‘I’m a comedian’: Naperville native Vik Pandya finds joy in stand-up after corporate job

On track to graduate early from DePaul University with a degree in finance, Vik Pandya found himself a few general education requirements short. On a whim, he took an improv class and discovered a skill he didn’t realize he possessed, and a career he didn’t realize he desired.

Emboldened by the experience, the Naperville native signed up for his first open mic at Schubas Tavern in Chicago. He intended to share a story about a blind date.

“Looking out onto the audience, I forgot everything,” Pandya recalled

What was supposed to be a five-minute bit, lasted all of about 90 seconds. But that 90 seconds sealed Pandya’s future.

Fast forward a decade or so. Pandya, 34, has been doing stand-up comedy professionally for 10 years. Now his sets — like the one he’ll deliver Dec. 27 at the Comedy Vault — run 45 minutes or longer.

This marks the first time he's headlined the Batavia club in three years.

“It's nice to be home,” said the Chicago-based comedian, who performs regularly at Zanies Comedy Club, The Laugh Factory and the Chicago Improv. He also tours nationally, and has opened for Roy Wood Jr., Michelle Wolf and Vir Das, among others.

After college, Pandya took that 9-to-5 job in finance. He also took classes at Second City and performed at open mics, sometimes several in the same night.

“It was a pretty crazy schedule for a while,” said the comedian, who credits his uncle for introducing him to George Carlin and Richard Pryor, whom he cites as influences.

Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, Pandya quit his job to devote himself to comedy full-time.

“I left in January 2020,” he said. “I had one glorious month of stand-up, then in March everything shut down.”

He worked remotely in human resources and did virtual comedy until clubs reopened. About three years ago, he decided to “go all in for at least a year or two.” Quitting his job (again), he returned to stand-up full time as a headliner.

“If all else fails, I do have that finance degree,” he quipped.

After his set, Pandya often asks audiences if they mind him trying out some new material. Most people welcome the chance to get a glimpse of how comedy gets made.

“Audiences, being more comedy savvy now … I think people like to be part of that process,” he said.

While he acknowledges the popularity of crowd work — which refers to comedians engaging in spontaneous conversation with audience members — Pandya relies mostly on material he has prepared. “You have to be able to write jokes and have an act,” said the Waubonsie High School graduate, who constantly jots down ideas and reserves time every day to write.

Still, crowd work is a skill, he says, and interacting with audiences keeps the show interesting. It also keeps him on his toes.

“If someone has a big reaction I like to talk to them,” he said. “As long as you’re entertaining people, you can do whatever you want.”

Pandya recalled the moment several years ago when he realized comedy had become his career. The pandemic was waning and he hadn't done a live show in a while when he was hired to perform in Wisconsin.

“I was closing the show and having a really good set,” he said.

Feeling validated, he thought to himself, “This is a career now. This is what I do. I'm a comedian.”

Vik Pandya

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27

Where: The Comedy Vault, 18 E. Wilson St., Batavia. (630) 454-4174 or comedyvaultbatavia.com

Tickets: $20, plus a two-item minimum