Adam Grabowski took the stage at Rowan After Hours (RAH) in the Student Center Pit on Saturday night to share with the audience his observations on life, offering new and humorous perspectives on mundane occurrences.
Grabowski, who is 29 years old, began pursuing comedy when he graduated from college with a degree in psychology and sociology and did not know what he wanted to do with his life, so he started to perform.
“I always really liked the connection that happens with humor or the observation. I always like to share something or do something funny because it gets people to laugh and feel happy,” Grabowski said. “I would always complain about stuff but when I complained in a funny way, people laughed and it made me feel better about the situation.”
The material in Grabowski’s stand-up was relatable to a college-aged audience and included subjects such as dating, feeling horny and the differences between boys and girls.
“The content of my show came from the fact that I want to impart knowledge to people. I always want to add new perspectives,” Grabowski said. “You have to say things people want to hear but in the same token say things that are new and interesting.”
Comedian Adam Grabowski at Rowan’s Student Center from The Whit on Vimeo.
Grabowski’s performance was very conversational and involved a lot of audience interaction. At one point, he asked audience members to yell out Disney movies and he would reveal why they are “messed up.”
Many students, including sophomore elementary education major Madison Agostini, enjoyed the interactive element of the show and thought it made the performance unique.
“I thought he was really funny,” Agostini said. “I liked that he was very real and improvised a lot with it. He didn’t have a set show, he just went off whatever the audience was feeling.”
Grabowski took a moment to share a serious message amid all the jokes. As someone who “deals with” depression and anxiety himself, Grabowski founded the #SayItAnyway campaign and encouraged students to share their feelings with someone they trust, even if it’s hard.
For audience member Steven Magown, Grabowski’s message about mental health stuck with him the most.
“My favorite part was when he took a pause from the comedy and started to talk about some real stuff, encouraging us all to be ourselves and deal with the problems we go through each day,” Magown said.
Gina Donovan, a sophomore radio, television and film major, appreciated the message Grabowski shared with the audience, saying it made his performance unique among that of other comedians.
“I thought he was really funny and really entertaining. His jokes were so real,” Donovan said. “I also love the fact that he tried to use his platform for good, too. He would make funny jokes and then bring it back and inspire people to be real and express themselves.”
After his show, Grabowski met with anyone who wanted a chance to speak with him and gave out rubber wristbands that said “#SayItAnyway” on the outside and “You’re Not Alone” on the inside.
Grabowski hoped his performance made people think, both about little quirks in everyday life as well as his overarching message.
“I want to be referenced. I want them to use these as inside jokes,” Grabowski said. “Also, understand their own humanity and understand what it means to be a biological human. I want people to be aware of their emotions and the things they do and why they’re happening. I want people to have an understanding of one another and try to share.”
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