A shy loan officer from Norfolk turned his nerves into rocket fuel and found a home under the lights. We sit with comedian Rome Davis to unpack the seven-year grind behind a “90 seconds or nothing” America’s Got Talent audition, the nightly rituals that calm the shakes, and the hard lesson that changed his voice: stop faking it and tell the truth.
Rome walks us through early reps at the Venue on 35th Street, where poets, musicians, and even wrestlers sharpened timing and stage presence side by side. He talks about building material from real life—family, work, grief—and why honest jokes quiet hecklers better than any clapback. We trace the milestones: DC Improv, Baltimore, Mohegan Sun, a Laugh Factory shot that felt impossible, and a first WHRO Story Exchange special that proved long-form storytelling still hits. Along the way, he shares how watching sets on mute, studying crowd work greats like DL Hughley, and borrowing rhythm from wrestling promos improved his delivery and connection.
Beyond the stage, Rome opens up about being an introvert who needs silence after shows, how meditation and reading help him reset, and why he uploads full sets on YouTube instead of chasing clips. We dive into satire and church culture, the belief that comedy can ease racism by spotlighting shared experiences, and the simple aim that drives every gig: give people a real laugh after a long day. If you want a candid blueprint for building a stand-up career—writing, testing, trimming, and trusting your voice—this conversation meets you where you are.
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