Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Stokes.
Hi Alex, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2010, I got divorced and went bankrupt all at the same time. Previously, I was a Stock Broker and Financial Planner for 14 years in the Knoxville area. At the time, I found myself a single father of two boys and felt lost. I went to an open mic at Side Splitters Comedy Club in Knoxville just to get out of the house one night. I ended up signing up for the following week, with the intention of being a “Bucket List” type of thing. I was 36 years old. After the first laugh from the audience, I was hooked.
From there, I would not slow down. They told me it would be 8 years before I ever headlined. Well, I headlined my first show, at a sold-out theater, in less than 2 years. I got remarried to my amazing wife Jenny, and also gained two wonderful stepsons in 2012. In 2013, I published my first book, “Messing With Tourists: Stupid Answers To Stupid Questions”, which was a compilation of conversations I had with tourists in Gatlinburg, TN.
After that, I toured the country, headlining theaters, comedy clubs, bars, breweries, etc., as well as many large corporate and charity events. I published my second book “5 Years Of This? Husband. Father. Comedian. My Story” in 2016. Then came “Messing With Tourists 2: Here We Go Again,” “The City Bear In The Smokies” (a fun children’s book), “A Gatlinburg Christmas,” another children’s book, and my upcoming final installment “Messing With Tourists 3: Candy Bears and Awkward Stares.”
In 2017, I started Gatlinburg Comedy Tours, a walking comedy pub crawl in Gatlinburg. In 2018, I began teaching “Stand Up Comedy: A Crash Course” at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. It is the first class of its kind in the country. It has become one of the most popular classes they offer, and I’ve been teaching it now for 4 years. My wife is a full-time student getting her Ph.D. at the University Of Tennessee Veterinary School, and we have three teenage boys in high school.
So, needless to say, it has been difficult for me to tour and travel full-time these last few years. However, my promotion team and managers, and I are in the process of filming my upcoming Amazon Prime Special, which is a documentary about my career.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Wow. This is a tough one. I have one of those personalities that makes everything seem “smooth.” However, in reality, it’s never easy. Like I said before, with my wife being a full-time student, and having three high school boys, nothing is easy. Going to the bathroom isn’t easy, much less trying to maintain a comedy and writing career haha!
There are always obstacles, especially with Covid. I had many, many shows canceled in 2020 nationwide. I actually had to get a “real” job for a while to figure things out. It’s always a struggle, but… it’s a struggle. I’m willing to live with it. I had money before as a Stock Broker… the house, etc., but was never happy. Now, I’m just a happy struggler.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Well, my number one love and what I’m known for is as a true Stand Up Comedian. My stage name is “The Beer Comedian.” I’ve performed for large theaters, comedy clubs, bars, breweries, and major corporations, private events, etc. There really isn’t any type of show I haven’t done. Stand Up is my first love. However, I do love to write. I’ve published six books, written funny yet informative articles for an International Wine Magazine, short stories, and articles.
I have a podcast with my co-host Chris Travis called “Waking Up In A Brewery.” I’m known as The Beer Comedian. He’s known as “The Beer Nerd.” So, it’s a fun show that I really enjoy doing. I also love teaching my Stand Up Comedy class at UT. It’s always fun to watch them grow and go out on their own and start doing shows.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Well, there are two things, and both of them pertain to my stage name “The Beer Comedian.” First of all, I had never been to a comedy show, anywhere, at any venue, until I walked into my first open mic in 2010 at the age of 36. Second, I actually hated Beer until I was 35. I literally drank wine up until then. Now? My first love is to perform at Breweries across the country. I love craft beer and making people laugh. Period. Never saw either of those things coming.
Contact Info:
- Email: comedianalexstokes@gmail.com
- Website: www.thebeercomedian.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeercomedian/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comedianalexstokes/
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/stokescomedy21
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaQGLh2UoxYjKPd71vyUwxQ
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/alex.stokes.10/
Image Credits
Cinnamon Studios
