I have always admired Heidi's live freely attitude. She and I met years ago when we worked that Goodnight's Comedy Club in Raleigh and I swore we would have become best friends if she hadn't picked up and moved to Colorado so soon! This girl is a traveler, and has now made her way to New York City to pursue her dream of becoming a comedian.

Any time that she makes her way back home to good ol' North Carolina--I always try to find a way to see her. This time, we actually made it happened and oh my goodness we made some magic happen that day. It was great to see Heidi again, hear about her amazing stories of New York, and to just give her so much loving for actually going out and doing what she was called to do.

We started off the day in a parking lot on downtown Durham. Yes, a parking lot. And I am not even ashamed to say that because magic can literally happen anywhere. We then headed around to a few sweet spots in Durham like Pour, The Durham Hotel, and even made her try one of the new Spin bikes Durham just placed on every street in the city. I am glad she was a good sport about it. Can't wait to see how far she goes in this career!

I am sort of biased when it comes to comedians. For years I worked at a local comedy club supporting my way through college. I met alot of great comedians, and alot of uhh...assholes. Yeah, I think that is the right way to describe a few. But with any career, there are a few bad apples. Eric was [is] definitely part of the good group. Have you ever just met someone and just wanted them to succeed? Like you were just so happy with how they used their career and voice to lift others up? I felt really honored to meet Eric. His story and motto are probably one of my favorites I have ever come in contact with. I highly recommend going to see one of his shows. If not, a quick youtube search will suffice. Find his interview and headshots below. I think my favorite one has to be the image of Eric and his suitcase full of letters and notes from way back when he would write everything down for his sets. He still does this, but it was pretty cool he found a whole stash from when he was first starting out. Killer.

What inspires you the most?
I'm inspired by freedom. I have a real issue with having to do things or being told what to do. I spent my entire life doing things I didn't want to do or things I was obligated to do. Finally when the point came when I didn't have to take care of other people, I had a moment that I realized that I had never really done anything to be proud of ... creatively. I mean, I raised my kids and that was as rewarding an experience as you could have, but I never created art in any way, and so I wanted to. There's a list of regrets I read a lot. It's called the 5 Regrets of the dying. It's a lost compiled by hospice nurses who spent the last years,months,weeks and days with dying people, and they'd ask them about their lives and what they did right and wrong and what they would change. I recommend it to everyone. Reading that inspires me.

Why should the community come out and support local comedians?
I think people should support anyone taking a chance and chasing a pipe dream. You have to be a little crazy to think that you can make it doing something that puts yourself out there like that and makes you that vulnerable. Any artist that you appreciate was a local artist people ignored. I like the idea of seeing someone build it in front of me... buying the stock early. The other thing is, love comedy, local comedy is amazing. You either get to watch someone live their dreams... or .... you get to watch someone's dreams leave their body... either way that's a deal for whatever you paid.

What is the worst joke you ever told?
Hmm.. That's entirely subjective. I have jokes that people would find distasteful, but I stand by them a hundred percent. Then I've had jokes that were just poorly written or executed... I'm more embarrassed by those. I talk a lot about my personal life and about the abuse I suffered as a child... a lot of people couldn't handle that when I first started doing them, eventually I found ways to make them work and to have people laugh at them for different reasons. I think it's all about context. Now people love those jokes about the abuse, because I figured out that I'm not trying to make my experience relatable, I'm trying to make the feelings I have about the experience relatable , and that's just a lot more impactful. Also, the worst jokes were my laziest jokes... I, as I've gotten older have realized that one of the ways I can mark my growth as a comic and a human is by what words I can eliminate. I used to say words because they were just words, but now I know how impactful some of those can be to certain groups of people, and so I'm more mindful... a lot of my bad jokes were lazy because they used those words and didn't really reflect how I honestly felt.

Why did you choose to be a comedian?
It's better than lifting stuff. Seriously... it's a million times better. But also.. I think I explained that a bit in one of the other questions... which now if you don't use that question and only use this one it'll be confusing for your readers.. but I got some health news that wasn't great... I also got my kids to a point where they were old enough where I could maybe take off , and I just had to... I always loved comedy and I didn't wanna die without trying it once .. and then it stuck.

What is the hardest part about being a comedian?
Promoting myself or having a level of confidence that doesn't come naturally. I feel like a fraud almost every night and I think that I've been tricking people for years and tonight is the night that I'll expose the lie and that I'm not actually funny.

What has been the best part of being a comedian?
Not lifting stuff... seriously .. I'm just lazy .. Also.. the people I've met and made connections with.. and the sound of laughter.. the moment you're in the middle of a set and realize that everyone in the room is having an amazing time and you're all on the same page... it doesn't happen often, but that level of synchronicity is magical.

Any advice for beginning comedians?
Don't quit. Your job is to start.. and then don't quit. For at least a year.. that's about when you start learning and blah blah blah... just show up... any time you aren't on stage is time you're giving away and you can't get that back. Also be original .. be you.. you'll figure it out. But until then... Just don't quit...

Favorite show you've ever done?
I've had a few .. all for different reasons. I've had shows I've done for 6 people w my best friends and we were just loose... I've done shows in 1200 seat theaters that were perfect... I've had shows opening for legends who I admired growing up... couldn't wrap it up by saying one show. I honestly have had some of the most amazing times of my life doing comedy and I've learned a lot... and I learn more from the bad ones, because they hurt and I'm a masochist I guess. The best shows are the ones that are fun... I guess you could add this to the advice thing , but honestly it's a year two or three advice thing ... but I tell myself and other people , the goal for me is to win the "Having fun contest" every night. I want to be the person who has the most fun out of everyone in the building. When you're on stage the crowd will replicate your emotions ... so if I'm having fun, I'm loose, and confident and enjoying it... and if the crowd does those then.... there we are.... in love with each other.

What can we expect in the future?
Probably a massive water shortage ... and marauders.

Recently, I had the chance to photograph North Carolina's Funniest Person. That person is Mark Brady. Every year North Carolina comes together at Goodnights Comedy Club, located in downtown Raleigh, and after a series of comedy skits from local comedians the audience votes for who they think is the funniest. Pretty genius if you ask me. 

This is my second year photographing the winners. You may remember Joe Perrow's headshots from last years winner, if so--I did those headshots, too ;)

If you are ever in town, I highly suggest you buy tickets to one of Goodnight's shows--its an amazing venue with great food and company. I promise you won't leave unhappy. Below you'll find my interview with the winner, himself. 

 

What inspires you the most- my family, wife and friends inspire me everyday. It's the hardest thing I have ever done but I have a strong foundation of people who inspire me. 

Why should the community come out and support local comedians-- they should support local comedy because there is a lot of talent right in their backyard. Most people think only good comedy is in LA or NY. But we have a crazy amount of talent who are well on their way to being someone big one day and people can say I remember seeing him at my local club. They got to start somewhere. 

What is the worst joke you ever told-- The worst joke I ever told was my first joke, it was about how I didn't want to be a dad but I wanted to be a grandpa so I wanted to adopt a guy who already had kids.....it was weird.
 

Why did you choose to be a comedian- I always loved stand up comedy, I had 2 older brothers that were really into.  I was in college and decided to give it a try after watching years and years of it and just being a fan.  Drove 45 minutes to do a mic, so if I bombed, no one I knew would be there.  Went up, did good, club owner invited me back, went back did same material, went even better.....(I'm thinking to myself, I can do this....this is easy) do it a third time, and complete silence, that's when I said, "this isnt easy I will never do that again, THAT IS THE WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD!! Over the years our family would get together and it was always hilarious and everyone making jokes. They tried to persuade me go back to doing stand up and I told them, no, you don't understand, its not for me. My brothers more than anyone, would tell me to....fast forward 7 years later, my brother Eric passed away...my world is upside down, I'm numb to everything.  I remember I just wanted to be happy so I would watch stand up just for me to try be happy for a minute or laugh...Eric always encouraged me to do stand up, 2 months later I did my first mic to try and give this thing a real chance, to honor him, and have been doing it the past 2 years....also losing my brother...THAT was the worst feeling in the world.  Bombing in front of strangers that don't think you're funny, in the grand scheme of things, doesn't matter,

What is the hardest part about being a comedian- I think the hardest part of being a comedian is the process.  A lot of people think we go up there and talk about whatever is on our minds.  The process is brutal, first off writing jokes is not easy so you have to set aside time for that, then you go to a club or bar, whoever will let you get on stage, get there an hour before the mic starts.  Wait anywhere from 15-45 minutes before you can go up, do your 3-5 minutes and drive 20 minutes or so back to your house....do that at least 3-4 times a week while you have a full time job, wife, kids....its brutal.  Now imagine doing that for a month strait and you don't get a single minute of material out of all the times you went up and tried different stuff......welcome to stand up comedy.

What has been the best part of being a comedian - The best part of being a comedian for me is making people laugh.  I think about the person in the crowd who maybe work wasn't great that week, maybe they are hitting a rough patch in life,  maybe they recently lost a loved one.  So when they come out and see a show, I want to be able to take their mind of whatever is happening, give them a few chuckles and try to lift their spirits.  At the same time, if my jokes are able to connect with them on whatever is happening in their life at the moment or some struggle they have experienced and laugh about it, that's a bonus. 

Any advice for beginning comedians? - Get comfortable with bombing a lot....your going to bomb forever, even 10+ years new jokes will bomb and some that "work" will bomb. 

Favorite show you've ever done - My favorite show I have ever done, was hosting at Goodnight's Comedy Club for Dom Irrera.  Dom is a family friend, my dad and I went to college, and that was a goal when I started. I said to myself I want to be able to host a show when he comes in town.  It was really cool and surreal to be able to do that.

What can we expect in the future - hopefully new material.  I am so new at this that my  progression is very erratic. You might come up with 2 jokes in 3 months that are really good or you might not come up with anything for 4 months.  All I can do is keep chipping away at it.