How Nate Bargatze Knew He Made It in Comedy
By Movieguide® Contributor
Nate Bargatze recently shared a few moments when he knew he made it as a comedian on Dave Ramsey’s podcast.
“I worked at Applebee’s…in comedy when I got to the point that I was making just as much as I’d be making at Applebee’s, as someone who didn’t go to college or anything, I was like, ‘Alright, I’m making just as much as I would make – you know, $30,000 a year, or whatever it is,’” Bargatze said.
“And then you slowly just have little check marks where you can be like, ‘Alright, I’m making this. I wouldn’t make more than this at whatever job I have,’” he continued.
Bargatze shared another moment where he felt like he made it after his first Netflix special was released.
“[After the special,] we took a pretty big leap to where you go to theaters, and [the audience is] there to see you,” he explained. “You gotta have new material. You gotta have all this stuff…they’re there to absolutely see you.”
While Bargatze has been a big comedian for nearly five years now, he is still amazed at his success. From becoming a Grammy-nominated comedian to going on world tours, he cannot believe that so many people want to see him perform.
“Why would I get any of [these awards],” he said. “I don’t think I deserve any of this stuff. And just being from here…who am I? You know, like, I’m nobody. So it’s all wild and it’s hard to take in…When it happens, it’s pretty surreal.”
Bargatze shared that his success comes from many years of hard work.
“I’ve done [standup for] 20 years… It’s all gradual. I always say, ‘You either make it at 20 or 40, no one makes it in the middle.’ So you either get lucky and get plucked, or you have to go grind it out.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Bargatze:
Bargatze was able to make this adjustment in stride, writing a new set, and landing a full Netflix special in 2019. Just as he was launching into full time tours, the pandemic lockdowns put everything on hold, but Bargatze came up with new ways to share his jokes. He started performing at drive-in theaters, something he realizes really helped bring joy to people when there was a lot of despair in the world.
During the pandemic, Bargatze also launched his “Nateland Podcast,” which he cohosts with fellow comedians Brian Bates, Dusty Slay, and Aaron Weber.
Continuing to grow, and now known across the nation for his clean comedy, Bargatze released a second special through Netflix in 2021 and started up a second tour.
Earlier this year, Bargatze fulfilled his most lofty dream, headlining Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena in April. Though is highest goal has now been fulfilled, Bargatze has no plans of slowing down. He hopes to create a comedy empire – similar to that of Adam Sandler.
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