Nick Armstrong shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Nick, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A typical day for me involves answering around 150 emails in the morning, unsubscribing for lists I never got on, juggling multiple meetings, and heading into the theater to work on various projects. I own four companies with RISE Comedy, CrowdWork, Improv Utopia, Haus of Comedy in Sacramento. With the RISE Comedy Festival coming up I work on that everyday as we have over 150 comedians coming to town and shows to sell, much of the current focus is on planning, coordination, and making sure everything runs smoothly—on top of the usual day-to-day tasks that keep things moving.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an actor, writer, director, producer, and entrepreneur with a passion for building community through comedy. With decades of experience in the improv world, I’ve become a trusted leader in the global comedy scene.
My journey began as a performer and actor, with appearances on shows like The Office, New Girl, and Parks and Recreation. Most recently, I appear in Bulldozer, which premiered this year at Sundance, Tribeca, and SXSW. I also studied improv at renowned institutions including iO West and The Groundlings.
Along the way, I recognized a need for stronger, more connected communities in the comedy world. I wanted people to be able to do quality shows and learn improv in cities that weren’t LA, Chicago, and NYC. That realization led me to become a driving force behind several major initiatives that continue to shape the landscape today.
In 2019, I co-founded RISE Comedy in Denver with Josh Nicols—a theater dedicated to championing diverse voices, original work, and community. It has since been named Best Variety Comedy Club by Westword. In 2011, I founded Improv Utopia, a nonprofit improv camp that has helped hundreds of performers grow their craft and build lifelong connections, while donating proceeds back to the art form. I also co-founded The Improv Network, a global organization supporting theaters, festivals, and performers around the world.
In addition, I’m a co-owner of CrowdWork, a ticketing and CRM platform designed to help theaters reduce overhead and save time, and Haus of Comedy in my hometown of Sacramento.
I believe deeply in the power of comedy to heal, connect, and inspire—and I’ve built my career around helping others discover and share that power.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Growing up, a lack of fun and joy really shaped how I see the world. Everything felt a little too serious, a little too unfair—and honestly, for a lot of people, especially those in marginalized communities, it still is. The world can be heavy and even dangerous. Somewhere along the way, I realized the thing I could do—the thing I had the power to give—was laughter. I could make people laugh, even just for a moment, and in that moment, they could forget everything else. That’s what drives me. Creating joy. Making space for connection. Helping people breathe a little easier, even if it’s just for a night.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There was a moment during the pandemic when I almost gave up. Exactly 1 second, but to me that’s an eternity. About a month in, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. I moved back in with my parents to help, and for that next year, I was trying to keep everything afloat—my businesses, my family, and myself. It was brutal. I was trying to save RISE, Improv Utopia, all while watching my dad get sicker, trying to be there for my mom, and pretending like I had it all together. I was burned out, emotionally wrecked, and there were definitely moments where I thought, Why am I doing this? What’s the point? Maybe I should just walk away.
But I didn’t. I couldn’t. Something in me kept going, even when I had nothing left in the tank. I know it was the people—my communities, my family, the folks who believed in what we were building. That kept me grounded, even when the ground felt like it was falling out from under me. They were the bridge that led me back and saved me.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I truly believe that quantum mechanics is going to radically shift the way we see the world over the next 20 years. It’s already starting to happen. Once you dive into the science—even just scratch the surface—you realize how much of what we’ve accepted as “truth” is based on a limited, classical understanding of reality. Quantum physics challenges that. It shows us that things aren’t as fixed as we think. Cause and effect, time, space, observation—none of it works the way we’ve been taught.
What excites me most is how this isn’t just about science—it’s about perspective. It’s about consciousness. It’s about how we relate to each other, how we process information, how we define connection. The fact that particles can be entangled across vast distances or that observing something can actually change it? That’s not just science fiction—that’s real, and it forces us to rethink everything from how we make decisions to how we define community.
As someone who works in creativity, storytelling, and human connection, I see the parallels everywhere. The old rules are breaking down. The future is less about certainty and more about possibility. I think quantum mechanics is going to help us step into a worldview that’s more open, more interconnected, and maybe—just maybe—a little more compassionate.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m just hanging out with my close friends. Whether we’re sitting around cracking each other up, traveling together, at an improv festival, or out at camp—it’s that feeling of being surrounded by people who really get you. People that don’t see you as a business owner or boss, but just as a human. That’s when I exhale. For me, friends aren’t just friends—they’re family. Those moments of connection, laughter, and shared experience… that’s the good stuff. That’s home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.risecomedy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrenergy
- Twitter: Naw
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickarmstrong61
- Other: therealnickarmstrong on Tik Tok
@improvutopia FB, Insta, Tik Tok, Bluesky
@risecomedy FB, Insta, Tik Tok, Bluesky
