Last updated on January 16th, 2024 at 02:31 am
Welcome! Maybe you’re here to get more behind-the-scenes info on fan favorite Gaspare from Netflix’s “The Trust.” I had the opportunity to ask him how he balances it all: teaching, standup and the new hit reality show. Click here to skip to my interview with Gaspare!
“Are we comedy people now?” I asked my husband, reaching for his hand as we swept out of the building into an uncharacteristically chilly Tampa night.
Still giddy from the sharing of in-the-trenches teaching stories and, frankly, way too much information in the best possible way, I smiled to myself as I replayed the night’s best punchlines in my head and tiptoed over the shine of fresh rainfall over the parking lot.
Gaspare Randazzo, who I can singularly blame for causing me the pain of near-constant laughter and a face stuck in one goofy grin, makes me want to be comedy people.
Mr. Randazzo takes the stage
My introduction to Gaspare Randazzo took place on Instagram.
His reels, or short videos, seemed to capture some of the most relateable frustrations of teaching. He often poked fun at the ill-fitting policies and expectations by showing how they really played out in the classroom.
He dared to take on, in equal measure, himself, the education establishment, and elementary teachers’ craft projects.
He made me laugh, and more importantly, seen in a career that involves a whole lot of heart and soul on the educators’ part and precious little understanding from outsiders.
Randazzo (impossibly? hilariously?) balances being a high school history teacher, a family man, and standup comic. He even flew to out of country to film on Netflix’s “The Trust.”
When I saw he was performing a show in Tampa two days after Christmas, I knew I had to find out more. Could the man that made me chuckle over his reels make me laugh on a date night with my spouse while wearing a dress from Before Baby times I’d regrettably squeezed myself into? We would find out!
When teachers let loose
I was already feeling quite perky after listening to Randazzo’s hilarious opening act, teacher comedian Mike Rivera. Sipping on my decaf coffee, I was warmed by both the sensible evening beverage and the outrageous tales of Mr. Rivera, who teaches middle school. And apparently married an assistant principal.
When Gaspare Randazzo took the stage, I was in awe.
Here was a guy I thought was older than me that had the inexplicable gusto of a middle schooler discovering energy drinks. His sneakers and his colorful language seemed to hint at him being not that much my elder, so I puzzled over this in between belly laughs.
I was also impressed by Randazzo’s showmanship. I expected him to have several greatest hits prepared, but it was obvious he weaved in some artful improv by interacting with members of the audience and telling a very specific story about his arrival to Florida and how he was just walking along the highway looking like– well, you know.
If this man can make history come alive for disinterested high schoolers and have teachers reeling at their candlelit tables in their cardigans and have time to be there for his wife and kids, well. Surely I could achieve great things too… maybe?
After the performance, I was able to probe deeper into his balance of it all, and I was left with more to consider. The teaching profession is full of inspiring and impactful people like Gaspare Randazzo. I had to know how he was accomplishing it.
An interview with the teacher comedian
Building a career in comedy
Like many of us, Gaspare Randazzo didn’t start his educational path sitting in the lecture halls of a teacher college. He majored in business studies, and then communications, searching for the profession that was right for him.
Also like many of us, he landed behind a teacher desk.
“…I kind of fell into teaching,” explained Randazzo, who has a tattoo of Abe Lincoln’s face on his calf, apparently because of a bet with his students.
After educating young minds in New York public schools a while, he signed up to be an extra for a movie. (That’s a typical New York thing, I’m assuming?)
Randazzo’s natural humor flowed onto the set. Someone invited him to take part in an open mic performance.
“I was always curious in how it works… I always wanted to standup– everyone always told me I was funny, I just never knew, like, can I be funny on a scale like that,” Randazzo remembered.
“I tried it– it went well, and here I am now, touring the country.”
Randazzo started to post his work on Instagram and built up a following. In 2020, his metrics started to really explode. He continued to teach and share his uproarious commentary with his audience.
Niching down specifically to teacher comedy helped him gain more traction, too.
Juggling teaching, family, comedy, and “The Trust”
Being a former teacher myself, I can assume the jokes started to writes themselves.
Still, it can’t be easy for the guy.
Between the classroom, the stage, and even the set of a Netflix show, there seems to be little extra room for Randazzo to catch his breath.
He told me that he’s performing every school break and weekend. All while continuing to teach, working on content creation weekday evenings, and being a present husband and dad for his family.
Randazzo’s schedule sent my mind spinning, but then I remembered his seemingly unwavering dose of energy. Maybe some people don’t need that much sleep?
Still, he emphasized his priorities: “You have to make time for family,” he said.
While it seems like a hectic flurry of activities, he mentioned he works on his schedule. He’s laid everything out on a specific time table to be able to achieve it all.
As this blog nears its first birthday, I know all too well the challenge-filled slow crawl of trying to grow something. And Randazzo seems committed to furthering his comedy career without sacrificing the important things.
A future for the teacher comedian
Was Randazzo’s plan to give up the classroom for the stage?
He explained that he’d like to continue doing both comedy and teaching for as long as it is possible.
“Teaching keeps me grounded,” Randazzo told me. By committing to teaching five days a week, he’s also home more instead of jetting off to do more shows. But he didn’t gloss over the increasing conflict between juggling it all.
“There’ll come a point where I’m gonna have to make a decision…and this applies to anything, whether it’s comedy or you have crafts, or whatever your side business is, there comes a point where… Are you hurting yourself by still being a teacher?”
“Because there’s a point now where I’m turning down shows a lot… and that’s where it gets deflating,” Randazzo said.
His growth as a comedian and teacher have been inspiring. I can definitely relate to the difficulties of striking that hard balance between major life pursuits. But for now, Gaspare Randazzo keeps teaching and telling stories, collecting gems of classroom hilarity and making the world laugh a whole lot more in the process.
To teachers or people pursuing a creative career? Randazzo’s words of advice rang true to me, and I hope they help you, too: “If you believe in it, and it’s your dream, keep putting it out there…”
You can find Gaspare Randazzo’s reels and more information about his shows on his Instagram page, standuprandazzo.
