Before the collapse of, oh I don’t know, the entire damn planet, I invited Al, a Buffalo comedian, over for some photo time in my studio. I had just moved into a bigger apartment, and I wanted to christen the big girl pad with some crude (but really harmless) humor. The following photos are from that shoot, which I thought paired nicely with the interview questions I sent Al the summer prior. I dug into my Gmail vault and found the nasty lil bits hiding there. Don’t worry, the answers are not shocking. I just wanted an excuse to type “nasty lil bits” in a blog post. Chuckle, snort. 😛 Must be the corona talking.
How long have you been performing comedy?
I have been doing stand up comedy for six years.
Where do you ordinarily perform?
Tudor Lounge, Helium, Milkies, Mr Goodbar, and more.
What do you think the Buffalo comedy scene is lacking? Why?
I would have said there weren’t enough women doing comedy in Buffalo, but lately a lot of new talent has come to the scene. They’re funny as hell!
What do you think is working?
The comics. There’s a show or open mic every single night of the week, and the comics are hilarious!
How does it compare to other comedy scenes in the area, such as Rochester (just an example)?
Buffalonians and Buffalo comics tend to have a darker, edgier sense of humor. However, we love to travel to surrounding cities, and appreciate when other comics make the drive to ours. It doesn’t matter what your style of comedy is, if you’re funny, you’re funny!
We talked a little bit about your military experiences and how that influences your jokes. What is the public perception of comedians and mental illness? Do you feel like you fall into that perception?
I’m honestly not sure what the public thinks. However, I have found that people are surprised about how open and candid I am about my own mental illness. I have always wanted to figure out what’s wrong with me while simultaneously trying to explain it to people who are asking the same question. Recently I have discovered that talking about it has helped other people who have felt the same way, even if they have never expressed it openly. Empathy is essential in stand up comedy. It’s one person onstage, making strangers laugh about something we can all relate to, even if it’s something we struggle with.
What is one misconception about Buffalo comedy you hope to dispel through this post? What about comedians in general?
The misconception is that it’s a small community. This isn’t a big city, it’s a city with a big beating heart. Buffalonians are passionate and it shows in the art community. There is always something going on in the comedy scene. Even if it’s a bbq. Don’t be afraid to come to an open mic! We’ve all had our first times onstage and make sure it’s fun and welcoming for anyone who wants to try comedy!
Do you remember the first joke you ever told? If so, how did it go?
Oh boy. I’d rather not! haha. I don’t remember the first joke I told onstage, but I remember the first time I went onstage. It was July 3rd, 2013. The room was practically empty because everyone was at the Bison’s game nearby. I was shaking so much I couldn’t, and didn’t want to attempt taking the mic off of the stand. I remember my sister giving me a high five when I walked off stage and my wife being there for me. I’m glad they’ve seen my later material now!
Can you see yourself doing this professionally? Why or why not?
I would love to! My goals aren’t to “make it” in comedy, though. My goal is to be the best at comedy that I can be. If that means a friend puts me on a show, cool. If that means international fame and glory, sweet. But I want to learn, grow, and be my best. “Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise; seek what they sought.” -Matsuo Basho
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