Meet Daniel Shimek | Comedian, Musician & Show Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daniel Shimek and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniel, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
During the pandemic, while I was stuck indoors, I had this vision of taking the art forms I’ve been doing for decades – music, lyric freestyling and improv comedy – and combining them into a musical comedy act, like Bo Burnham, but improvised. After honing the act at home, I was able to try it on stage thanks to venues and producers in the DFW scene that believed in me. From there, I saw an opportunity to turn a single act into something bigger and in October of 2023, I produced a fully independent comedy variety show at a rented space as a proof of concept which led to two DFW venues allowing me to produce monthly comedy variety shows for their audiences. I feel grateful that these two monthly shows – The Assembly at Stomping Ground Comedy (Dallas) and Sounding Off at The Comedy Arena (McKinney) – continue to be successful and delight audiences.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a stand-up comedian, musician and comedic improvisor who produces two monthly comedy variety shows in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. I perform a musical comedy act called Tuned Out, in which I perform songs live, fully improvising the lyrics based on audience confessions. Since it’s improvised and fully dependent on what the audience shares, the experience is always completely different and exciting.

The Dallas-Fort Worth area is a market filled with entertainment options, but I felt uniquely positioned because I have a musical comedy act that’s unlike anyone else’s. One issue with having something unique to offer, is that others may not understand it (especially on paper) or where it fits into existing lanes or categories. I realized I needed to create my own platform to showcase my act and other up and coming local acts, and that idea became the inception for these two monthly variety shows. This vision didn’t happen easily or overnight! There has been a lot of trial and error in making my act and these shows the best they can be and I’ve benefited greatly from close partnerships with the venues I perform at and from the very positive and welcoming Dallas-Fort Worth comedy community.

My experience performing improv comedy for nearly a decade changed me into someone more comfortable taking risks, quickly and with confidence. The best improvisers have years of experience informing the risks that they take, which is a testament to the importance of being prepared and calculated before taking action. Risks should be taken strategically with knowledge of the space you’re entering into, the target audience and the potential outcomes. I can see in retrospect I wouldn’t have the skills I rely on today, if I hadn’t taken chances earlier in life in music, graphic art, theater, public speaking, comedy and producing shows. So, I encourage other creatives and business owners to challenge themselves by taking risks and learning the tools that can help them later on..

The biggest lesson I’ve learned in launching both an original comedy act and successful comedy productions is that the only correct path for you is your own. You have to be true to your internal compass and your core competencies. Whether or not we find the success we are aiming for, we can find reassurance in the fact that we carried ourselves with truth and integrity.

If I look back on when I first came up with the idea for this improvised musical comedy act, Tuned Out, I feel grateful for where I am today. Every performance is an opportunity to make people happy and help them escape from their troubles and burdens. While I feel blessed to see success in these creative endeavors, a happy and fulfilled audience means so much more and I look forward to more and more of that.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Anyone visiting the area should prioritize getting barbecue or steak here! I love Hutchins BBQ and, as for steak, there’s no shortage of amazing steakhouses.

This may sound crazy to someone who doesn’t live here, but some of the best taquerias are inside gas station shops! I love El Volcan, which has several spots in the area.

For classic touristy activities, Dallas Arboretum, Dallas Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo and Fort Worth Stockyards are all fun choices.

Something that gives a vibe unique to the area is the downtown areas of Plano, McKinney and Grapevine. The shops and restaurants are great, so these are fun areas to walk and explore.

I would remiss if I didn’t suggest seeing a comedy show while in town. Take your pick! There are so many venues with high quality shows and if I name one, I’ve got to name them all.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Without the following people and organizations, I wouldn’t be on stage doing what I’m doing now: my wife and entire family, Doghouse Theater & Sick Puppies Comedy, Stomping Ground Comedy, The Comedy Arena, Mic Drop Comedy, Dallas Comedy Club, Lindsay Goldapp, Jared Berger, Britainy Goss, Dez O’Neal, Noah “Shark” Robertson, Kate Greathouse, Kinsey Ford, Andy & Angela Meek & Monna.

Other: Instagram:
@danielshimekcomedy
@tunedoutcomedy
@theassemblydfw
@soundingoffdfw

YouTube:
https://youtube.com/@danielshimekcomedy?si=Dzg6NGIFshjpFxC-

https://youtube.com/@tunedoutcomedy?si=hSnb-OvC2bfvhMQE