affair, to say the least. When COVID struck, I had to cancel three and a half months of gigs. I knew to do standup it was likely you should move to New York; it’s the mecca. Upon arriving in NYC, I took a job as a video producer at a great media company called NowThis filled with tons of incredibly thoughtful, passionate, and intelligent people. While there, I was able to save up money till I could eventually make the leap toward trying to sustain myself from standup.
If you have any interest in seeing some of my standup, here is a link to a video called “Comedian ABSOLUTELY BEFRIENDS Heckler”. (remember, first rule of showbiz: ALWAYS BE PROMOTING. Even on random alumni websites)
DL: How much did your studies and general experience at Wake inform or drive your career path?
BR: Well, a business degree to stand-up are obviously not really a one-to-one correlation. However, I do have to manage the finances for the road shows I do, as many of them are self-produced. Oh, I should also mention, in the pandemic I’ve been running a company called CumRags with a fellow Wake alum. It’s 100% real; here is one of our videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCzcs7NovOI&feature=youtu.be
I would say my Communications degree helped me with language. Generally being passionate about art and media and culture is helpful for informing my own comedy. A professor I had at Wake, Clay Hassler, inspired me very much. Himself a filmmaker, he proved to me you could pursue something creative, even if you didn’t have the greatest resources. My junior year he bootstrap-filmed a feature length movie which opened my eyes to the reality that, if you’re a creative person and you want to have a career in a creative field, don’t wait around for opportunities. Make your stuff.
DL: How did you go about finding and applying to the various opportunities you’ve had?
BR: Wake’s community rallies around its own. Last November I filmed a standup comedy special in NY. The @WAKENewYork team proved massively helpful in promoting it and, in large part because of their support, I was able to sell out the club for the taping. Deacs rally around Deacs.
DL: What is your favorite part of living and working in New York City? What is the most interesting thing going on in the art scene there at the moment, in your opinion?
BR: Well, New York can be a real difficult city to live in, especially in terms of practicality/comfort. But, it’s worth it for all the different types of people you meet. It’s the epicenter of so many industries.
DL: What is your favorite part about stand-up?
BR: Honestly, I love nothing more than when you first get a bit to start really working well. It’s a constant practice of trying to fine-tune the idea and can take a while.
DL: What and where is next for you?
BR: Genuinely NO IDEA. Since standup has been on hiatus, I’ve taken to finally working on a script for an idea a friend and I have long had. When the world was paused, there was no excuse not to be able to write it! Fortunately, we got the draft in a great place and are excited to send it to some people. Of course you want something tangible to come out of it, but, regardless, working on it has improved me much as a writer and given me a lot of confidence and conviction that I can complete one of those. On to the next project!
DL: Any kernel of advice you’d like to impart to the readers?
BR: Don’t be afraid to paint outside the lines. Be easy on yourself.