Joe Rogan is an accomplished martial artist who earned a black belt in jujitsu at age 15 and once contemplated a career in kickboxing. So it’s safe to assume the man doesn’t scare easily. But if ever there comes a time when Rogan is paralyzed with fear, it must be when he’s staring at a form that asks him to list his occupation. Because documenting his various professional responsibilities—actor, television host, mixed martial arts commentator, podcast host, comedy-writing watchdog—is no easy task.
But when there’s only enough space on that form to list a single occupation, Rogan undoubtedly defaults to his first: stand-up comedian. Not only is stand-up his true passion, but his success on stage paved the way for all the other career opportunities he’s enjoyed for more than two decades.
That’s not to say stand-up comedy was always Rogan’s calling. Quite the contrary. As the story goes, he never would’ve made it to the stage if not for the persistent nudging of his friends, who believed strangers would find Rogan’s biting, raw sense of humor as appealing as they did. It wasn’t until after he ruled out a kickboxing career that Rogan, just days after his 21st birthday in August 1988, walked into a Boston comedy club and took part in an open-mic night. He hasn’t looked back since, touring the world and producing five hourlong comedy specials and three albums.
About the only thing Rogan hasn’t done is cash in by touring arena-size venues. It’s not because he can’t; it’s because he believes his intense, no-holds-barred, off-color style works best in smaller rooms. “Something is lost when you do stand-up for a big crowd,” he once told SheckyMagazine.com. “It’s sort of that diffusion-of-responsibility thing where the audience isn’t totally connected to the show. It’s no longer intimate. It’s a ‘show,’ and you’re not really ‘one’ with the crowd.”
MGM Grand, 10 p.m. July 7, starting at $29 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
