ends up coming across as charming and spontaneous, some people just
brush off their slip-ups and end up winning anyway. What is their secret?
Susan Rice is one of those people. The so-called “Funny Old Bag” is in her 70s and still making audiences laugh after 41 years in the stand-up comedy world. With stories for days about missed opportunities, chance encounters that led to guest spots years later, and accidentally turning down some of the biggest names in entertainment, she’s had plenty of failures that turned out okay.
As such, she’s a natural person to ask about how to make mistakes look
good. We also partnered with Skrewball Whiskey, makers of a unique peanut
butter whiskey with a story about rebounding from adversity and looking good while doing it. Here are the biggest tips for turning “skrew” ups into success.
e all know those people who, no matter how many times they screw up, seem to come off looking good. Whether it’s a work mistake that leads to a promotion, or a dating blunder that
Production Credits
Editor: Stephen Rubino
Senior Designer: Allie Pakrosnis
Illustrator: David Milan
Everyone knows about Friendsgiving, a friends-themed version of the family holiday. What they don’t know about is Friendsgiving Cook-Off, a chance to turn that carefree dinner into
a cutthroat cooking competition. With one person as the designated host and judge of the battle, see who can serve up their best version of turkey, stuffing, pie, and more. Really, everyone wins here, because you’ll get to eat delicious food and pick out the best recipes for next year.
Editor: Stephen Rubino
Senior Designer: Allie Pakrosnis
Illustrator: David Milan
Production Credits
“Failure is a very personal thing,” Rice told us, sagely. She’s in the midst of recounting a story from her career in which a TV booker decided he hated
her act so much, he called up anyone who hosted her and told them to cancel.
“I lost about four grand out of my pocket the next day,” she said. “All my bookings were canceled.” In the stand-up world, sometimes it is that personal.
Luckily for Rice, she’s willing to push through it. She regrouped, called up whoever she could for spots, and kept at it. Turns out, for every person who dislikes you for who you are, there are a few who love you. After more work doing touring shows and opening for bigger-named comedians, she got another shot at the TV spot. “I had to have five major headliners sit with
the producer and go: ‘Just give it to her.’” The lesson: it can be tempting to change your style to avoid mistakes. Instead, embrace the mistake and the person who made it, and let the real you shine through anyway.
All of Rice’s life lessons center around coming to terms with what makes your own story special and holding on to your personality and sense of humor. “Put a red sock in a white wash and you’ll learn to love pink,” she said. Her recommendation: “Turn off the part of your brain that’s worried about failure.” Instead of taking a failure and becoming more risk-averse, take even bigger chances next time.
We also learned this lesson from Skrewball Whiskey founder Steve Yeng, who turned his own path into a passion. As a kid, Yeng spent six years in a refugee camp. After contracting polio, he and his family were able to find a sponsor who brought them to the United States. Upon arrival, Yeng was gifted a welcome basket that included a jar of peanut butter, and a lifelong obsession was born. That obsession led to a peanut-focused restaurant and Skrewball Whiskey, a totally unique flavor inspired by Yeng’s lifelong passion.
Early on in her career, Rice took out an ad as a comedian in the Hollywood Reporter. Her pitch: “Susan Rice: Actress, Comedian, trance channeler for the spirit of Gabby Hayes” — a grizzled actor known for his Westerns. A few days later, she got a call from the writers of CBS comedy radio. “We want you to join the team!” they said. “Can you come in for an interview? And I went wow, that's really nice you guys — but I gotta be in Iowa! I was always on the road.”
Of course, Rice sees it as a misstep in her career. “Nobody had told me to pay attention to the weird opportunities that come my way,” she said. But those same road gigs, each unimportant on their own, would become the bedrock
of Rice’s career, one that she continues today. Quite literally, she followed the road less traveled. Looking back, she can see the full picture better: “Sometimes that good thing takes a long time to get to you.”
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raditions are great — who doesn’t love an excuse to throw a themed party? But if they have one downside,
it’s that they can get a bit stale over the years. Whether it’s coming up with yet another witty costume for Halloween or rehashing
the same debates on Thanksgiving, it’s easy
to see that these holidays are in dire need of
a reboot.
Our suggestion: Flip things on their head. With the upcoming run of holidays from Thanksgiving ‘til New Years, there are plenty of chances to rearrange and rethink your festivities. We’re drawing inspiration from the makers of Skrewball Whiskey, a peanut butter whiskey that flips everything
you knew about whiskey on
its head. Read on for more
suggestions on switching up
your holidays:
“Failure is a very personal thing,” Rice told us, sagely. She’s in the midst of recounting a story from her career in which a TV booker decided he hated her act so much, he called up anyone who hosted her and told them to cancel. “I lost about four grand out of my pocket the next day,” she said. “All my bookings were canceled.” In the stand-up world, sometimes it is that personal.
Luckily for Rice, she’s willing to push through it. She regrouped, called up whoever she could for spots, and kept at it. Turns out, for every person who dislikes you for who you are, there are a few who love you. After more work doing touring shows and opening for bigger-named comedians, she got another shot at the TV spot. “I had to have five major headliners sit with the producer and go: ‘Just give it to her.’” The lesson: it can be tempting to change your style to avoid mistakes. Instead, embrace the mistake and the person who made it, and let the real you shine through anyway.
“Failure is a very personal thing,” Rice told us, sagely. She’s in the midst of recounting a story from her career in which a TV booker decided he hated her act so much, he called up anyone who hosted her and told them to cancel. “I lost about four grand out of my pocket the next day,” she said. “All my bookings were canceled.” In the stand-up world, sometimes it is that personal.
We also learned this lesson from Skrewball Whiskey founder Steve Yeng, who turned his own path into a passion. As a kid, Yeng spent six years in a refugee camp. After contracting polio, he and his family were able to find a sponsor who brought them to the United States. Upon arrival, Yeng was gifted a welcome basket that included a jar
of peanut butter, and a lifelong obsession was born. That obsession led to a peanut-focused restaurant and Skrewball Whiskey,
a totally unique flavor inspired by Yeng’s lifelong passion.
Partner content from
About us • Our staff • Privacy policy •
Ethics & Guidelines • How we make money •
Contact us • How to pitch Vox
Terms of Use • Privacy Notice • Cookie Policy •
Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Info • Licensing FAQ •
Accessibility • Platform Status • Advertise with us •
Jobs @ Vox Media
© 2024 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved
