Morgan Jay, a music comedy performer based out of L.A., traveled to UT on Wednesday night to perform through the Campus Events Board. Jay’s vibrant personality and presence, as well as his ability to connect with the crowd, made for an energetic night filled with many laughs and interesting conversation.
Jay’s six years of stand-up experience and five years of musical comedy experience aid him in creating a performance that embraces his talents for both music and comedy.
Jay’s career started back in New York where he attended the New York University Tisch School of the Arts. Some of his career highlights include 1st prize at the Santa Monica Comedy Fest, the Ventura Comedy Festival and “best comedy/novelty song” in the International Songwriting Competition, a competition that received over 16,000 submissions.
Sarah Buckner, freshman neuroscience major working with the Campus Events Board, reflected on the process of discovering Jay.
“Our membership chair organized this event,” Buckner said. “He went to an event where they look at different performers and entertainers and he was able to choose Morgan Jay as someone he wanted to perform through Campus Events Board.”
Right from the start, Jay created a connection with the audience and was able to relate well to the college-aged crowd as he remembered what it was like to be that age.
“I wanted to get down here where everyone can see me,” Jay stated. “This is going to be one of those nights where we giggle. We’re gonna have fun tonight. We’re gonna mess around and try stuff out.”
Jay’s performance included several of his own songs that ranged from deeper topics to ones that were strictly humor, incorporating comedy into all of them. Some of the topics included ethnic backgrounds and the way different ethnic groups are portrayed in today’s society, acquiring “self-love” and common relationship problems, funny personal anecdotes, and random thoughts that he turned into song.
Having done comedy for 12 years and going full time with it a year and a half ago, Jay recalled that it’s been a wild ride as he reflected on his beginnings. One of these beginnings was at Caroline’s Comedy Club on Broadway, where what Jay thought was his big moment turned out to be a failed attempt as he “got on stage and really bombed it.”
This remembrance of the past was an example of how well Jay connected with the college-aged audience as he talked to the crowd about what he learned from his first failed attempt and his acquired life experience.
“Life never turns out the way you think it’s going to. Some of you guys are 18, 19, 20 and I remember when I was 18, I had all these plans,” Jay said. “You have all of these plans but life never turns out exactly how you think it’s going to. I want you guys to have an open mind, and if something bad happens, know that something good can happen. Something might seem bad, but in the long run could be a blessing.”
When asked how he thought of combining his love for comedy and music, Jay’s statements tied back to his experience at Caroline’s Comedy Club.
“I’ve been doing comedy for years and have played music for years,” Jay said. “I had a couple of opportunities fall through with stand-up that really bummed me out and all of the things that I thought would happen for myself weren’t happening. I wasn’t having fun, so I had to ask myself what reasons I’m pursuing this for. I used to take the guitar out when my friends were over and make fun of them and we’d all laugh. They told me I should do that on stage and that’s what started my career in music comedy.”
Jay wrapped up the night as he played a couple more of his songs and talked to the crowd. As he continues his profession in musical comedy, Jay stands firm to a belief that keeps him grounded.
“Every time you reach a new level of success, I think it’s better to say ‘If this is as successful that I become, I’m grateful and I’m happy with that.’”
