“I’d Rather Sleep Good Than Be Rich” — KevOnStage Gets Real on Integrity & Success | Funky Friday

KevOnStage frames his purpose as 'being the plug,' creating opportunities for black individuals in Hollywood, even if it means earning less. He recounts paying comedians $500 per set for 'Keep Your Distance' when the industry norm was $25-50, and providing high-quality footage for free, despite advice to charge. This commitment stems from a belief that black people often lack opportunities and that living in purpose is more important than being the richest.

At All Def, his job was to create and cast shows, often with a low budget of $150 per person. He realized he enjoyed people getting their first acting credit or moving up in crew roles. He states, 'I make less money because of it, but I'm more fulfilled as a result of it.' He contrasts this with a Bank of America colleague who exploited non-English speaking clients for personal gain, choosing to 'sleep better at night than to make the most money.'

KevOnStage employs a 'gorilla marketing' approach to content, aiming for constant visibility across platforms. He compares it to a contact hitter in baseball, focusing on consistent 'singles' (3-4 videos daily) rather than always seeking home runs. His strategy involves pre-shooting content, repurposing, and leveraging old material, all while studying platform algorithms and audience behavior.

He states, 'I'm on the like Ichiro Suzuki Pete Rose contact. Single single single single.' He describes his daily routine of uploading videos early, during lunch breaks, and repurposing clips from collaborations. He also re-posts old content, knowing the algorithm will show it to new or previously missed audiences. He emphasizes that platforms want users to stay longer, so engagement (comments, shares) is paramount, and he beta-tests ideas on Twitter before creating videos.

KevOnStage openly discusses the backlash he receives for his public support of LGBT people, contrasting it with traditional church teachings. He believes Jesus led with love and acceptance, spending time with 'sinners and publicans.' He shares personal anecdotes where love brought people into the church, while judgment pushed others away, highlighting what he perceives as hypocrisy within some church communities regarding who is accepted and why.

He states he will 'take my chances' with God regarding his love for LGBT people, believing 'Jesus led with love at every point.' He recounts his brother being welcomed into the church despite 'sinning this whole time,' eventually becoming Sunday school superintendent, while a 'masculine presenting' girl was pushed away. He also shares a story of a gay teen being driven out by a deacon's judgment. He criticizes the church for accepting 'drug money' or 'adultery money' but rejecting 'queer money,' calling it a 'hypocrisy.'

KevOnStage advocates for black men to embrace vulnerability, a quality he learned was essential for his marriage and personal well-being. He notes the societal pressures on black men to suppress emotions, linking it to higher rates of stress-related health issues. His one-man show, 'Grief Sucks,' is a direct expression of this vulnerability, using humor to process his own grief and help others heal.

He explains his wife required him to be more vulnerable for their marriage to continue, asking him to share his fears. He initially struggled, admitting, 'I can't share my fears with you cuz I don't share my fears with myself.' He connects the suppression of emotions in black men ('you weak if you go to therapy, you weak if you speak about your feelings') to high rates of heart attack and stroke. His show 'Grief Sucks' is 'the truest form of live entertainment for me because I'm really putting my heart out there for your humor, but also for you to feel my pain.'

KevOnStage consistently emphasizes his wife, Melissa, and his family as the non-negotiable foundation of his life. He views his wife as his 'left tackle,' protecting his blind side and enabling his career. He believes a peaceful home life is paramount, making all career achievements secondary.

He refers to his wife as his 'left tackle' and 'blind side,' stating, 'without her, I'm not nearly as effective or efficient in everything else I do.' He highlights how a stable home allows him to be fully present in his work, contrasting it with the distraction of marital conflict. He asserts, 'everything else is secondary to us... I'd rather have the house I have now with her than all the career goals without her.' He also shares his father's wisdom about providing a safe household over material wealth.