Jake Sullivan has spent much of his life trying to make other people laugh, a pursuit that began when he was a child.
“I grew up in a large Irish family,” Sullivan said. “My grandma was a big comedy fan.”
When Sullivan was in eighth grade, his grandmother took him to the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts for the semifinals of the San Francisco Stand-Up Comedy Competition. On Sept. 19, Sullivan will compete in the 50th edition of the same event.
His grandmother is no longer alive to see it, but Sullivan considers the moment a dream fulfilled.
“It’s kind of a tribute to her that I made it this far,” he said.
Reaching the competition’s later rounds is no small achievement for a comedian from Sonoma County. Steve Ausburne, whom Sullivan credits as one of his mentors, competed in the 41st and 43rd editions of the competition. Few local comedians have advanced that far.
Sullivan, 32, said he has also drawn encouragement from his longtime girlfriend, Akiema Curtiss.
“I’ve always wanted to do stand-up comedy,” he said.
He began performing at Spancky’s in Cotati when he was 21 and spent much of his early career on stages around Santa Rosa. Born in Santa Rosa, Sullivan grew up in Cotati and now lives in Rohnert Park.
Looking for a more stable career, he put comedy on hold and became an electrician, working at construction sites.
“I took a break from stand-up to start another career,” he said.
At 28, he returned to comedy. Since then, he estimates he has performed more than 100 shows locally.
His North Bay credits include appearances at the Lost Church in downtown Santa Rosa, as well as venues in Petaluma, Calistoga and Healdsburg.
He has also performed at Bay Area comedy clubs including Cobb’s Comedy Club, the Punch Line, Cheaper Than Therapy and Rooster T. Feathers. He has opened for comedians including Pablo Francisco and Scott Capurro.
Like many stand-up comedians, Sullivan tends to steer clear of political material that could divide an audience. His approach leans toward observation, storytelling and interaction with the crowd.
In videos posted to Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, he frequently engages audience members in conversation before turning their answers into jokes.
In one routine, he asks the crowd what kinds of couples they like to befriend. Sullivan says he prefers company that keeps things interesting.
“I like to hang out with my friend and his girlfriend who are seconds away from killing each other,” he jokes.
The final performance of the 50th San Francisco Stand-Up Comedy Competition is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Marin Center in San Rafael. Five finalists will perform 15-minute sets, competing for the title and more than $20,000 in cash and prizes.
The competition’s past contestants include Robin Williams, Dana Carvey and Ellen DeGeneres.
For Sullivan, the competition is less about winning than about seeing how far he can take something he first dreamed about as a kid.
“My goal is to go as far as I can in the comedy competition and develop as a comedian,” he said. “One day I may be on TV or something. The overall goal is to make my family proud.”
IF YOU GO
What: San Francisco Stand-Up Comedy Competition Semi-Finals
When: 8 p.m. Sept. 19
Where: Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa
Admission: $59
Tickets and information: lutherburbankcenter.org, 707-546-3600.