When Adam Guerino started as a comedian, he was one of about three gays locally in the field, along with Cameron Esposito and Bill Cruz.
Flash-forward to the present, and there are at least 30with about 10 or 15 of them trying to make careers in comedy, Guerino said.
"I'd like to think I've helped [the gay comedy field grow,]" said Guerino, 28, who is openly gay and lives in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. "I've made a conscious effort to create more shows and get more people paid, and to get audiences for those people who are performing because, without audiences, it doesn't matter how talented your comedians are. I also have helped [the local market] with contests, so people who are just starting out can get their feet wet."
Guerino certainly is one the most talented, and funniest, locals on the circuitwith high-profile work at Zanies aboard his resume of laughs.
"Zanies has been incredibly supportive, and it's clear that gay and straight [customers] love the [gay] shows there," he said.
Guerino writes, talks, hosts and coordinates for the local gay comedy community, certainly with a tie to the national comedy world. He hosted Spring Soiree on May 28 at Zanies, which benefitted The Night Ministry, which supports Chicago's homeless and impoverished. The event featured headliner Chris Doucette, along with Ever Mainard and Rebecca O'Neal.
Guerino also has other major events in July and September.
"It's more terrifying to play smaller rooms," than larger, established venues, he said. "The bar shows, especially those that are free [to customers] are unpredictable [and challenging.] There might be people in your audience who did not know there was going to be a show, and thus, they don't mind talking through it. Plus, they might get really drunk and feel like they can contribute to the show by talking."
His latest fear on stage is, well, just being there while also running the event at the same time.
"I'm very happy that I'm able to use performance, and publicity with social media, to help get the word out about such a great cause," such as The Night Ministry, Guerino said. "It's always funny [that] people often assume that production and performance makes a lot of money, but it doesn't really. You often have to sacrifice and do things for less than you would if you were to work in another job [earning] per hour."
Still, Guerino writes a storytelling blog, Before The Story, which often tells of people who have made it. "I like to ask them questions that reveal what fame actually is like, how long it took to get there, etc.," Guerino said.
"There is no middle class for comedy. You're often incredibly impoverished and you're making a lot of sacrifices to do what you love and then, hopefully, if you make it, you will be, kind of, [become] upper-class as far as income is concerned. But, if your motivation is to get rich, art, such as comedy, is usually a horrible way of going about it."
OutLoud Chicago is a series created by Guerino in July 2011 to bring queer entertainment to mainstream Chicago venues. Queer Comedy at Zanies showcases the best queer and straight comedians from across the U.S., some who have appeared on Comedy Central, Comedy Bang Bang, BET, TBS Just For Laughs, A Night At The Apollo and Last Comic Standing, among other outlets.
The Advocate is sponsoring Guerino's show at Zanies in September "so that will be a real cool national stage," he said. "I don't worry too much about the perceptions of my show, but I really like the idea that the comedians who I work with are going to be able to have that national stage.
"And sexuality should not define quality; I'm very proud of a lot of the queer comedians in the city."
Guerino said his list of all-time favorite comedians includes Beth Stelling, who now lives in Los Angeles after performing in Chicago for about a decade. He also praised openly gay James Adomian, who has appeared on Last Comic Standing, among other venues, "and is a great example of someone who's just funny, regardless of his [sexual] orientation," Guerino said.
Guerino tagged Candy Lawrence as a must-hear comedian, and a potential breakout star who he said is "part-Gilda Radner, part-Cheri Oteri."
For more information about Guerino, go to www.adamguerino.com .