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Josh Blue began his career at an open mic night in Olympia, Washington, over 20 years ago and has since taken his comedy far and wide.

He will perform at Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder on Saturday, April 18.

Aside from the show, he said he will be “eating lots of food” while in New Mexico, and he is partial to Christmas-style when it comes to chile.

Blue said the first time he ever stepped on stage was terrifying.

“I’ve always had a huge fear of public speaking and was just very self-conscious about being disabled and being in front of people and how people would judge me,” Blue said. “But there was something about stand-up that was different than, say, giving a speech about some topic.”

Blue has cerebral palsy and has worked his experience of living with the disability into his comedy. He said audiences can relate because he thinks everybody has some type of disability or something they have a hang-up about.

“When they see me being real and truthful, it just opens this door to them,” Blue said.

In stand-up, there are no rules or boundaries, Blue said, and he can be truthful in his act.

“It’s the last place people can say real things without getting canceled instantly,” he said.

Blue first began stand-up in college and has done several specials throughout his career. He said the series of specials are like a window into his life, following his journey of becoming a dad, being a soccer player, an author and more.

“My first special is me talking about being a new dad and having babies,” Blue said, “and now my kids are teenagers and going off to college. So you see their progression too through my show.”

In life, Blue said, he is more of a look-to-the-future person, rather than reflecting on his career. However, when he does, he said it is cool to see his body of work and longevity.

“To be a professional comedian for coming up on like 25 years is pretty crazy to say, you know? Not many people get to do that,” Blue said. “I’m still rocking it. So it’s great.”

Throughout his career, Blue has won “Last Comic Standing” in 2006, competed on “America’s Got Talent” in 2021 and “AGT: All-Stars” in 2023, and has appeared on “The Tonight Show.” He said that while all of these were big accomplishments, he is still waiting for the moment when it hits him he has succeeded in his career, and he is not so sure he will ever have that moment.

“I always can see myself doing bigger and better things,” Blue said.

He has performed 200 shows a year for a long time, he said, because he did not want to be “a flash in the pan.” He said that looking back, he would tell his younger self not to stress as much.

He said his “prolific level of creation” has kept his comedic career successful.

“I just keep coming up with new jokes and am able to adapt and grow,” Blue said.

His shows are always changing and something crazy is always bound to happen, he said.

“Every show to me is like a snowflake where I don’t even know what I’m going to say most nights,” Blue said. “It’s just kind of organic and happens.”

Elizabeth Secor is an arts fellow from the New Mexico Local ����������ϼ� Fellowship program. You can reach her at esecor@abqjournal.com.