Jazmynne Sierra: Philadelphia, Youth Work & The Mennonite Church?

Jazmynne Sierra is a comic who's career is starting to make big strides becoming one of the main names in the Northern Irish comedy scene. 

The Florida native is coming off the back of supporting Shane Todd at the Grand Opera House Belfast & appearing on ITV/UTV's Secrets of the Comedy Circuit. However,  it's safe to say her 'journey' to the stage of a club here isn't like anyone else's.

She currently works on different charity projects here in Northern Ireland; one of which is a project called Toy Tales.

"We work together with Home-Start & they filter us families who maybe can't afford Christmas, then we partner with the entertainers to get discounted & get donations so families can go to the entertainer buy presents for their kids so it doesn't feel like here's a bucket of random things that people donated. They can go to the store & buy new gifts for their kids."

Jazmynne also does summer schemes & other youth work whilst also meeting practical community needs. 

Now you too are probably asking yourself like I did: Why Northern Ireland? Well, it's simple. Just like Martin Luther King 'she had a dream' but just not quite as well known & slightly more Antrim based than his.

"I woke up from a dream where I was living here & I'm never going to be in this place in life again where I don't have any responsibilities & can financially make this jump. Worst comes to worst I can move back home. Why not just move there? & I'm glad I did."

Jazmynne seems to have a habit of just moving to places without ever visiting them, something my over-planned head cannot fathom. In fairness, doing so as she did in her switch from Florida to Philadelphia she used Stand-up as a way to get to know others in the community.

"When I first moved to Philadelphia the only people I knew were the people I was working with, much like when I moved here. When I got there I didn't know anyone but wanted to meet people who were similar to me. 

I was at a cafe or something & saw a standup sign. Growing up I would've always been involved in doing little skits, YouTube very much became a thing when I was a teenager. It's always been something I've enjoyed, performing & making people laugh. 

So I thought let's just give this a go & that was that."

Like many comics, Jazmynne feels comfortable onstage and performing more than in regular day to day life.

"Im very awkward & can't make eye contact but I'd much rather be on stage in front of a bunch of people than in front of one person."

Jazmynne also is the co-host with fellow comic, Brónagh NicAoidh, of the Auntie-Oh-Pod. They started the podcast just last year & it started due to their similarities growing up.

"We both had similar upbringings but obviously so different culturally. Me growing up a black/Puerto Rican person in America has some similarities with how she grew up here but we seen how our things overlapped & how we're different."

This won't be the only podcast the girls will be involved with as heard from my interview with James McKegney the caller support line based podcast with themselves, James McKegney & William Thompson is to come out this month. 

A concept that sounds amazing & I can't wait to hear how bad some of these voicenotes are going to be let alone the so-called advice being handed out.

When pushed to give an answer the Boiler Room Comedy Club at the Alley Theatre, Strabane ran by Ro Boyle was her answer. In fairness this isn't a surprise as I've heard many comics speak very highly of the club on multiple podcasts.

Jazmynne was slightly surprised with herself when I reminded her she had played the Grand Opera House Belfast & she didn't say it as the answer but I'm sure the people of Strabane will be happy with her choice nonetheless.

Having only been here for a couple of years being a support for one of the biggest acts in the country at the Grand Opera House Belfast shows how quickly she's adapted to the scene & how talented she is too. 

"Performing with someone who's down to earth & gives such great advice was such a huge win for me in itself."

Who's your favourite comedian to watch?

"I am obsessed [with comedy] & it's really hard to narrow it down for different reasons. I really enjoy listening to the podcasts of Theo Von, the story-telling of Dave Chapelle & I really like the career of Ali Wong.'

What would you say your worst ever gig was?

Strap yourself in.

"When I was in Philadelphia you could essentially rent a comedian & I was on a list of people where you could get a comedian to come perform at an event. I didn't get a lot of information on it, so when I arrived there it was a church which I thought was really weird. 

Then I went to the basement & it was a Mennonite Church. All the women were like Amish women, in these bonnets. It literally felt like I was going to be sacrificed, I didn't know what was happening.

None of them were wearing trousers, they were all in skirts; it was like a 'Handmaid's Tale' feel. So when I went down, I'm In jeans, I'm the only brown person in the room. They were super conservative but none of my content was conservative so all the women put their heads down & all the men turned their heads for the whole thirty minutes. I told jokes to no faces. I got paid but whatever.

It was probably the weirdest scariest thing I've ever experienced."

Her friend at the time was getting into videography so recorded the entire thing so it's being saved for the future for when she does great things to show everyone 'look at the worst one I've ever done'.

Who would you say is the most underrated comedian in the NI Scene?

"Luke McGibbon.

Aside from all that he contributes to everyone on the scene, his content & his joke writing is just insane & I wish I could write as well as he does. He is genuinely one of my favourite comedians."

What's the goal for 2 years time?

"I would love to be able to do comedy full-time & somehow work it to be something that not only provides a living for me but allows me to contribute to the community in some aspect.

One of my biggest passions is giving back to the community. As someone who didn't grow up with much, I just know what the struggle is, so anytime I can give back to that is all I care about."

Haribo Starmix or Tangfastics?

"Definitely the first one, I haven't had the second one."

Yes, I know, its tragic to hear someone hasn't experienced a Tangfastic but hopefully in time Jazmynne will experience something truly magical...or not it is just a fizzy/sour sweet like.

In all seriousness though, it was great to have a conversation with someone like Jazmynne, an incredibly talented comedian but also a very down to earth person who loves giving back to her community. You can't help but wish success for someone like herself.

If you'd like to see Jazmynne Sierra soon here are some upcoming gigs of hers:

- Hearth Comedy (A Comedy club launch by Jack Magee) - Jan 27th

- Bad Otter - Feb 3rd

- Top of the Town - 10th Feb

- Craic Theatre - 16th Feb