About this episodeLaura Ramoso discusses the intense physical and mental toll of touring comedy, including managing performance …AI summary
Laura Ramoso discusses the intense physical and mental toll of touring comedy, including managing performance anxiety, navigating social media algorithms, and dealing with online harassment. She shares specific strategies for maintaining mental health, such as using separate phones for work and personal life, lifting weights, and setting strict boundaries around content creation to prevent burnout.
Key takeaways 5
Performance anxiety manifests differently for character-based comedians; Laura experiences a 'minute of panic' where she questions her existence on stage, often requiring a sip of tequila or a Red Bull to reset.
Social media strategy varies by platform: Instagram Reels drive the most audience conversion to live shows, while TikTok has significantly declined in reach (5k views vs 2M on Facebook), likely due to algorithm changes or shadowbanning.
Content creation burnout is real; Laura produces 6 clips weekly (3 standup, 3 podcast) plus sketches, leading her to reduce output to 1-2 clips monthly and consider moving content to Patreon to maintain sanity.
Touring logistics require strict separation of work and personal life; Laura uses a 'dumb phone' for personal use and leaves her work phone in the office to detach from the constant pressure to promote.
Physical stress manifests visibly; Laura experiences stress-induced alopecia (bald spots) and styes, particularly when visiting her parents' house, linking physical symptoms directly to mental load.
Notable quotes 4AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
“I have this minute where I go what the [__] I'm telling these strangers I have a massive slice in my [__] Why? What? for no what is does he laugh and I'm like and then I have this whole thing in my head where I'm just on stage going I've made a huge mistake why am I doing what am I doing”
▶ 8:00Laura describes the specific moment of self-doubt and panic that occurs during her standup sets when a joke doesn't land.
“If someone murders for an hour, stand the [__] up. Like, where are you? Like, I almost stood up for Ian bag the other day. He did 15 minutes of crowd work. I'm like, am I gonna stand up right now? This is insane.”
▶ 24:01Laura explains why she filmed her special in Boston, citing the audience's enthusiastic standing ovation as proof of their engagement compared to other cities.
“I got two phones. A work phone and a personal phone. And the work phone is the phone with all the social media on it... But then my personal phone is a dumb phone. Um where I just have texts and the New York Times app... That's one thing that I've done this year that's really helped me detach”
▶ 50:56Laura shares her primary strategy for managing digital burnout and maintaining mental health while touring.
“I purposely posted a joke today knowing it was going to get a reaction where I talk about sucking dick with with with teeth. It's going off. Anytime I post anything [__] nasty as hell, it goes off. Like even if I'm like it's not that funny, but I'm like well I know it's going to get a reaction so I know it's going to go”
▶ 14:53Laura reveals her tactic for gaming social media algorithms by posting controversial content to drive engagement and comments.
Chapters & Sections (99)▼
0:02Overcoming Stage Fright and Performance Anxietychapter2
0:02Overcoming Stage Fright and Performance Anxiety
1:27Upcoming Comedy Tour Dates and Performances
2:40Dealing with Nerves Before Live Comedy Showschapter3
2:40Dealing with Pre-Show Nerves and Performance Anxiety
3:39Dealing with Nerves Before Comedy Shows
4:33Breaking into Improv Comedy Career
5:31Early Improv Experiences and Solo Performancechapter2
5:31Early Improv Experiences and Solo Performance
6:36Overcoming Stage Nerves in Live Performances
7:39Overcoming Stage Nerves and Self-Doubtchapter6
7:39Overcoming Stage Fright and Performance Anxiety
8:35Overcoming Nerves and Burnout in Comedy Performances
9:11Managing Increased Performance Demands in Live Shows
9:57Managing Multiple Characters in Improvisational Shows
10:43Managing Stage Fright and Wig Changes
11:19The Disgusting Reality of Comedy Club Wigs
12:07Breaking into Comedy through Social Mediachapter3
12:07Breaking into Comedy through Social Media
13:17Challenges of Social Media Platform Transitions
14:38Managing Online Reactions to Provocative Content
15:32Dealing with Online Harassment and Trollschapter3
15:32Dealing with Online Harassment and Cyberbullying
16:21Dealing with Online Trolls and Cyberbullying
17:06Dealing with Negative Feedback from Audience
18:01Dealing with Hecklers and Negative Audience Feedbackchapter2
18:01Dealing with Hecklers and Negative Audience Feedback
19:13Dealing with Online Hate and Criticism
20:03Audience Culture and Fan Expectationschapter2
20:03Audience Culture and Fan Expectations
21:06Overcoming Nerves Before Live Shows
22:07Favorite Cities for Performing Stand-up Comedychapter3
22:07Favorite Cities for Performing Stand-up Comedy
23:16Overcoming Stage Nerves and Performing Live
24:40Overcoming Nerves Before Live Comedy Performances
25:20Managing Stage Nerves with Edibleschapter3
25:20Managing Performance Nerves Before Live Shows
26:02Managing Anxiety with Edibles and Mental Health
27:03Accessing Comprehensive Mental Health Services
27:49Preparing for Live Shows and Performance Anxietychapter2
27:49Preparing for Live Shows and Managing Nerves
28:48Pre-Show Preparation and Warm-Up Techniques
30:10Managing Stage Fright and Performance Anxietychapter2
30:10Managing Stage Fright and Performance Anxiety
31:23Managing Performance Nerves and Stage Fright
32:24Dealing with Anxiety on Commercial Flightschapter2
32:24Anxiety and Fear of Flying
33:16Managing Nerves and Fatigue Before Shows
34:22Dealing with Nerves Before Public Performanceschapter2
34:22Managing Nerves Before Live Performances
35:05Body Image Issues and Self-Acceptance Struggles
36:32Fashion Choices and Personal Stylechapter2
36:32Fashion Choices and Personal Style
37:26Dealing with Height and Body Image Issues
38:33Dating Preferences and Height Expectationschapter4
38:33Height Preferences in Romantic Relationships
39:16Overcoming Embarrassing Experiences with Body Image
39:58Dealing with Height Differences in Relationships
41:07Managing Stress and Nerves Before Public Performances
41:48Dealing with Unconventional Family Eating Habitschapter3
41:48Dealing with Unconventional Family Eating Habits
42:53Parental Eating Habits and Health Concerns
43:34Managing Nerves Before Live Performances
44:52Overcoming Pre-Show Nerves and Anxietychapter3
44:52Overcoming Pre-Show Nerves and Anxiety
45:30Nightmares and Unsettling Dream Themes
46:13Overcoming Performance Nerves and Anxiety
47:20Living with Alopecia and Stress-Related Hair Losschapter2
47:20Living with Alopecia and Stress-Related Hair Loss
48:30Dealing with Hair Loss and Nerves Before Shows
49:40Hair Loss and Tight Hairstyling Techniqueschapter3
49:40Dealing with Hair Loss and Nerves Before Shows
50:25Managing Performance Anxiety and Stress
51:14Managing Performance Anxiety and Nerves Before Shows
51:51Managing Nerves Before Live Showschapter3
51:51Managing Nerves Before Live Shows
52:42Burnout from Overwhelming Content Creation
53:29Managing Nerves and Setting Boundaries
54:11Managing Stress and Overwhelm in Show Businesschapter2
54:11Managing Performance Anxiety and Overwhelming Schedules
54:53Dealing with Anxiety and Body Image Issues
56:08Supporting Mental Health on Tourchapter2
56:08Managing Nerves Before Live Shows
57:10Managing Caffeine Intake for Better Sleep
58:18Managing Performance Anxiety and Family Expectationschapter2
58:18Managing Performance Anxiety Before Shows
59:16Maintaining Personal Boundaries in Public Life
1:00:29Pregnancy Complications and Body Changeschapter2
1:00:29Pregnancy Body Changes and Complications
1:01:25Morning Sickness and Pregnancy Complications
1:02:26Body Image Concerns and Self-Esteem Issueschapter5
1:02:26Body Image Concerns and Self-Esteem Issues
1:03:22Body Image Struggles and Mental Health
1:04:08Managing Stress and Nerves Before Shows
1:04:50Managing Nerves Before Live Performances
1:05:45Dealing with Nerves Before Public Performances
1:07:09Body Image and Confidence with Tanningchapter2
1:07:09Body Image and Self-Confidence with Tanning
1:08:14Tour Schedule and Upcoming Performance Dates
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