There’s something about a mountain town that seems to attract awesome people with interesting stories. If you stop a random person in a ski resort town and ask them for their stories, chances are you are going to hear some pretty wild tales.
Jesse Carroll is no exception. You might have seen him around town running the show at Maxx Fish, where he is club manager—or perhaps you have seen him saying funny things on a stage.
Jesse is a stand-up comedian, which I think we can all agree is a cool job. Aside from the occasional show that rolls into town, we don’t get enough great comedy shows here in Whistler. Jesse and the Maxx Fish crew host a comedy night at the club every month or two, and it’s a wicked good time.
Read on for some details on the upcoming show on May 29th—but first, I felt the pressing need to ask Jesse some questions on what it’s like to be a real live stand-up comedian.
Photo Credit: David Bruce
How long have you been doing stand-up?
I've been performing stand-up for about 6 years now, off and on.
How did you get started?
I always wanted to try it pretty much my whole life but had no idea how to start.
About six years ago, I found myself bartending in a lounge above Yuk Yuks comedy club in Vancouver (now known as The Comedy Mix) and Laughlan Patterson (an amazing Canadian comedian killing it in the States right now) was sitting at my bar and we were shooting the shit. I kept asking him about how he got started, and he told me the only advice he could give was to just do it and sign up for amateur night.
I called Yuk Yuks and left a message that I would be showing up to perform in two weeks on amateur night. What I didn't know at the time is that you don't call and leave a message and sign up, you're supposed to email them and beg for months until they finally give you a five minute spot. So two weeks later I show up with a bunch of people expecting to be on the show and they looked at me like I was on crack. The host at the time, Pete Johanson (another great Canadian comic who's rocking the UK now), informed me about the proper way to go about getting stage time. But because I'd brought some friends, he let me on.
Before the show starts, they play "Black Betty" and they crank it! When you hear that song go on for the first time and they call the MC out, you feel like you might actually shit your pants.
I finally, after shaking for 20 minutes, hear my name called and I open the curtains and walk out. The lights were blinding and I couldn't see shit. I could barely see Pete reach out to shake my hand, I think I actually grabbed his forearm and shook it... actually yeah, that is what happened, ‘cause I remember getting a big laugh for it.
I walk up to the mic and I try to pull it out of the stand... no dice, I can't get the mic out of the stand so I just pick the whole thing up and walk around with it. I did the whole five minute set like that.
When I spoke into the mic for the first time it was weird, I mean not like in a "what the fuck is going on kinda way" but it was weird because I felt totally comfortable, I could hear my voice bellowing over the crowd and it excited and relaxed me at the same time. Every laugh I got gave me a rush of adrenaline like I've never felt... I remember thinking "What the hell took me so long to try this... this is fucking awesome!"
By the end of my set I had a grin on my face ear to ear and the comics back stage were really nice to me and shook my hand and said "Good Set" and Pete actually said something nice. He said, "For a first time that was fucking awesome". It still puts a smile on my face to this day.
Who knew it would be abruptly followed by 6 years of pain, rejection, frustration and sorrow... well, a ton of happiness too, but comedy is a really incredibly difficult gig and it can take a lot out of you mentally and physically if you don't know how to take care of yourself.
Was your first gig the most terrifying thing of all time?
No, the most terrifying thing is when you're getting paid and you're doing a 25 minute set and you're ten minutes in and they hate you... nothing worse.
Does it get easier over time?
Oh hell yeah. As soon as you get beat up enough that you stop giving a shit whether or not you do well, that's when you really start getting some laughs, ‘cause you'll say whatever the fuck is on your mind ‘cause you don't give a shit if they think it’s funny or not and the audience gets that.
When the audience knows you're desperate for a laugh it creates awkwardness but when they know you don't give a shit either way they can relax because they don't feel pressured.
What’s different about doing stand up in Whistler than in the city?
People in Whistler are more accepting and ready to laugh, they don't get offended like city people do and you can really hit ‘em with some shit that walks a fine line and they'll follow you the whole way. Whistler is my favorite place I've performed so far and I hope to bring some big names through here in the future.
The stand-up scene in Whistler—where do you see it going?
The scene can go as far as the locals of Whistler will help it go. If people come out to see all the shows, then more shows will happen.
What I'd really like to see is people interested in performing. If I could find five people interested in learning, then I could do a weekly open mic comedy show and then I could really get to work in creating a scene here. But I need potential comics first.
Tell me about the worst set you’ve ever given or witnessed.
The worst set I've had actually almost ended a friendship. It was Paul Mayrehaug's (another amazing Canadian comic) going away party at Comedy on the Corner, a successful indie comedy room I ran with Jared Borland in Vancouver, and I was WASTED!
Everyone was roasting Paul and I had to follow Sunee Dhaliwal (yet another amazing Canadian comic, surprise surprise) and Sunee killed, just annihilated the crowd and I could barely speak I was so drunk.
I got this funny idea that since everyone was roasting Paul, I thought it'd be fun to roast his girlfriend... yeah don't do that. I take the stage and opened with "I'm gonna do something a bit different. Welcome to the Roast of Paul Mayrehaug's girlfriend. Now I'm not saying he's too good for her... that's what everybody else says...." and CRICKETS.
Paul and his girl gave me a death stare that would make Darth Vader pee his pants. It felt like they were telepathically trying to make my head explode, but it didn't slow me I continued with shitty jokes that were rude to his girl but I honestly wasn't trying to be an asshole I was trying to be funny and I just wasn't thinking straight.
Lesson #1: don't get wasted and go on stage, and Lesson #2 Don't rip on a comics girlfriend.
What are the best and worst parts about doing stand up?
Best part is being on stage and everything works, just flows and you're in the moment. Worst is the obvious, when you hit quick sand.. When you are bombing just getting no laughs and no matter what you do you just keep sinking... uhhhh... makes my stomach curdle just thinking about it.
Any theories on why people heckle? Is it ever NOT annoying?
I like getting heckled as long as it's not someone that's fucking wasted or insane because it gives me an opportunity to really talk some shit. The crowd loves watching a heckler get destroyed by a comic.
But when the heckler doesn't know when to shut up and isn't making sense, it really fucks the show up and you have to wait for a doorman to kick them out. It can take a bit to get the crowd back after that.
What’s the difference between a funny person and someone who can successfully be a stand-up comedian? I feel like people are told all the time, “You’re so funny—you should do stand up,” but I know there is way more to it than just “being funny”.
Work ethic and balls. You have to write and observe all the time and filter out the gold from the crap and be willing to get up every night and suck... you just keep sucking until you don't suck anymore... Simple right? Hahah, yeah right.
Jesse will be performing Wednesday night (May 29) at Maxx Fish alongside Dave Merheje, Kevin Soldo and Ron Vaudry. Doors are at 8 PM, the show starts at 9:30 PM and tickets are $5 presale (buy at Maxx Fish or Hempire) or $10 at the door. Details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/649727225042811/. It’s a really good time.
