My First Open Mic Was 300 Kids at a Talent Show | Jarrel Beamon

He got in trouble at 10 years old for saying something he definitely shouldn't have to his mom — and the punishment changed everything. Locked out of TV, Jarrel Beaman found an old iPod and fell into a rabbit hole of Richard Pryor albums, Def Jam, Comedy Central Presents, and even Bob Hope. By the time he was 16, he'd been secretly battle-testing material in lunchrooms and on the back of the bus — getting paid a dollar per story — before walking into his high school talent show with zero stage experience and ripping it in front of 300 people. Now the Dayton, Ohio comic has performed at the Apollo Theater, crushed a Kill Tony set at the Mothership (after signing up five times), and calls Columbus his second home. In this conversation with Ira Cross, Jarrel breaks down why studying comics you don't even find funny is the real cheat code, how bombing gives you a Dragon Ball Z-style Zenkai boost, and why the scariest stage he's ever stood on had millions watching instead of hundreds. What's the first thing that made YOU fall in love with comedy — a special, a live show, or someone funny in your life? Drop it in the comments. 🎙️ Follow Jarrel Beaman: @jerrelscomedy on Instagram & TikTok