--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: January 14, 2000, was my first time on…" description: "\"January 14, 2000, was my first time on stage, and I've been hooked ever since. I got discovered nationally in Seattle by the now-defunct HBO Comedy Fes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/hari-kondabolu-12177_appearance_january-14-2000-was-my-first-time-on-sta_2935025.png" --- # January 14, 2000, was my first time on stage, and I've… ![“January 14, 2000, was my first time on stage, and I've been hooked ever since. I got discovered nationally in Seattle by the now-defunct HBO Comedy Festival, and that led to an appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' and a path to a professional comedy career.” quote by Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/hari-kondabolu-12177_appearance_january-14-2000-was-my-first-time-on-sta_2935025.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/hari-kondabolu-12177_appearance_january-14-2000-was-my-first-time-on-sta_2935025.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/hari-kondabolu-12177_appearance_january-14-2000-was-my-first-time-on-sta_2935025.png) > “January 14, 2000, was my first time on stage, and I've been hooked ever since. I got discovered nationally in Seattle by the now-defunct HBO Comedy Festival, and that led to an appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' and a path to a professional comedy career.” [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. His first stage experience sparked a lasting passion, leading to national discovery and a comedy career **In simple terms:** Early stage experience sparked a lasting career Key Takeaway Embrace early passions and pursue opportunities Themes career passion discovery comedy media Mood enthusiastic reflective Type inspirational career narrative When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - festival auditions - TV appearances - networking Key Concepts Motivation career development public performance Questions to Reflect On - What early moments shaped your path? - How can you create opportunities in your field? A Different Perspective Success often depends on timing and industry connections ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appearance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearance/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-career-1785628/) [Discovered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovered/) [Ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ever/) [Festival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/festival/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [First Time On Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time-on-stage-213342/) [Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got/) [Got Discovered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-discovered-945402/) [Hbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hbo/) [Hbo Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hbo-comedy-3233609/) [Hooked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hooked/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [January](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/january/) [Jimmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jimmy/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jimmy-kimmel/) [Kimmel Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kimmel-live-1844540/) [Led](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/led/) [Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Professional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional/) [Seattle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seattle/) [Since](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/since/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I did 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' a while ago, and Lady Gaga was in the dressing room next to mine. The outfit she wore walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darby-stanchfield/i-did-jimmy-kimmel-live-a-while-ago-and-lady-gaga-was-in-the-dressing/) [Darby Stanchfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darby-stanchfield/) > [Jimmy Kimmel has proven to be a preeminent voice in comedy, with 15 seasons of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' under his belt and successfully tackling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-dungey/jimmy-kimmel-has-proven-to-be-a-preeminent-voice-in-comedy-with-15/) [Channing Dungey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-dungey/) > [I loved George Carlin... I used to sit in front of the TV and watch the HBO comedy specials. I loved those comedy specials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-foley/i-loved-george-carlin-i-used-to-sit-in-front-of-the-tv-and-watch-the/) [Mick Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-foley/) > [I don't like swearing on the air. As a matter of fact, I'm not a prude, but I go to the movies and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-lamb/i-don-t-like-swearing-on-the-air-as-a-matter-of-fact-i-m-not-a-prude-2/) [Brian Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-lamb/) > [I don't like swearing on the air. As a matter of fact, I'm not a prude, but... I watch HBO and some of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-lamb/i-don-t-like-swearing-on-the-air-as-a-matter-of-fact-i-m-not-a-prude/) [Brian Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-lamb/) > [The first time on stage is such a blur to me. I remember how it felt more than anything. I remember everything about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/the-first-time-on-stage-is-such-a-blur-to-me-i-remember-how-it-felt/) [Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/) > [My first time on stage was the class "graduation" at the Comedy Store. It was awesome. Everything got huge laughs and I just thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/my-first-time-on-stage-was-the-class-graduation-at-the-comedy-store/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [I started performing music about the age of 16. I lived in Brooklyn, New York, and this thing called the Flatbush Fair comes once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophilus-london/i-started-performing-music-about-the-age-of-16-i-lived-in-brooklyn/) [Theophilus London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophilus-london/) > [I stood in the bay window at our house and I sang Away In A Manger. It was my first time on stage, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/i-stood-in-the-bay-window-at-our-house-and-i-sang-away-in-a-manger-it/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) > [“I switched to thoughts of the play. It was by far the healthiest item to concentrate on. Rehearsals were only days away; there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kirkwood/i-switched-to-thoughts-of-the-play-it-was-by-far-the-healthiest-item/) [James Kirkwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kirkwood/) > [I'm not an Internet artist, I didn't get discovered on the Internet - I got discovered pushing my mix tapes on the street, walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/i-m-not-an-internet-artist-i-didn-t-get-discovered-on-the-internet-i/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [The Moody Blues were a blues band, so when we got discovered, we were taken to London. That's where we started to make it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denny-laine/the-moody-blues-were-a-blues-band-so-when-we-got-discovered-we-were/) [Denny Laine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denny-laine/) > [I got discovered off of YouTube.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-g/i-got-discovered-off-of-youtube/) [Becky G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-g/) > [No, I was going to college and got discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-hernandez/no-i-was-going-to-college-and-got-discovered/) [Jay Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-hernandez/) > [I hadn't planned to be a model. It just happened by pure chance. I went to a beauty school with my sister, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-shayk/i-hadn-t-planned-to-be-a-model-it-just-happened-by-pure-chance-i-went/) [Irina Shayk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-shayk/) ## More by Hari Kondabolu > [Seattle is a place I've lived only a couple of years, but I feel like I've been adopted by this city. It's like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/seattle-is-a-place-i-ve-lived-only-a-couple-of-years-but-i-feel-like/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [I have had vegan Thanksgiving of tofurkey and soy gravy. And it's not to say that Thanksgiving will ever justify the genocide of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/i-have-had-vegan-thanksgiving-of-tofurkey-and-soy-gravy-and-it-s-not/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [The words we use have weight. Whether it's in a conversation with a friend or something said publicly on stage or broadcast. And as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/the-words-we-use-have-weight-whether-it-s-in-a-conversation-with-a/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [Telling me that I’m obsessed with talking about racism in America is like telling me I’m obsessed with swimming when I’m drowning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/telling-me-that-i-m-obsessed-with-talking-about-racism-in-america-is/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [I've been approached after shows from people who said, 'I don't agree with anything you said, but I laughed the whole way through.' That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/i-ve-been-approached-after-shows-from-people-who-said-i-don-t-agree/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [Just give us 50 years where we're the only ones who are allowed to profit from art, and then you can do whoever you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/just-give-us-50-years-where-we-re-the-only-ones-who-are-allowed-to/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [There are some dogs that are gigantic that look like they shouldn't be in existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/there-are-some-dogs-that-are-gigantic-that-look-like-they-shouldn-t/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [Both my parents are immigrants. I've seen different struggles they've had. There's a reason you don't see me using accents. I don't do impressions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/both-my-parents-are-immigrants-i-ve-seen-different-struggles-they-ve/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [I would love the opportunity to create my own program. I feel like a TV show with a format of monologue with lots of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/i-would-love-the-opportunity-to-create-my-own-program-i-feel-like-a/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [I never learned how to tie my shoes, and I was mocked for that. I still don't know how to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/i-never-learned-how-to-tie-my-shoes-and-i-was-mocked-for-that-i-still/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [I'm not a politician, I'm not an ideologue, I'm not an organizer anymore. I'm a human being sharing ideas, and those ideas have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/i-m-not-a-politician-i-m-not-an-ideologue-i-m-not-an-organizer/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [We've never had a female President in this country, which I find stunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/we-ve-never-had-a-female-president-in-this-country-which-i-find/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [Politics and sports are the same thing in some ways. I like sports; I don't like the sports aspect of politics. The conventions are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/politics-and-sports-are-the-same-thing-in-some-ways-i-like-sports-i/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [I don't tie my shoes right. I tie them the way you would tie a gift, like a bow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/i-don-t-tie-my-shoes-right-i-tie-them-the-way-you-would-tie-a-gift/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [I don't drink before shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/i-don-t-drink-before-shows/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) [Explore all 56 Hari Kondabolu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) ## More Appearance quotes > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [The essence of worldliness is exclusion of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jacobsen/the-essence-of-worldliness-is-exclusion-of-god/) [Henry Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jacobsen/) > [We must, however, note that what are usually called the high religions made their appearance within about twenty-five hundred years - most of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-scott-latourette/we-must-however-note-that-what-are-usually-called-the-high-religions/) [Kenneth Scott Latourette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-scott-latourette/) > [First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/first-impressions-are-often-the-truest-as-we-find-not-infrequently-to/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-turning-points-of-lives-are-not-the-great-moments-the-real-crises/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [You can have a nice body, dress with the latest fashion. But if you don't have self-confidence sweetheart, forget about looking sexy, you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/you-can-have-a-nice-body-dress-with-the-latest-fashion-but-if-you-don/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [I cannot be convinced that great artists are moralists. Art is first appearances, then meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-cannot-be-convinced-that-great-artists-are-moralists-art-is-first/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [So may the outward shows be least themselves; The world is still deceived with ornament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-may-the-outward-shows-be-least-themselves-the-world-is-still/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are one of many appearances of the thing called Life; we are not its perfect image, for it has no perfect image except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/we-are-one-of-many-appearances-of-the-thing-called-life-we-are-not/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [I'm OK with my appearance. I have made my peace with it after a long and frankly exhausting battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-m-ok-with-my-appearance-i-have-made-my-peace-with-it-after-a-long/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [There is no society or conversation to be kept up in the world without good-nature, or something which must bear its appearance and supply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-no-society-or-conversation-to-be-kept-up-in-the-world/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Appearance records are pretty special. Mine means a lot to me, not only because I love stats, but because it shows that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james/appearance-records-are-pretty-special-mine-means-a-lot-to-me-not-only/) [David James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james/) > [Every man would fall in love with their voice, their lovely appearance, but no man would ever get past that. They'd never really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/every-man-would-fall-in-love-with-their-voice-their-lovely-appearance/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [I already know what things look like - I don't want description. People believe in appearances, and I don't believe in appearances at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-michals/i-already-know-what-things-look-like-i-don-t-want-description-people/) [Duane Michals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-michals/) [Browse all 2,446 Appearance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "January 14, 2000, was my first time on stage, and I've been hooked ever since. I got discovered nationally in Seattle by the now-defunct HBO Comedy Festival, and that led to an appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' and a path to a professional comedy career.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hari Kondabolu" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/january-14-2000-was-my-first-time-on-stage-and-i-ve-been-hooked-ever/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Appearance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/january-14-2000-was-my-first-time-on-stage-and-i-ve-been-hooked-ever/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/hari-kondabolu-12177_appearance_january-14-2000-was-my-first-time-on-sta_2935025.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/hari-kondabolu-12177_appearance_january-14-2000-was-my-first-time-on-sta_2935025.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/hari-kondabolu-12177_appearance_january-14-2000-was-my-first-time-on-sta_2935025.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“January 14, 2000, was my first time on stage, and I've been hooked ever since. I got discovered nationally…” — Hari Kondabolu", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Hari Kondabolu", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "January 14, 2000, was my first...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/january-14-2000-was-my-first-time-on-stage-and-i-ve-been-hooked-ever/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/january-14-2000-was-my-first-time-on-stage-and-i-ve-been-hooked-ever/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```