Reggie Watts, Bandleader, The Late Late Show with James Corden

Comedian/musician Reggie Watts is the bandleader of The Late Late Show with James Corden on CBS. Previously, he was the opening act on Conan O’Brien’s North American tour, “Prohibited rom Being Funny on Television.” and has released two solo albums.

What would you say to a kid who’d like to do what you’re doing?

Start by imitating things that you really love, like music that you love, sounds that you love in any way, and do that any way you can, whether it’s with your voice or whether it’s beating on a box or your parents getting you a little keyboard or whatever it is. Just realize that creativity is all around you and that it’s important to try it at any given time. You don’t need special tools for it. For me growing up I just imitated the voice of people that I liked, the voices of or the vocals of things, or the rhythm.

Did you have a little tape recorder?

Not at first, no. At first, it was just me mimicking, so I’m just going around the house singing all the time. Then I got a tape recorder and I would record my voice. But not a lot of that. Mostly, it was just freeform improv, but also mimicking things, like Pat Benatar or “Hey Mickey.” So it started there, and then I started looking for music programs in public school. I just chose an instrument and went for it.

What if a kid doesn’t have a music program at his or her school?

My mom didn’t make a lot of money, but she did figure out a way to buy me a violin. She saved up money and found a reasonably-priced violin. Luckily, my school let us borrow instruments, and I got to borrow a violin for many years until my mom could afford it. But definitely use what’s available to you. And if it’s not available in the public school system, there’s probably some kind of a program or someone who has an instrument that’s willing to lend you an instrument or to have you come over and teach you on the instrument. Don’t let anything stop you, because ultimately you always have your voice. As long as you can sing or as long as you can make sound with your voice, you can make music. There’s no excuse.

Playing the violin, were you ever picked on?

In my school system there was a little bit of bullying, but I was such a weirdo. I made people laugh, so people thought of me as the funny guy. I got a pass on bullying a lot. Even when bullies would try to be mean to me, I would just make them laugh and then they would stop being mean to me. If, you appeal to people’s egos, it’s a survival mechanism. Just kill them with kindness. When people are laughing, you learn that they’re not being mean. Whatever it takes to avoid a confrontation, just do it. Because it’s never worth it. The other person doesn’t want to do it either. They just don’t realize it.

When did you know this is a career, that this is something I’m going to do to make a living?

I always wanted to to be on stage, and I wanted to record and perform in any way. I was always performing for my friends. SI’ve always been a performer, so I don’t know any other way. The other thing is, how do I make a living at it? Sometimes you just fall into it because you love doing it. And someone says hey, do you want to be in my band? We’re doing this gig, it pays this. Oh, I’m getting paid for this? And then it builds from there. But primarily the only thing you have to worry about is love what you want to do, practice at it, have some talent. You have to have talent. That’s one thing that’s just a reality. Have talent or give yourself a chance to discover if that’s what you want to do. And the more that you pursue that, things get attracted to you in your life. You’ll find also the other biggest point – don’t be a jerk. Just be considerate of other people.. Because someone will choose a mediocre musician over a virtuoso performer with a really terrible attitude.

Find out more about Reggie Watts and The Late Late Show with James Corden at cbs.com