Atlanta comedian Ty Colgate enjoys the challenge of winning over tough crowds

On the “City Lights” series “Speaking of Comedy,” Atlanta’s funniest locals share insights on the perks and perils of their profession. This edition features Ty Colgate, a comedian in Atlanta who began his comedy journey in his early 20s. 

For Colgate, like many entering the field, this meant stepping behind his very first open mic at a small coffee shop and bar. “The first one I ever did was in Orlando, Florida, at a place called Drunken Monkey,” he said. A year later, he moved to Atlanta and started serving up jokes on the local scene in earnest.

Though proud to call Atlanta home, Colgate says it’s “a brutal city to do comedy in.” Though the audiences can be tough to win over, he doesn’t consider that a necessarily bad thing. “To me, it’s always felt good to do it here, because steel sharpens steel,” said Colgate. “Atlanta’s a city that demands realness and authenticity. If you fail to bring that, a lot of times you’re going to struggle with Atlanta crowds.”