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I got a chance to talk to Roy Wood Jr. when he came to the Baltimore Comedy Factory. Wood is known for his hilarious prank phone calls which circulate throughout the Internet.What inspired you to get into comedy? How get started?
I was 19 when I started [comedy], I’m 30 now. I started my junior year in college. It was something that I always had an interest in, and whenever there was the right situation, I would try it.
What advice do you have for comics that bomb?
Sometimes, it’s not you. The audience changes every night, and you remain the same. You have to make the audience adjust to you. And sometimes, there are situations that are just not conducive to laughter. These include late shows, alcohol, clubs that usually don’t do comedy, but attempt a comedy night.
I think it’s amazing that comics have the courage to continue after bombing. What keeps you going?
I look at it this way, if it’s a city I’m not from, why do I care? I don’t live there. I’m leaving tomorrow. And when you come back a couple months from then, and succeed, if anything, that’s more rewarding.
The first time I ever heard of you, I received one of your prank calls through an email at work. How has the Internet helped with your career?
The Internet has been groundbreaking in comedy, it’s great for networking. It can basically prove whether you’re ready to move to the next level. Like, if you watch Cartoon Network, everything on Adult Swim basically started out as a viral video.
So, for me, the beauty of the web is that it’s voluntary. These people don’t have to watch your shit, they choose to. If you get a big enough audience that chooses to watch you, chooses to forward your emails, then that creates a good buzz, which eventually gets people to come see you in a comedy club. If you get a big enough buzz, you can get a big crowd. If you get a big enough crowd, you can get your own TV show.
What advice do you want to give to aspiring comedians?
My advice to anyone that wants to go into comedy is expect years of being unpaid; years of not getting what you’re worth, or feeling like what you’re worth. Just years of feeling like you should be doing something else. But, if it’s in your heart, stick with it.
Exactly what is going on in the next couple months in the comedy scene? I’ll try to be a source for local comedy events, but, as always, if you something to add, please comment or email me. So far:
March 30 : There will be Stoop Storytelling at Centerstage. This performance features seven people who are given seven minutes to tell their stories and entertain. The theme is “You want fries with that?: Stories about jobs, careers and working for ‘the Man.’”
Centerstage is located at 700 N. Calvert Street. The show starts at 8 pm.
April 3: Lily Tomlin, an Oscar nominee and Tony and Grammy award winner, will be performing stand-up at the Lyric Opera House.
The Lyric Opera House is located at 140 W. Mount Royal Ave. The show starts at 8pm.
April 10-11: Mike Von, a Chicago-based, Baltimore born comedy doing stand-up back home at the Baltimore Comedy Factory.
The Baltimore Comedy Fatcory is located at 36 Light Street. April 10 shows: 8 pm, 10 pm and 12 pm. April 11 shows: 7 pm, 9 pm and 11 pm.
April 12: Comedian Alabama, manager of the Baltimore Comedy Factory, will be performing stand-up Easter Sunday at the club.
The address of the club is listed above. The show starts at 7 pm.
April 18 : Dave Attell, known for his show Insomniac, will be performing at Rams Head Live in the Power Plant downtown. -
Rams Head Live is located at 20 Market Place. The show starts at 8 pm.
Comedian Alabama not only does stand-up, he also manages the Baltimore Comedy Factory downtown. After a quick chat with him, here's what he had to say:
What is your real name? Are you originally from Alabama, and if so, what brought you to Baltimore?
Well my birth name is Deshawn Frazier, and I’m orginially from Talladega, Alabama, home of the world’s fastest NASCAR track in the world (my small city’s claim to fame). I moved to Baltimore in June 2001; my then wife was from B’more and I followed her up here.
When did you decide that you wanted to pursue comedy as a career?
I’ve been in this business for seven years and this is my world. I pursued stand-up prior to arriving here in Maryland. I went to open mics and began developing different routines. I also met veteran comedians who helped me out with advice and I took it all in. I developed my own comedy style.
What comedians inspire you? How did you develop your style?
I grew up watching Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Sinbad and many more. I studied comedian greats like Milton Berle and Redd Foxx, and I admired the way they’d get the crowd laughing and they never stopped laughing.
How has the Internet helped with your career or the club? Do you have any upcoming projects, events or shows you want me to mention?
The Internet is good for finding clubs and helping me to promote outside of the box. I have an Easter show, April 12th at 7 pm. I’ll be doing stand-up at the Baltimore Comedy Factory that day.
