The Serendipitous Adventure That Brought Me to NYC

??????Yesterday marked my 16th Year in NYC?? and 17 years since The Colbert Report made its television debut ???. That's no coincidence, as most of you know. ?? The Colbert Report was the catalyst that inspired me to defy my big-chicken-like nature and catapult myself into the city of my dreams.??

I'd never set foot ?? in New York prior to this day, didn't know a soul here, or have a job lined up. Despite this, thanks to an invitation to the 1st Anniversary taping of TCR??, armed with enough savings to stay in the city for 1 week??, I was determined to land my dream job and find a way to make this place my home. The stakes were ridiculously high??, as was my determined optimism??, but tapping on my shoulder was plenty of self doubt. Who was I to think I could make my dreams a reality???But I kept brushing my uncertainty aside, along with some tears as I wandered up Broadway, as the days I had left were flying by faster than I could make any magic happen.

At that point I was lost literally and figuratively, for what felt like the millionth time that week, but magic DID happen and it never stopped happening.

I was carried from one moment to the next by synchronicity that left me floating on a cloud of serendipity, taking me on a journey filled with the most incredible people and extraordinary experiences that went beyond all the brush strokes of my wildest imaginings. ??

???Even when those dreams had some nightmares scattered in along the way, if there's one thing NYC has taught me, it's that when times get tough, a true New Yorker persists and adapts, and never stops drawing on their creativity and reaching beyond the stars. This perspective has allowed me to never stop dreaming bigger dreams for myself beyond this moment, and I wish that for everyone! ?????

Love you, NYC! ??

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??October 17th, 2006, is a day very dear to me.

??Comedy is one of my favorite things in life, because it has the capacity to entertain, inform, uplift and even transcend our differences to bring people together.???? I've loved humor, interviews, writing and performing for as long as I can remember. Roll all of those things into one platform, and you can probably understand my huge admiration for comedy talk show programs.?? So being of service to that community in some way - ANY way - even if it meant landing a job scrubbing an entire studio with a tooth brush - quickly became one of my biggest dreams.??

????So, in the year leading up to that autumn day, I wrote exactly 200 inquiry letters to journalists, comedy writers, improvisers, Ivy League drama professors, TV production assistants & retired entertainment industry executives. "I don't have the slightest clue what I'm doing??, but my dream is to work in comedy talk show programming..."I said. I was afraid of sounding ridiculous, contacting complete strangers via email out of the blue??, but I'm so glad I did! All but three of them responded. I was so overwhelmed by their thoughtful letters and encouraging words. I can't tell you what it meant to have so many busy, successful strangers with a million things on their plate, take the time to share their advice and experiences with someone they didn't even know. It was their generosity of spirit that set a series of extremely fortunate events in motion. I was filled with self-doubt, but I knew I HAD to raise the stakes even more so I couldn't turn back and chicken out.????

??Even after those 197 replies, as encouraging as they all were, I continued to doubt myself. What I wanted more than anything was an internship at one of these shows, so I could be a sponge...so it wouldn't matter if I didn't know what I was doing... and see where it took me.

In the end, due to some extraordinary circumstances??, I had the opportunity to pass along a portfolio of my writing to Stephen Colbert directly at San Francisco's City Arts & Lectures - a story in itself.?? I'd assumed that one needed to submit some sort of a comedy writing portfolio in order to be considered to be an INTERN! Again - no clue what I was doing!?? And thanks to four kind strangers - an elderly couple who just happened to strike up a conversation with me in the lobby????, who happened to be friends with the stage manager????, who took me backstage and introduced me to the program director's husband????, who then passed along my packet to Sydney Goldstein??, City Arts' Founder & Director, who then handed it to Stephen??.

Towards the end of the panel, I had a chance to ask him a silly question I'd prepared for the Q&A. Unfortunately, the link to the show has expired (the theater program was recorded for their podcast series. That's right! A podcast, in the early days of podcasting!)

??To my surprise, 2 weeks later, Stephen sent me a kind handwritten note of encouragement. I couldn't believe it!????????So I decided to take a chance on myself...????

Despite being the world's biggest chicken????, I followed my bliss from Puyallup, Washington?????? to New York City??????,16 years ago today, to The Colbert Report's 1st Anniversary taping.????

????????I'd saved up enough money to stay for 1 week. I either had to find a job?? and an apartment in that time??, or turn back. The $'s were my carriage, and without them I'd turn back into a pumpkin??...well technically, a Puyalluponian - otherwise known as, a Puyallup, WA resident! I didn't know a soul here. I didn't have any jobs lined up. I also had NO internet access - I know!!! TERRIFYING, right? But thanks to serendipity, two security guards (including Ellianny, My Comedy Fairy Godmother), and a dash of Truthiness, I was able to call The Big Apple home????!

I still don't know what I'm doing exactly????- but frankly - I wouldn't have it any other way!

?? Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily???

***

Andrea Simmons is a senior producer, strategist, writer and creative consultant living in New York City.

Specializing in thought leadership, strategic direction and innovation, her creative solutions to marketing, engagement, customer success, partnerships, public relations, and sales have guided clients and brands to reach their full potential in the entertainment, health/wellness, fashion, beauty, fintech, philanthropic and humanitarian communities. She is passionate about bringing a brand's authentic voice & mission to life, as well as championing clients' needs and bringing a voice to those without a platform.