Laugh Therapy with Natalie Cuomo

“You have to be mentally ill to do something like this,” laughed comedian Natalie Cuomo.

Hailing from Queens, New York, Cuomo carved her own niche by transitioning from the kustom chopper community to the unpredictable world of comedy. As co-founder of Classy Trashy magazine, Cuomo was immediately drawn to the chopper scene thanks to her ex-partner but affirms comedy is her true calling. She reflected on first being drawn to moto culture.

“I really learned to appreciate the chopper community and was drawn to the customization aspect and personalizing bikes. I learned about wrenching and general upkeep and decided pretty quickly that I wanted my own; Bought an ’85 Ironhead and loved it but I eventually had to sell it because I could no longer dedicate the time to maintaining it. I shifted focus to putting all my efforts into comedy because that’s my true calling,” stated Cuomo.

Classy Trashy folded after a year and Cuomo moved ahead pursuing her passion. A graduate of the Stella Studio of Acting, she honed her craft to further learn the nuances of the stage but she quickly found comedy suited her best.

“It just became my number one passion. At first, I was afraid but I never thought I was shy growing up. I felt studying acting taught me a lot and it did equip me with the tools for performance but after a while, I just felt stuck,” lamented Cuomo.

For comics, one metric of success is how well the room interacts with the individual and their material. Cuomo stresses that comedy is not simply delivery and big, loud personalities but carefully crafted writing is an absolute must for a comic’s longevity.

“I always work hard at the writing aspect. I think in New York, despite what some people may think, a comic can’t get away with jumping on stage and saying something offensive just to be offensive and expect people to laugh and then have some career doing that. I feel the competition is healthy and even the crowds here hold comics to different standards. There certainly are judgmental crowds but it seems to make performers work harder,” stated Cuomo.

For Natalie, creating her own niche was a necessity as she affirmed that women comics are still rare in comparison to her peers.

“Women comics do get a lot of hate online and it’s nauseating. It’s distressing but I learned to let it go. My photospread in Stag Magazine somehow generated a lot of talk and it’s funny now because I always felt confident about my tits and never thought about them much until then. I guess people making mean comments think it’s helpful feedback. I did learn public nudity is not my thing but I don’t regret doing it,” she laughed.

Cuomo has become a stalwart in New York’s comedy nightlife and earns consistent gigs, including New York Comedy Festival, The Stand, and Caroline’s On Broadway. Additionally, she produces a bi-weekly show for The Stand and a weekly showcase at Tiny Cupboard in Brooklyn. So how does a self-described edgy comic wade thru the waters of hypersensitivity expressed daily via social media and news outlets?

“I certainly do have material that can be considered offensive but after giving it some thought, maybe members of an audience are offended because they can relate but maybe they’re embarrassed to have experienced the same things? I don’t really give a shit about ‘canceled’ stuff in the news. I don’t set out to offend or even shock an audience but to create connections; if a connection can be based on something ‘dirty’ but they laugh and relate to it, I know I’m doing something right. That night at least,” laughed Cuomo.

Time Out Magazine took notice and Cuomo earned well-deserved accolades, and not even a pandemic quelled her ambition. She engaged supporters via Zoom and once restrictions eased, she returned to the stage, regaling fans with her ‘bad life choices’ and relatable demeanor.

“It was so flattering to be included in Time Out, just a nice way to be recognized for the hard work. Comedians are still paid like shit. I know people that have appeared on Conan multiple times yet still have crummy day jobs.”

Cuomo is currently developing another podcast centered around the premise of advice columns. Serving as another vehicle to creating connections, Cuomo continues earning positive support while holding her own in such a fast-paced profession.

“Everyone loves giving advice, no matter how bad it is. With this project, I want to flip the script so to speak. Instead of having listeners come to me for some shitty advice, I’m taking the plunge and asking them to give me shitty advice. They can all laugh about my bad decisions, crazy times, and life choices that haven’t gone right. I feel Help! is the perfect name for it. As for advice to others, just be a nice person and stop being such a fucking dick. I hope that helps someone, somewhere,” concluded Cuomo.