Today we’d like to introduce you to Tarek Turjman.
Hi Tarek, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
After 12 years of being a Realtor in Miami, I finally decided to pursue my dream of being an entertainer and comedian. 5 years ago, I started doing open mics around town, but I didn’t really find my artistic voice until I joined Villain Theater in 2019 where I was encouraged to share my life experience as a queer, Arab/Latinx immigrant. Today I host my own late-night talk show “Tonight with Tarek” and I teach the standup workshop at Villain Theater. I’ve also opened for Ilana Glazer, Gian Marco Soresi, Francisco Ramos, and Carlos Santos.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My comedy journey has not been easy. Florida provides very limited opportunities for comics and can have challenging crowds which tend to be conservative and generally don’t want to listen to a queer, Guatemalan, Palestinian. The biggest struggle has always been creating opportunities for myself and other queer comics. Generally, if we don’t produce our own shows we don’t get booked.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a stand-up comedian, producer, and instructor. I’m most known for my high-energy, theatrical routines based on my life experience, which in turn makes my content quite political. I’m very proud of the content I’ve developed as a Florida comic because while other comics shy away from talking about politics and touchy subjects, such as Palestine, I have embraced this edge of mine. I very proud that despite there not being many opportunities for queer comics like me in Miami I’ve developed and produced quite a few successful shows that are now staples of the scene.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I like the most about Miami is that it is a young city, which makes it a vibrant and futuristic. This allows entertainers and entrepreneurs to find entry into scenes that are usually more competitive in other, older cities. What I least like about Miami is also its youth. Being a young city, sometimes Miami can lack the ambitious environment or professional opportunities that help sharpen and challenge your talents.
Pricing:
- $250 Villain Theater 545 Stand-Up Workshop
- 10 to 15 mins Guest Spot $50
- Hosting 90 min show $150
- Headlining 30 min private or public event $150
- Tickets to “Tonight with Tarek” $20
Contact Info:
- Website: Tarekturjman.com
- Instagram: @tarekturjman
- Facebook: @tarekturjman
- Twitter: @tarekturjman
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tarekturjman3068
