Alan Shane Lewis on Growth

Since being hired to punch up scripts based on his tweets, Alan Shane Lewis has built his career by expanding into all areas of comedy. From stand up to The Second City Mainstage to his podcast Below the Hardwood, he is now the co-host of the fourth season of The Great Canadian Baking Show on CBC. I spoke with Alan about his early comedy career, from influences to successes.

What was the tipping point in your career?

The Second City was the main tipping point, because it was a comedy job I was able to sustain myself with. Stand ups in Canada don’t make enough money to live without supplementing it.

Before The Second City, I worked a bunch of odd jobs. I used to work at a dollar store, which was perfect, because it was one to five every day, and it was just down the street from my house. I worked odd jobs around that. I tried to work the 11pm to 7am shift at an A&W, which I thought I could sustain but couldn’t. I did that for long enough to buy a bike and do UberEats which was great flexibility, because the focus was always the comedy.

What’s the greatest lesson you have learned throughout your time in comedy?

Being okay with failing. Which was something I only remember when I went to The Second City. Once I gave myself the space to be okay with failure, I started having more fun. Improv is so amazing that at any point in time, you could fail, which was such an alien concept to me. Like, why wouldn’t you want to be prepared at all times?!

Who are some of your influences?

I’m very inspired by early Dave Chapelle, he used to have his finger on the pulse. … I wouldn’t say current rich, out-of-touch Dave Chapelle. 

All my heroes are dying in front of me. Like Kanye, he was so cool when he was talking about the man, now it’s “the fashion industry doesn’t take me seriously! MAGA MAGA MAGA!” Like that line from Batman, you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. But people like that I grew up on who find a way to speak truth to power. It’s kind of cliché, but I do believe that comedy’s a good way to start a conversation and bring attention to something.

How has success changed for you?

I mean, if this is it, I’d be happy! If I were to die right now it’d say, “comedian Alan Shane Lewis” and I’d be looking down (or up) like “I made it!”

But I’ve been battling imposter syndrome ever since The Second City came around, thinking about whether I deserve something like this or not. Living in that space is hard because now I’m so worried about everything I put out in a way I never have. I’m battling those demons, but still trying to be happy and put out content that is meaningful and worthy of people’s time.

What keeps you motivated? 

Be better than yesterday. It definitely comes from a sports background, because if you’re not growing, you’re shrinking, because everyone else is going. You have to keep up. I think there was always a totem in my head where I would evaluate whether I was moving up or down. And that grounded me.

The Great Canadian Baking Show airs Sundays on CBC Television.
Watch it here.