Meet Nipa Patel | Comedian

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

Hi Nipa, what makes you happy? Why?
I love seeing audiences laugh at my jokes and feel a sense of connection to them. Stand up comedy can be a push and pull relationship, and I always remind myself of the reason why I chose to do it: expression. Expression is a huge reason why I consistently am able to pursue a career in stand up comedy. It allows me to write freely and express my thoughts ranging from daily life to current events. The joy that I gain from being able to follow my artistic expression is absolute happiness!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Prior to comedy, I moved from Houston to Dallas and was a high school math teacher. I started teaching during the pandemic and it was a novel experience for everyone in the field. My first year teaching, I remember having a conversation with a peer, who has been teaching for 25 years. She said that teaching during the pandemic was the first time in a long time, she felt like a first year teacher again. It was a process for everyone in terms of trying to understand the technology, holding students accountable, making sure students were safe, and overall trying to maintain composure during instability. That conversation brought me comfort that I was not alone in feeling confused and new to everything.

Although challenging, I genuinely enjoyed working with high school kids! They are some of the smartest, funniest, and silliest groups that I have had the pleasure of working with. However, the challenges that teaching has tested me with, began to weigh on me and I needed to find an expressive outlet. This is when I found comedy. Comedy allowed me to be free in expressing myself during a time when I struggled to find a voice. Pursuing comedy required many late nights, and teaching required early mornings. While I struggled to find a balance between both, I discovered that my enthusiasm for teaching was dwindling. I found myself inclined towards psychology and am currently aspiring toward a doctorate in clinical psychology.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Bishop Arts District would be a great place to bring visiting friends! I would definitely take them to Vegan Food House, a vegan soul food restaurant, and walk around the area. There are so many fun shops and cafes to check out! Denton Square is also a great place to check out and grab a bit to eat. The National Video Game Museum is fun for visitors! We would go to Nerdvana around the corner once we are done and play some games and hang out. We would also visit local comedy clubs, like Dallas Comedy Club, The Comedy Arena, Mic Drop, to get some laughs in!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I began my comedy journey at The Comedy Arena in McKinney, Texas, and they helped me set a strong foundation in comedy early in my career. By taking their improv, stand up, and sketch writing classes, I was able to gain a better understanding of the inner workings of performing and writing comedy. They are such a great, supportive group!

I would also like to recognize my husband. He has been such a huge support system for me on this journey. He has seen and heard about all my shows from best to worst, and he has always encouraged me to continue to pursue my passions. Without his love and support, I would not have been able to follow my aspirations.

Instagram: @canttwerkwillwerk

Image Credits
Photo credits to @2two2photography, Antonio Calderon (@CleverHoaxMedia), and @Prerak_Patel