Tim Chirikalov

I performed at my first open-mic almost eight years ago and haven’t stopped since. I now host a monthly stand-up comedy showcase in Decatur, perform all over Atlanta and the country, as well as being a comedy writer for companies and businesses that want to use humor for their brand. What started off as a hobby, has now become a career. It’s almost impossible to get fired when you’re self-employed.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?Nothing in comedy goes smoothly. Writing material takes a while. You don’t know if an idea is funny until you try it out on a crowd. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. No other profession is like that. Electricians don’t require a group of people to watch them work on a circuit before figuring out if it works or not.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?I’m a stand-up comedian and writer. I’ve performed all over the country for all types of events. From parking lots in Florida to theatres in New York. Being funny is all that matters.

What am I most proud of? I’m not sure if I’m particularly proud of anything. Sometimes I wish I had kids so I could say I’m proud of them because that seems to be the easy way out of this question, I’m proud of my imaginary kids. The youngest one just graduated from Harvard and the oldest was just promoted to drug lord. They’re the apple of my eye.

What sets me apart from others? You’d have to ask the others.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?Stand-up is mainly a solo endeavor, but there’s been a lot of support along the way. My family was skeptical when I first started, but I think now they’re convinced I’m not about to become a lawyer or doctor anytime soon, so they’ve become my biggest fans. Also, my girlfriend, Sierra, has been amazing. She’s really funny so it’s great to have someone close that I can bounce ideas off of. My brother Dennys also makes me laugh all the time so it’s great to see that comedy is genetic.