For all of you who have the desire to move to Los Angeles to follow a dream — to be an actor, stand-up comedian, voice-actor or a secretary working for a temp agency — a small-town girl by the name of Maria Bamford is living proof that you can make it in the big city.

The 36-year-old University of Minnesota graduate performed at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, last week to an enthusiastic audience. The performance was a part of her tour to promote the recent release of her second stand-up CD titled How to WIN!

For the last 14 years, Bamford has succeeded at all the aforementioned jobs with credits ranging from several half-hour Comedy Central Presents shows to supporting roles in motion pictures. Her more notable stand-up appearances include Late Night with Conan O’Brien and a feature performance on the Comedians of Comedy Tour. 

She is probably best known for the characters she portrays in her quirky joke-stories as part of her stand-up and those same characters are present on the new CD.

Bamford’s vocal talent is among the best in the business and that talent lends itself to the impressions and impersonations of relatives, co-workers and celebrities that fill the menu of the 21-track CD. No one is exempt from the comedic wrath of “The Bammer.” She impersonates her entire family; mom, dad and sister. Her impersonation of Alicia Keys is so spot-on that you would swear Keys was up on stage with her.

Bamford’s comedic prowess comes from a variety of influences including her ability and willingness to share personal truths about her own life.

“I like to talk about things that I feel ashamed of and then hear people laugh…then that means I’m not the only one,” she said.

Bamford’s success followed a relatively inauspicious beginning in Minneapolis, which included doing “occasional guest sets or other non-paying theatre work.” At the age of 22, she decided to move to L.A. 

“I didn’t really have a plan. I auditioned to be a “Star Trek” character at a show at the Mall of America and then they decided to tour and said if I moved to L.A., I could get more work, and it seemed like a very exciting idea.” 

The road to success for Bamford has had its share of bumps along the way. Her initial foray into stand-up in L.A. had mixed results and she even “had a manager guy tell [her that she] never should have sent him a tape.”

Throughout her journey she has also had to deal with personal issues: loneliness, depression and the self-described problem of being a “money-negative” person, which led to problems with debt. To help deal with her troubles she has read a ton of self-help books and is a member of several 12-step programs.

“If you have any problems, with whatever, things that are affecting your life,  get help.  There’s tons of it out there and it’s free most of the time. Things just get more complicated and worse over time with ongoing problems and [the help] will probably inspire you,” she said.

Over the years she has had quite a few “tiny breaks” come her way. She played a kooky waitress in the film Lucky Numbers opposite John Travolta and has done voiceover work for Nickelodeon, Sony and Paramount Pictures.

What keeps her motivated and plugging away after all these years?

“Meaning. My friends, family. Naps. Earning a living and so I can have Diet Coke and a nice apartment,” Bamford said.

What advice has she for aspiring actors and comedians?

“I would ask yourself what feelings/things do you think you are going to get out of it. What exactly do you enjoy about performing or whatever art form it is? Get clear on exactly what you enjoy doing and why. I feel like I’ve made it when I can make my parents laugh or my friends.”