Today we’d like to introduce you to Kylie Alexander.
Kylie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve been doing standup comedy for about six years and I’ve been designing at Page Street Publishing for 2.5 years. I’d wanted to try standup for a long time, and one night my friend from high school, Nick Ortolani, brought me along with him to the open mic at The Middle East in Cambridge. I ended up doing really well, which is sort of the worst thing that can happen in comedy because you think, oh, it will always be this awesome! At least Nick was annoyed, so that was fun. I studied graphic design because I wanted to do something art-related that wouldn’t keep me completely poor. Not that my card wasn’t just rejected at the vending machine.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Being a comedian is honestly like having a gambling problem. A set that worked one night might completely blow up in your face the night after, even if it’s the same venue. It could be the same audience even and pan out differently. There are so many little factors that can change the outcome, and you’re just like well, I’m addicted to people laughing at me now, so I guess I’ll just, roll the dice? It’s hard to not have that sense of control. Also, being in comedy and design, a good chunk of my life consists of telling people my ideas and having them say no, absolutely not. But it’s so good for you. It’s crazy how much better you get at things when you’re able to take criticism. I took a screenwriting class over the summer, and I left after just a few classes because everyone was too polite. I was like, “this isn’t helping me, I don’t feel like I’m going to cry at all.”
Alright – so let’s talk about your work. Tell us about more about it – what should we know?
My day job is designing book covers and interiors at Page Street Publishing in Salem, MA. I do a lot of non-fiction stuff like cookbooks, and also YA fiction titles. It’s an amazing company that earnestly believes in making beautiful books that people will love. I’ve never been a real joiner but I’m so proud to work with the people there (99.9% women by the way), who are all so smart and fun, and everyone is so good to each other. Performance wise, I’m most proud of opening for Lydia Lunch and Joe Machi this year, and being on Sirius XM. I almost passed out when I met Lydia—she’s my idol. I also make collages whenever I get the chance.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Try to learn from situations if there’s something you don’t know, but don’t let anyone make you feel stupid, either.
Contact Info:
- Website: kyliealexander.net
- Email: kyliealexander@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sissy_spaceout/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sissy_spaceout
Image Credit:
All book covers designed for Page Street Publishing Co. Collage photos by Ben Patey
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