It’s no secret that New York has the best comedy scene in the country. So as a recent college grad, moving here proved a sink-or-swim moment for Adam Mamawala.
“I think I got better in my first year of doing stand-up in New York than I had the previous five years,” he recalls. “It’s like you’re getting better through osmosis.”
Like many comics, Mamawala initially worked a series of odd jobs (SAT tutor, tennis instructor) to make ends meet. But a little over a decade ago, he began earning enough to do stand-up full-time. As he’s matured, so too has his comedy.
“I’ve always gravitated towards autobiographical stuff, when you feel like you really get a sense of who the person is.”
Consequently, Mamawala wears clothes on stage that make him feel like the most authentic version of himself. Most of the time, that means a nice pair of jeans: comfortable, with the right balance of slimness and stretch.
“Fundamentally, stand-up comedy is all about confidence, right?” he says. “If you don’t feel good in what you’re wearing, you’re probably not going to be very confident.”