By Mallory Mattingly
Comedian Nate Bargatze has sold more tickets than any other comedian, according to Esquire, and that’s thanks, in large part, to his clean, family-friendly approach.
Last year, Bargatze sold over 1 million tickets and brought in over $80 million. He hosted SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE twice in one year and even released another Netflix special. The comedian began a podcast and production company called “Nateland,” which is dedicated to making content the whole family can enjoy. And on May 6, Bargatze will release his first book, titled Big Dumb Eyes.
“I wanted to be great at stand-up,” Bargatze told Esquire. “I’m not trying to say I’m great, but I just knew I needed to figure out how to be great at this one thing and then the rest will come. That’s what’s happening now — you get a lot of stuff. You either make it at twenty or forty. No one makes it in the middle.”
His style wasn’t always so clean, but he quickly learned that he didn’t want to be offensive or mean.
“I just need to be super careful with anything that could be seen as making fun of someone,” Bargatze said after a joke went a little too far. “I never want to be mean.”
But despite his skyrocketing success, Bargatze already has his exit from comedy planned.
He revealed he has “two more tours” before he makes his final goodbye.
“I got this tour I’m about to go out on, and I want to do one more,” the comedian explained. He plans to wrap up his comedy career in the next five years.
Related: Nate Bargatze On His Comedy: ‘I Started Clean And Stayed Clean’
In the meantime, he’s getting ready to make his big screen debut in THE BREADWINNER, which will star Mandy Moore opposite Bargatze.
“It’s going to be hard to make something and then have to wait to see it,” Bargatze told Relevant. “I’m used to immediate reactions. Plus, I don’t know the first thing about making a movie.”
“I’m excited to figure it all out — what works, what’s funny, what needs tweaking. It’s going to be a whole new world, and I can’t wait to learn,” he shared.
No matter where his career takes him next, the comedian’s faith will always be his foundation.
“I’m on the road so much, but when I’m here, I go [to church] as much as I can,” he said. “It’s a good thing to be around,” he added of his faith. “I think it makes you feel grounded.”
While Nate Bargatze’s big break came after nearly 20 years in the business, he’s skyrocket to one of the top comics in the world, and he plans to keep his future work just as family friendly as the jokes that fans have come to know and love.
Read Next: Nate Bargatze Proves Clean Comedy Has a Huge Draw
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