I start from personal experiences, which drives me crazy and I’m not afraid of embarrassment

Ioana’s personality is best seen on stage, but the comedy clubs are closed. It’s okay, Ioana can also be seen on YouTube, in the show ‘Suitcase with books’ or as she calls it – in the “dream of being a booktuber at 30”. We can also meet her on the radio, where she jokes with Razvan Exarhu. However, if we do not find it in one of the above places, the personality Ioanei Luiza it is easy to see from the cover of the article, which can be a good model for bulletin pictures – if the bulletin pictures were approved by the ministry of comedy. Otherwise, we could have realized her way of being and what she tells us:

“Comedy means a lot to me and I’ve always taken it seriously. Books, classes, podcasts. I think I have more confidence in myself. That’s what the world lacked, another millennial with opinions!”

We continue the series dedicated to comedians who spend their lives away from the stage during this period – and here we refer to all comedians – and we talk with Ioana about her debut, the challenges in the process of creating her own material and the things that caught her in the pandemic.

Background

I have a master’s degree in research, I made earrings and sold them in high schools, bars and at fairs. In the meantime, I spent about 10 years as a graphic designer and illustrator. Now, I am a stand-up practitioner, I hang out at Morning Glory with Răzvan Exarhu and I make chaos on YouTube in a show called Suitcase with Books. Ioana Luiza Valiza. Get it? Ok

Your way into stand-up comedy

I have an obsession with stand-up in general, since I caught some CDs with Comedy Central Presents that my cousin stole from his nerd high school, where they had the internet.

I did what is not done. I told a comedian I wanted to stand up too. I was lucky to tell Cristi Popesco. Despite his beard, he’s a good man. He smiled and told me to sign up for a small open that was in a few days. I was super ashamed to say “no, I was joking, I’m scared”. I went away embarrassed, as if someone had checked on me. I was emotional, but he laughed.

My cousin, Anca, motivated me the most. He would take me to open mic, listen to me like at school and make me feel better when I died on stage.

Debut period

Then I discovered that there is a direct connection between the colon and strong emotions.

Your approach

Comedy means a lot to me and I’ve always taken it seriously. Books, courses, podcasts. I think I have more confidence in myself. That the world was missing, another millennial with opinions!

How you create your material

I start from personal experiences, which drives me crazy and I’m not afraid of embarrassment. It helps. The material is constantly evolving, but it can take several months to reach a form in which it is ready, I have nothing to add. To be tested? My concubine is also a comedian and we still test each other’s material ideas, but nothing compares to the first time you make a joke. Not even french fries when you cheat day.

A funny memory from a show

During the filming for NuȘtiuZic, I convinced the audience to sing Baby Shark. There’s nothing nicer than dozens of adults saying do-do-do-do-do in unison.

What do you do when no one laughs

I had such moments, like everyone else. You have “out of body experience”, I wonder why I’m doing this. I’m going home. I analyze and overanalyze. I’m going to sleep. I start again.

The specifics of Romanian humor

I don’t think it’s specific. Probably the jokes with wires are better here than in Iceland.

Taboo subjects

I don’t think there is. I tend to share too much anyway.

If you couldn’t stand up

I would do what I did in the lockdown. I would write comedy and continue with my dream of being a booktuber at 30 years old.

What you missed in the pandemic

Despite waking up at 5 in the morning, I missed going to the radio the most.

Life away from the stage

Sad and deserted. I can’t wait for the clubs to open. I also had shows on Zoom. And in Romanian, and in English. It was ok, at least on Zoom you have reactions, even if they are delayed.

Jokes in isolation

What more did I laugh at the people gathering mountains of flour. Then I went and bought some flour …

The funniest conspiracy theory

That you don’t get the crown if you munch on the same teaspoon at communion.

What categories of people did you discover in the pandemic?

Influencers who had nothing to do with flexing on Instagram were my favorites. That desperation to make sexy banana bread was magical. And people who refuse to accept their age and try to understand how to Tik-Tok. They are my heroes.

The best meme

Anything that illustrates this boy,. It’s great.

2020 for you

I learned that the most important thing is to be comfortable with your head. And that you don’t “need” anything if you don’t want to. That and how many days I can stay in the house without washing my hair.