Author Archive

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When I first started doing stand up comedy I had long hair and a penchant for looking at my feet while onstage instead of the audience. Getting up the nerve to get on stage was one thing, looking that audience in the eye was another. During this time some elder comics said that I was doing comedy in the style of a man I hadn’t even heard of. His name was Mitch Hedberg, and though he is no longer with us, you can easily find footage of him online and see the physicality they were referring to (ok, I did it for you, jeez… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6xaj2fC1jI)  Mr. Hedberg would often perform with his eyes closed. Despite comedy instinct to the contrary, he won over audiences of all sorts.

I see that same spark in a newer comic in the scene named Sean Emeny. Sometimes on stage, he will wear a visor; the type golfers of tennis players wear, so eye contact with the audience is not a big part of the equation. His jokes, and dry delivery do all the heavy lifting. He has a self-deprecating style that doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable, in fact they make you feel right at home.

On a few occasions, I have seen him chat with someone brave enough to sit in the front (that’s the reputation anyway, that if you’re sitting up front, the comedian will automatically pick on you) and inquire about what they are eating. Disarmed enough to answer, they tell him to which he responds, “If you die, can I have the rest?” Sean has made a good impression, as comics have already taken to quoting his very smart and short material. He has also made a great impression in the story slam community, taking top spot regularly at events in Vancouver.

I suppose the only downside to not being sure if he’s watching the audience, is he doesn’t get to see how much they are enjoying what he does.

Sean was kind enough to answer some questions for Vancouver Is Awesome.

When was the last time you laughed until you cried?

I didn’t cry but the first time I saw Simon King do his motivational speaker bit, my ribs were sore. Not because it was so funny but after the joke he kicks every member of the audience in the ribcage. I guess you had to be there.

What is one myth about live comedy you’d like to dispel?

That being funny means you’ll be good at stand-up comedy. All the best comics I know are good writers, performers etc. and have a great work ethic, in addition to being funny. I’m not sure this applies directly to “live comedy” but it’s all I got.

What would be your idea of a perfect venue?

Anywhere where there are no distractions and people are there specifically to see comedy. And on a night when there’s no Canuck game.

What do you think is a comedy premise that needs to be retired?

Anything that a comic doesn’t genuinely find funny but only does for a cheap laugh because it’s proven to work. I’ve done this myself and felt bad about it, mostly because I didn’t even get the cheap laugh I was promised.

What has been the greatest challenge that you’ve faced since starting comedy?

In the beginning I was extremely scared to ask for stage time. I was more afraid of being rejected in that regard than actually being rejected by the audience onstage. Both happened though

How did you know that comedy was something you wanted to be a part of?

When I first came to Vancouver, my father and I stayed at the Holiday Inn on Broadway. Greg Kettner used to run a comedy show at Stages, the hotel lounge. I really enjoyed the show and went back to watch every week. It just made me feel better and helped me deal with some things to the point where I needed more so I sought out other shows and eventually got involved, feeling that would really help me. I was right. Interesting note: you were the headliner of the first show I saw and I approached you after the show to tell you your joke about the guy heckling you for “standing on Granville Street because you’re too good to sit” was so funny.

Why is Vancouver a good place for comedy?

I’m not sure I’m qualified to answer this particular question since I’ve only actually done a handful of shows outside Vancouver (and none outside B.C.)

Based on the comedy I’ve seen, I think Vancouver has a very high concentration of talent. Thus you’re constantly pushing yourself not just to compete for stage time, but also to keep up artistically.

Who is one performer/group of performers you think everyone should see at least once?

Stewart Lee. He seldom performs outside of the U.K. so a lot of people don’t know him but in my opinion he’s the most intelligent comic out there.

What is your favourite joke (street of otherwise)?

Zach Galifianakis has a joke that says, “You know you have a drinking problem, when the bartender knows your name… and you’ve never been to that bar before.” Just the idea of that actually happening makes me laugh every time. I wish I thought of it.

Every article about comedy has to have a pun in the title. What would you like yours to be?

Sean Emeny is your friend.

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The classic example of the forever young looking entertainer has always been Dick Clark. I always wondered if through all his experiences, if he projected a maturity that could make up for the fact that he was, for a time, kind of an ageless wonder. I suppose someone like Meryl Streep probably exudes this, as she too never seems to add any days.

The only reason I bring it up is because anything I would write about Paul Bae would have to include the fact that he hasn’t aged a day since I met him, and years later, despite being younger than him, I look his senior.

I only assume Mrs. Streep and Mr. Clark exude maturity beyond their young looks, because Paul Bae certainly does. Maybe it’s natural. Maybe not. Paul Bae has certainly taken one enough roles to form that type of “adult” atmosphere. He has been a youth pastor, a high school teacher, one half of the spectacular sketch duo Bucket (with the equally baby faced and brilliant Charlie Demers) and the host of a television show on City television.

I don’t know how, but if you are with Paul Bae, he will somehow run into someone he knows. His past students would always be in attendance at comedy shows, which shows you the lasting influence a person like Mr. Bae can have (that’s what they call him, Mr. Bae).

Years ago, I was supremely lucky to have traveled with Paul to Just For Laughs to represent Vancouver there. His calm informed mine and turned what could have been a nerve racking experience into a unique adventure.

It has been twice that Paul Bae’s wise-beyond-his-face ways have given me calm. His duties as the moderator/ host of the CityNews List made the potentially overwhelming task of helming a daily show a definite smoothness.

Even if you have never been taught by Paul Bae, seeing him live and in control of an audience could teach anyone a thing or two.

To learn more you can go to: http://plasticramen.com/

Paul was kind enough to answer some questions for Vancouver Is Awesome.

When was the last time you laughed until you cried?

Teaching ESL.  I had a female student whose first name was “Man-ho,” and her classmates were teasing her because her name was “Man.”  It was the only time I was grateful my students’ English skills were sub par.

What is one myth about live comedy you’d like to dispel?
That heckling adds to a show.  It doesn’t.  It’s the most narcissistic behavior any audience member can engage in, and a stand-up comedy show can only handle so many narcissists before it breaks.  (See Dane Cook’s “Tourgasm.”)

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Comedy classes have always been contentious in the stand up comedy world. Just last year members of the American comedy community were up in arms over a comedy class put on by Louie Anderson and Kyle Cease. Do stand up comedy classes do any good, or are they just taking advantage of people with a dream? In the world of improv comedy, it is a given that you will take some lessons and learn the ins and outs of improv before you begin calling yourself an improviser. I have heard people speak with reverence about their improv teachers including Vancouver’s own, Alistair Cook.

In the course of trying to describe what Alistair has done in the world of Canadian improv, it might be easier to list what he hasn’t done instead of what he has.  That being said, I’ve never been a fan of the easy way. Alistair founded !nstant Theatre Company, which produces shows, holds classes and workshops and recently found it’s new headquarters at the Instant Shop and storefront on East Broadway. He’s artistic director of the Vancouver International Improv Festival, he’s been producing the Canadian Improv games for years, has worked with Vancouver Theatresports and performed all across this country with veterans and newbies alike.

Every new pursuit I see him working on seems to fall under a mandate of making the local improv scene stronger and farther reaching. Cook is encouraging the next generation of performers with the lessons he has picked up during his tenure in comedy.

As mentioned above, the Instant Shop is his newest pursuit, a store that will also serve as a workshop space and classroom. Anyone who’s ever tried to find a space like this in Vancouver knows how rare and valuable this space will be.

Maybe if all the teachers in the stand up world showed their absolute dedication to the craft that Alistair does, the debate would end for good.

If you want to know more, you can got to http://instanttheatre.com/

Alistair was kind enough to answer some questions for Vancouver Is Awesome.

When was the last time you laughed until you cried?

The trailer for Steel Viper Force I think. I was having a really tiring day and seeing the Action Genre brought to the level of “100% Utah” made me laugh a lot. The last line in the trailer put me over the edge. I’m very much looking forward to seeing a full-length version of the Kyles McKay opus.

What is one myth about live comedy you’d like to dispel?

I think it’s time for Improvisers to stop acting like improv is a form of Magic. We do “make things up on the spot” but most groups have trained for years to be able to deal with anything. I know it’s the confidence in dealing with the suggestion that the audience loves and that the “preshow magician speak” is there to amplify that reaction… but it just rings false now after decades of hearing it.

Improvisers are like martial artists, we practice how to craft scenes and advance material combating how we’ve been socialized to do the opposite. We then use these skills and act on them in the moment. Its super easy, we aren’t speaking in tongues.

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Many comics start out in the business when they are in their late teens or early twenties. This leads to a lot of material about the type of things that concern that age group. Riffs about being broke, dating and “my parents are so crazy” jokes are healthy in number.

It is this reason that someone like Melanie Rose is so refreshing. Entering the comedy game later in life gives you some real experiences to dig into. Melanie has battled bi-polar disorder, gone through the experience of raising three children on her own and survived a marriage with a person who thought the best way to make a living was to steal someone else’s… he was an unsuccessful bank robber.

Melanie started out in a class put on by a therapist named David Granier in 2008. The course is called “Stand Up for Mental Health” and is aimed at turning problems into comedy while boosting self-esteem in the performers.

Since graduation, Melanie can be seen on just about every stage in town, making material out of her life, her pain and herself.

Rose is a memorable stage presence. She is taller than most of her contemporaries (a favorite bit is about someone saying she’s a giant and her saying “what?” before miming picking the person up and holding him close to her ear in order to hear him better) and is often clad in tie dyed shirts. Her soft delivery stands in contrast to the loudness of her attire.

For me, it is not only her presence that is memorable; it is the fact that with each set she does, she continues down an unsure road of reinvention and bravery. She is a living, breathing testament to the power of comedy and reminder not to take it for granted.

If you’d like to know more, you can go to: http://www.melanierose.ca/

Melanie was kind enough to answers some questions for Vancouver Is Awesome.

When was the last time you laughed until you cried?

It has happened over the years with friends.  It’s great when you can laugh so hard your tummy hurts.  I recall a time when I saw a man in a bar wearing a visor with hair attached to it.  From far away it looked like he had a full head of spiked blond hair.  He was dancing and the visor came off and he was bald. I couldn’t stop laughing.

What is one myth about live comedy you’d like to dispel?

There is nothing “funny” about comedy….it’s very serious business.

When I was in my 20’s I would go to Lafflines in New West.  Back then all the comics would sit at a table in the back.  You would have to pass the table to get to the washrooms…(that’s funny in itself).  I would pass them and think to myself…omg! These guys must haves such great lives…they are so cool. I remember the first time I ever did Lafflines, and I was told to go sit at that table.  I knew all the comedians there and it was then that I realized then that I hadn’t “arrived”.  People are just people, the gift that separates us (comedians) from them I believe is the ability to get up in front of people and be funny.

Also comedians can’t be funny on command.  Tell me a joke isn’t as easy as it sounds.

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There was a time, not too long ago that in order to be in show business, you had to have a range of talents.

Somebody like the great WC Fields had to be a juggler in addition to being a comedian and all of the Marx Brothers all sang and danced in addition to playing instruments; Chico played the piano, Groucho the guitar and Harpo, well…the harp.

When I meet one of these people in present day, I admit that I feel a tinge of envy. Somebody who is funny, in addition to possessing other artistic skills are people that I have trouble figuring out. How can some people be good at many things, especially in an age where to do so isn’t requisite anymore?

One such specimen is Vancouver’s Emmett Hall. If you’ve been out to see live comedy, you may have seen him reading one of his hilarious monologues (either a Christmas story that uses olde timey nonsensical slang, or his news reports that sound like news readings, but are grammatically disastrous), playing with his medieval rock duo “Knights of the Night”, or being the musical back up for the Sunday Service Improv show. If you’re more of the stay at home type, you may have watched one of the many cartoons he has animated, heard his contribution to the Sunday Service podcast or read his online comic Starbun.

Emmett tends towards being humble about this, making him all the more rare.

In the time I’ve known Emmett he has traveled around the world in pursuit of studying furthering his animation talents, and I’ve always been grateful that he’s returned to Vancouver. Without him here, I might feel that my act of only being able to tell jokes might be enough but that would be at the cost of the comedy scene being far less dynamic.

If you would like to know more you can go to:    http://www.thesundayservice.ca/podcasts

and

http://emmetthall.blogspot.com/

Emmett was kind enough to answer some questions for Vancouver Is Awesome.

When was the last time you laughed until you cried?

I can’t remember a specifically recent moment, but it’s a sure bet that it was one of the many elaborate and stupid scenarios my friend John Young and I concoct while on break at work. It usually stems from some self deprecating conversation. And nobody else thinks it’s funny.

What is one myth about live comedy you’d like to dispel?

That the audience should have an expectation to just relax and be entertained. I think their brains should be poked a wee bit. Give them something that requires a little concentration. When I’m in an audience, I really enjoy the benefit when I get in on the comic’s game or the context of their stage personality. You’ll feel the reward of helping establish the little universe created in that moment between the comic and the crowd. It does requires paying attention and being open minded though. And that can be obnoxious.

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“He made a goat noise…”

As a comedian, I have gotten used to people forgetting the names of performers and resorting to a rudimentary impression or vague retelling of jokes to explain who they enjoyed seeing. “He was like an angry ranty guy.” “Kind of a stoner guy with a beard” “ That sarcastic girl that had a nice smile”. It is almost always the most fun to hear people try to take on the task of explaining that they enjoyed watching Simon King.

It usually goes something like: “He talked really fast and he made a goat noise…”

I remember the first time that I met Simon King, it was backstage at the old Yuk Yuks comedy club that used to be in the Plaza of Nations. He had just left a day job and was going to put his full energies into stand up comedy. As I soon found out, Simon’s full energy would be the comedy equivalent of a cartoon barrel of dynamite.

If you’ve never seen Simon on stage, he is fast, loud, surreal and urgent. He jumps from impressions to animal noises to outrage in the time it would take most to start building up steam. King is also visually unmistakable in that he has a hairdo reminiscent of the Big Boy burger mascot.

Simon hits the stage a lot here in Vancouver. I don’t exactly know how many times a month but I know it’s more than a calendar has days. Simon’s hard work here in town led to an appearance at the prestigious Aspen Comedy Festival a few years ago. His act brought him to the attention of management in L.A. and consequently Simon started splitting his time between here and there. All this exposure lead to him releasing his debut album, Unfamous, last year.

For now, Vancouver is lucky to have Simon at least some of time, and should he ever leave, I will gladly entertain any questions like “who was that force of nature-y guy with the big boy hair and the goat noise?”

If you want to know more you can go to: http://www.thisissimonking.com/

Simon was kind enough to answer some questions for Vancouver Is Awesome.

When was the last time you laughed until you cried?

I was having lunch recently with some friends and one of them mentioned a particular interview with Tracy Morgan of 30 Rock fame. Apparently when asked what he was up to Tracy replied (now make sure you say this in Tracy Morgan fashion for maximum effectiveness) “You know me, just doing Karate and impregnating white women.”

I almost passed out from the bliss of it.

What is one myth about live comedy you’d like to dispel?

That it’s generic. There seems to be this sort of pervasive attitude amongst entertainment seekers that live comedy is all kind of the same. That’s why they usually just advertise it as “comedy” when in fact the spectrum is highly varied. There are so many different unique kinds of comedy. In just the stand up vein alone there are a litany of different styles and forms that to label all of it with a sort of bulk “comedy” tag seems at best unfair and at worst ridiculous. It’s kind of like going to see a band. Very rarely do people just go and see “music” because you don’t know what you’ll end up with. You could spend ages getting your Mohawk all sprayed and dyed to perfection and when you get to the venue, much to your chagrin you’re surrounded by cowboy hats and jean shirts. People should know what they are looking for and then go and find it.

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There are comics who are completely confessional and to see them is akin to sitting in a therapy session with them. Comics in this vein include performers like Marc Maron, Bill Hicks, and Janeane Garafalo. There are other comics who reveal nothing about themselves in their act. Their jokes make us want to know what type of mind could think of them, but you never really get a glimpse beyond that. Steve Wright, Mitch Hedberg and Zach Galifianakis are masters of this form. Then there are some performers that fall somewhere in between. The jokes may not be completely about themselves, but each joke reveals a little secret about them. Dave Attell is a good example of this, as is Vancouver’s Katie Ellen Humphries.

When she takes the stage, her jokes reveal a point of view, but only snippets about the person spouting it.

Katie has an unmistakable sarcastic tone, where everything she’s talking about seems deserving of scorn. The tone seems to run counter to the fact that she is always smiling and genuinely enjoys what she does.

One thing she certainly enjoys that is in keeping with her stage persona, is she has an entire comedy life outside of Vancouver. She is a performer with a Victoria based group called Atomic Vaudeville.

Every month, they put on a brand new show and though I’ve never seen it, Katie’s enthusiasm for it would intrigue anybody.

I suppose being a part of this group has informed the way that Katie acts around the comedy scene here in town. She helps out at all manners of shows, just to help, just to make the shows better. Certainly her contribution as performer is more than enough, and yet she contributes more.

Maybe in her own way it is a case of actions speaking louder than jokes when it comes to knowing Katie- Ellen.

If you would like to know more you can go to: http://www.atomicvaudeville.com/

Katie-Ellen was kind enough to answer some questions for Vancouver Is Awesome.

When was the last time you laughed until you cried?
Recently, a gentleman friend was telling me about the neighbourhood he grew up in. He led with “We used to see Dave Mathews at the Jamba Juice…” and I lost it ‘til salty tears of obnoxious laughter ran down my face. Something about local teens lining up to see the jam band front man drink wheat grass is funny to me, and specifically the line “Dave Matthews at the Jamba juice” continues to make me giggle. I laugh to the point of tears every time I’m with my brother, which I think is just the release of another human seeing the world from the same skewed vantage point that you do. I’m also often over-tired, so hysteria is not super uncommon for me.

What is one myth about live comedy you’d like to dispel?
I would like to dispel the myth amongst some fellow amateur comedians that not having a day job is a romantic dedication to the craft. Sometimes it just means you’re unemployable. And you owe me for the beers. Jerks!

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There are many things that make a good storyteller. Knowing when to exaggerate, knowing what details are merely details and what details deftly color the narrative you are creating. There is an alchemy in figuring out what an ending can be and how to arrive there. Some would argue that it is not the story itself, but the telling of it that matters most. Personally, having lived a life where interesting things happen seems to give any storyteller an edge.

Gary Jones’ latest incarnation is as a storyteller. Leading up to this point he has been a long time improviser with TheatreSports, a television writer, an awards show host, a husband, a father, a foreign exchange student host, and a long running character named Walter Harriman on the popular sci-fi series Stargate: SG1.

Telling stories is not the easiest thing in the world for someone who has made getting laughs such a big part of his career. When relaying a story, there can be laughs, but not at the same clip that they would come in an improv show. There are silences, and it takes some restraint just to let them be.

Gary has been delighting audiences while refining his style at the monthly show called The Flame. It is a storyteller showcase inspired by the show The Moth that happens on the first Wednesday of every month at the Cottage Bistro (4470 Main Street). Gary is also the story consultant for the show.

Gary’s loose, riffing style can cover anything from celebrity encounters to interactions with his son to his many world travels.

He has decided to make a night of his own tales called “The Hopeful Man Tour” which will be playing for two nights at Presentation House in North Vancouver.

It will be a good chance to see whether the story makes the teller or vice versa.

If you want to know more, you can go to: http://www.gifttool.com/shop/ShopProductDetails?ID=1297&VER=1&LNG=EN&PID=54075&DID=750

Gary was kind enough to answer some questions for Vancouver Is Awesome.

When was the last time you laughed until you cried?

We were in Cancun at a Club Med and I was wave-jumping at the beach with my kids.  My mom, who’s partially deaf and 74, strolled down the beach and stood at the edge of the waves.  We all called for her to come in and wave jump with us since my mom’s a pretty good sport.  She declined and instead, sat on the beach in a kind of WW II pin-up pose with one arm behind her head.  Then she got smashed into the sand by a rogue wave and all bets were off.  She tried getting up but kept getting hit and rolled around in the surf.  It was really hard to help her while I was laughing so hard.  Finally I got up on the beach and grabbed her hands and tried pulling her up but she kept getting hit by more waves and then her hearing aid fell out and the wire was dangling and it looked like I was hauling this short, grey-haired robot out of the water.  Laughed till I cried.

What is one myth about live comedy you’d like to dispel?

That it’s just a form of TV that people can watch but also talk through.

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