Bo Vance on Comedy and Community

This week, we’re joined by Bo Vance, a veteran stand-up comedian with over 25 years of experience and a reputation for unfiltered, observational humor with an Appalachian twist.

From his accidental start in comedy at a North Carolina drag queen night, to finding his stride in black comedy clubs, and eventually headlining Pride shows and performing across the region, Bo shares candid tales from his journey on stage.

We talk about the evolution of his comedic style, memorable moments with audiences, the highs and lows of the local comedy scene, and why advertising and community support matter so much to comedians in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to Bo’s brand of honesty-meets-humor storytelling, get ready for an hour packed with laughs, behind-the-scenes insights, and a celebration of Tri State culture.

Moments

00:00 Introducing comedian Bo Vance

09:34 Meeting Jerry Seinfeld at Keith Albee

15:32 Discussing pronoun usage challenges

18:02 Parenting experiences in comedy

25:43 Making up funny stories

31:40 Concert night elevator encounter

33:12 Discovering Becky Robinson on TikTok

39:20 Comedian interacts with a passed-out audience member

46:13 Comedy show plans in West Virginia

50:58 Managing a big production team

57:19 Bombed joke recovery strategy

01:01:22 Comedian spotting himself on a billboard

01:06:38 Growing up with family music influences

01:14:20 Discussing language and inclusivity

Connect with Bo

Want more? Follow Bo Vance Comedy on all social media (except Pinterest!) and check out upcoming shows and other West Virginia comedy happenings at wvcomedy.com.

If you have a memory you would want me to talk more about, just send me an email at [email protected]. Or post a comment on the Tri-State Machine FB Group page.

Welcome to the Tri-State Time Machine.

I'm your host Vanessa Hankins. This is a podcast where my guests and I share our memories and present day stories of the Tri-State Area. That's West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio.

Nothing too serious, no political views, and no ulterior motives.

We're just here to share our fun stories about this great area.

Whether you're a past resident or a current Tri-State resident, I think you're going to have fun with us.

So join in, press play on your podcast player, and welcome to the Tri-State Time Machine! 

https://ts-time-machine.captivate.fm/episode/bo-vance-on-mixing-appalachian-roots-and-unfiltered-humor

Copyright 2026 Vanessa Hankins

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

This is the Tri State Time Machine. Each week, your host, Vanessa Hankins and her guests share memories and stories about the past, present and the future of the Tri State area. That's West Virginia, Kentucky and the Ohio areas. If you used to live here or you currently live here, you're going to catch yourself saying out loud. Wow, I remember that. Now here's Vanessa.

Hey, guys, it's Vanessa. And we're back with Tri State Time Machine. Today we, we have a local comedian that I kind of had to hunt down twice to get him to even reply to my messages. So I'm not gonna act like I'm butthurt over here, but I am a little bit. But we have. Today on the show we have Beau Vance, a veteran stand up comedian of over 25 years on stage, known for his unfiltered style, Appalachian perspective and storytelling that hits right where humor meets honesty. So please welcome everybody, Bo Vance.

What's going on here? How you doing, Vanessa? Like, I'm sorry, I didn't.

Okay. I just had to give you a hard time.

Busy bus.

Oh, you are. You're all over the place. You really are. You know, I told my girlfriend last, it was Friday, she was like, what are you doing this weekend? I said, well, actually I said on Sunday. I said, I'm recording a couple episodes. She's like, oh, who you have on? And I told her and she was like, oh, my gosh. She was like, we just saw him at Fat Patties. She was like, he was so funny.

She was like, why didn't you come? And I was like, I didn't know. I was like, you gotta invite me to things or I wouldn't know. But yeah, she said, she said the show was great. She really enjoyed it. But yeah, so excited to have you on. And I kind of want to just kind of jump into the way back of like, when did you first get into comedy? And what was that aha moment where you were like, yeah, I'm gonna do this.

So I got into comedy by accident. I was actually in a punk rock band that was doing a small east coast tour and we had a show booked in North Carolina somewhere near the beach. It was supposed to be on a Saturday night, but our drummer was our manager and we showed up on Friday. This is back before text messages, emails. So we got there a day early and it was at a gay bar.

Okay.

And we got there and they were like, we started unloading equipment and they said, guys, you're not here till tomorrow night. You can stay if you want. Tonight Is drag queen comedy. If you guys want to.

Perfect.

If you want to stay, we'll hang. We were underage. They were like, you want to drink? You can. So I got up and I did comedy right after a big black Wynonna Judd impersonator.

Fantastic.

Yeah. Tucking her wiener for and had a blast. And immediately I was like, I'm out of punk rock. I think comedy's the way I'm going.

So that's such a, like, random story.

Yeah.

Such a random way to figure out it's for you.

So for many years, I just did. There wasn't. I was in the North Carolina area a lot. There wasn't a lot of regular comedy clubs. Most of the comedy clubs were black comedy clubs. So being a fat, rednecky type guy, I fit right in at the black club.

Right.

So for about the first. About the first five years, I didn't perform in front of white people. So I got kind of thrown right into the mix.

I'm gonna say, like, honestly, though, like, that was probably like, the best teacher for you.

Absolutely.

They're way funnier than you are.

I love it. I love it so much. I. I love doing the black circuit. I've did many all black shows, and it is the most fun when you sound like me. For some reason, they just love me. It's a blast.

I love that. So there was no, like, growing up, like, I want to be a comedian when I get older or anything like that?

Not really. I was an only child, so I did entertain myself a lot. I was raised by single dad, which was. Tells you a little bit how my mom was, I guess. So he was. He was just kind of a strict guy. So, you know, I had to entertain myself. So I pretty much, like, I watched a lot of stand up comedy and stuff like that.

Yeah, I had a record player. I had Richard Pryor records and stuff.

Yeah.

So I grew up doing that. My dad had no sense of humor, so it was a big difference.

Not really a test audience for you.

Right. So it came out later.

So was there anyone, like, obviously that night you kind of decided, hey, this is for me after getting a taste of it. But was there ever, like a comedian that you saw in person? Well, I guess if you were that young, you were underage. Probably wasn't a lot of experience of seeing anybody live or anything.

No, no. I saw. I saw Seinfeld when I was fairly young in the comedy, and I was like, I'd never be like that. You know, he's like, way up there, though. Yeah. Yeah, that was like. Like when you jump in the first. The comedian you see is Jerry Seinfeld was like.

But I saw like Tim Conway and stuff, you know, like the more clean people. When I was a kid, actually, I saw Tim Conquey at Marshall University when I was in high school. So I didn't know much about stand up live, you know. Yeah, I just knew him from like door form golf. So it was really cool to see that kind of thing. But I watched a lot of specials and stuff. I really liked like Damon Wayans.

Yeah, he's funny.

Yeah, he was so underrated as a stand up. So I really like stuff, I think,

like, as a whole, like for his whole life. He's very under it. Yeah, like he. Yeah, I agree with that. So let's talk about your first paid gig. What. What did it feel like? But also like, did it kind of solidify for you? Like, okay, I can do this for a living or.

Yeah, my first paid gig. So I started out, you know, I did just. It was a bunch of open mics and stuff. I didn't know who I was as a comic. I tried to be controversial and everything. Like, um. So there wasn't much of paid gigs out there. You would totally lose money sometimes if you got like free chicken fingers or something.

Yeah, that was a win.

That was a big thing.

Yeah.

I didn't get really serious into trying to do it for a living until about five years ago.

Okay.

I think my first paid gig, when somebody walked up to me and gave me like a $20 bill, I was. I thought I'd made it.

Yeah, for sure.

Which I was successful in my other career at that point and stuff. And, you know, $20 wouldn. That's what you leave for a tip, a Red Lobster.

Right.

But to me, to get that 20 bucks.

No, I get it. I remember like the first time that someone left a review on the podcast. And I was, I was telling you before we started recording that my previous host, wg, he had brought me on and he was like, you have to say yada, yada, yada, you know, And I'm just like, yeah, right, dude. Like, you just don't want to do this alone. You know, whatever, Leave me alone. But the first review that we got from a listener that mentioned me, and I was like, oh, oh, new career. Maybe I should just quit everything. I was like, here I am.

So I get that 100%.

Yes. Yeah, it was now, you know, I get checks, you know, a lot of clubs will just cash app you and stuff. Like that man, nothing will ever be as special as that first $20 bill. That was for sure. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I absolutely get that. Let's talk a little bit about, you know, the comedy behind Beau. Your style is known as unfiltered observational. Hum. And every time, like, I was doing research on you, like, that just kept coming up and I'm like, does he just get on stage and say this? Like, this is his thing. So tell us what that means for you to be known as, like, the unfiltered observational humor.

Well, I don't. I think we know what unfiltered I am. I don't really do dark comedy or anything like that, but, you know, I have some controversial stuff. I'm fairly open to all lifestyles and stuff, but I like to joke on everybody.

Absolutely.

And it's very funny because right here, I mean, people meet me, they're like, look at this right wing redneck racist.

Right.

Like, he hates the gays and stuff. If you listen to my comedy, it's totally not like that. I make fun of everybody. In fact, it was kind of weird. Last year, I was the headliner for the Huntington Pride comedy shows.

I love that.

The last two years.

Yeah.

And someone came up to me after the show and said, they're like, hey, we just want you to know you're our favorite gay comedian. And I was like, well, that's an honor.

Yeah, thank you.

I like the ladies, you know, so I kind of go not to be a pun both ways on that, you know?

Yeah.

So that's kind of my. My deal. But I also. I do a lot of clean shows. I work family shows. This past week, I did a artisan farmer's market show with a bunch of old ladies.

It's very random.

Yeah, yeah, it was. That was a lot of fun. I did that. So I can cater to everything, you know, observational. I'm just. I kind of talk about things in my life. I'll take a little thing like the old lady takes a dump with the door open. I'm talking about it on stage.

She knows not to make any mistakes. She knows not to make any mistakes.

Sounds like my life with my husband. I can't. I can't drop the ball anytime.

Oh, no, no. It's. It's getting brought up. And she knows. She watches her P's and Q's now. But, you know, that's. That's kind of what, when I do with my comedy, I kind of talk about everything.

Yeah. I mean, honestly, I think that's the Best humor. You mentioned Jerry Seinfeld earlier. And in my new role, like we just had him at the Keith Albee and I just like had this big idea in my head of like what he must be like as a person, which I never got to meet him. So like I don't have any like for sure things. But he got in and was like, no one downstairs, no one's allowed near me, blah, blah, blah. And I was like, what a bummer. Like because you really, I want to like, you always want to know, like what's that? Like is it is the Persona on stage as same, you know, as like their day to day kind of the thing.

I've opened up some person I'm not going to name drop because they were jerks, but I've opened up for some bigger comedians who just pretty much aren't in this, don't want to be in the same room with you. Then I've opened up some that I thought were going to be total jerks and they were the nicest people and paid you double or whatever.

Right.

And just they had catered food and they were like, come get you some chicken, you know.

Right.

It just really depends. I think that there's a lot of misconceptions about some of the people that are really, really famous. They're, they're not gatekeepers. They want to help the younger comedians. Not that I'm younger, but you know, out the people that aren't up there yet and. And by you being a better comedian, it makes them a better comedian at the same time.

Absolutely, absolutely. And you, you were talking about like the guys that like, you know, kind of put a hand down to pull you up kind of thing. We were. Mulaney was my very first show at the, at the Keith and he paid his two openers. He ended up having two openers that we really weren't sure literally until like the couple days beforehand that he was bringing them. But like he paid them out of like his pocket, out of his pot of money himself. And he paid them extremely well. And I was like, okay, that says a lot about a guy because he could have easily just pocketed that and give them the little 100 bucks or whatever you know, they would normally get for open.

But you got my number for future shows.

Yeah. No. And you know, and I didn't know his humor at all. He's more like my son's age group kind of humor, you know, and with SNL and all that because I haven't watched SNL in years, but I had Watched a couple of his clips and I was like, oh. I was like, I don't think I'm gonna really like this guy. And I actually got to sit down and watch most of the show. And he was really funny. Like, at first I was a little worried of how he was gonna go over in Huntington, but, like, it was definitely his crowd.

It was his people. So they.

He's a really good joke writer and he has that delivery that's just.

Yes.

And it just makes. Like, it works for him.

Absolutely.

For my material, but for his stuff.

Right? Yeah. And then it was funny because I can't remember the little girl's name, but he had this little, like, Asian girl open up for him. She was one of the openers and she brought her dog, and we're like, as soon as they get in, we're like, okay, who's walking the dog for this girl? You know, like, oh, great, here we go. But she did a whole, whole monologue over, you know, how to basically make her make a man feel like a woman and, like, rip that, like, manly energy from him. And it did not go over well, especially here in Honey. Yeah. Yeah. And I was just like, oh.

I was like, that was not a good landing. That was not a good situation. But I. I've not seen a lot of comedy shows, so, like, just these two shows that I've done at the Keith have been my only experience with them outside of, you know, when we used to have the comedy club at Pullman. Like, I would go to those religiously, but that was mainly like Aaron Michael Fox and like the. The local. The local people, you know, they didn't really get a whole lot of. I know.

Andy Dick. We saw him, which. He got arrested that night, which we thought was hilarious. As college kids, we were like, oh, we partied with him last night, you know, at Silver City or whatever that bar was at the time. I know it wasn't Banana Joe's, but same location. But yeah, like, that was my. That was my first experience, was watching his openers before watching him, and I was just like, oh, man. Like, how bad would that be? Your whole, like, 15 minute stretch just didn't play well.

You have. You have to know your audience, and it's really, really hard. My where I'm doing a lot of headlining stuff now. I do, like, 45 to an hour. I kind of test the waters on a lot of stuff. There's not a lot of open mic opportunities in West Virginia, so we use an open mic, they say, to sharpen your sword you know, kind of a practice. There's not a lot of opportunities around here, so I have to sneak in new material on my larger sets.

Yeah.

Kind of throw them in the middle there to test them out. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. I was in. I think it was in somewhere up in Ohio near Cleveland recently, and I tried a joke about Casey Anthony, and I just got a groan instead of a laugh. And I was like, well, that's kind of.

Right.

So, yeah, you gotta. You gotta watch. I mean, if you have. There's some stuff that you don't want to. I kind of struggle sometimes with the. The young college crowds.

Yeah.

I do a lot in Columbus, and that's a. Young liberal crowds.

Yes.

They'll walk on stage and they get the misconception there's this redneck guy going racist and stuff. And. And it. It's. I have to change up the way I. Not so much my material, but the way I put it out there.

Well, you execute it, right?

You have to coddle these college kids sometimes.

Yeah. Well, it's almost like they have to feel like it's, like, safe to laugh. Like, am I a bad person if I laugh? Yeah. So my. I. I'll reference my son again because he's, like, that age group. He's taught me so much because of the way they think. But also, I'm just like.

When I talk to him, I'm like, I don't want to offend you or any of your friends, but tell me about yada yada yada. Like, because I had a really hard time with the they them. Like, I was like. Not that I didn't want to, I guess, approach people the correct way, because it wasn't that. I mean, if your name's Mike or you're a they of them, I. I want to call you whatever it is that you want to be called, but, like, I just wanted to understand it so it would come more naturally to me, you know? And he's like, mom, you can't ask that. And I'm like, if I can't ask you, who the fudge can I ask? You know? I'm like, I need to understand it. I want.

I want to be, you know, and I want to be hip. I want to know what's going on. I want to be respectful. You know?

Speaking of that, one of the comedians I tour with is actually a trans woman. And which. A short, black trans woman, which you wouldn't see you hanging out with you on a tour with.

Right.

I take her a lot of places with me. And I took her to Columbus, and she went up, did great with the younger college kids. And then when I got up, you know, they just looked at me like, wait, what? Hold on.

Is this the same show?

And I was like, you know, and I brought up to him, and I made the joke. I was like, you know, I thought you guys were progressive. And I was like, I come up here for this little black trans lady, and y' all were looking at us, honey. It's like you'd never seen one riding the back of a pickup truck before, you know, and they didn't like that too much right after. Afterwards, they were all giving her hugs and stuff. They didn't care much for that.

I love that. That's. That's funny. So we were talking about a little bit about your material and how you kind of tested on stage. Do you write most of your material or just is. Do you find that just coming off the riff with it does better now,

poor Sarah here, my lovely fiance, she. She has to hear me, right? And I don't. I don't sit down with a pen and paper and write. I'll just look at something and notice that. How bizarre it is to me. I'll start riffing. Actually, when we were standing out front, I brought up the fact that the First Presbyterian Church is across the street, and there's other First Presbyterian churches. Nobody in this town wants to admit.

Yes, Second best Presbyterian. And I just went in this riff, and she was just shaking her head. Things like that hit me. And then later on, I might actually sit down and write something about it. But stuff like that constantly frights me. Yeah. Yeah. But I think a lot of life experience being raised by, you know, single dad, I use a lot of that.

And then I have two kids of my own that I raised for a long time by myself before I found Sarah to step in and play nanny. But, you know, I have those life experiences, so I use a lot of that and throw that in. But I'm not like, really pen and paper kind of guy. When I'm on stage, sometimes I'll just kind of go off. I'm not really a crowd work kind of guy. I'm not like, oh, what do you do for a living? How long?

Yeah, together.

But if something happens in the crowd, I'll bring it up.

Right.

You know, so that happens a lot. And some of my best material has evolved from just, you know, something somebody yelled out.

Right. I always, like, wondered to myself, and it's like, here nor there. This is Just me being talkative, I guess. Like, Matt Rife, like, he's the big trendy guy now, you know, whatever. He seems like he relies a lot on that audience participation for his show. And I'm like, what if he goes into a show that literally no one is willing to speak up? Like, how well would that go for you? You know?

Right. Matt Rife, like, actually, he's a. Before he got into being, like, the crowd work king, he was a really good joke writer. He had stuff. And he bases a lot of his. He had a special. I don't remember what it was called, but it was something about. Had his name in it.

It was something about his grandfather naming him or whatever. But a lot of that he had written jokes. He didn't do quite as much crowd work. And that special tanked because it's not what people want to do. They just.

Not what they. Yeah, they don't know him for that.

Single moms out there that wanted him to talk about their titties. So that's what he relied on. But his shows, you ever get his life, it shows. He'll film everything, and it might be three hours, and then if he releases a special, It'll be like 45 minutes of that. Three hours.

Okay. Yeah.

There's a lot of stuff in there that he's bombing on, probably.

Oh, yeah, I get that completely. Yeah, I get that. And also, like, I learned again, bringing up Mulaney with that show. I'm learning so much working at the Keith, he was practicing a lot of new material for a special he's getting ready to release, I think on Netflix. And so, like, the no photography and like, all that, like, it was so strict. Like, it was insane. Like, we had to. Anyone that had glasses, we had to make sure they weren't meta glasses.

Had to check smart watches. I mean, the whole shebang. Because he didn't want any of his new material getting leaked before his special.

And that's the thing where I tour a lot. Like, I have a 45 minutes that I've probably been doing the same pretty much for probably six months or something like that. I have a lot of new material that I'm. Like I said, I'm working in. So I don't. Like, I don't. I don't tell people, you know, don't film me, because, I mean, that's part of the fun, you know?

Well, you don't want to be a diva, but I don't want.

Like, I'm. I'm totally cool with people filming me. I Just don't want them releasing stuff before I do it. Right. Trying to get a social media following, Bovain's comedy on all social media. Follow him, guys, and everything. I've started releasing little clips of stuff that's kind of older, you know, to get it out there. But, you know, if I'm working on something new, I don't want somebody because it'll take, you know, five, six times before you get it to where you need it.

You just changes. And you don't want somebody releasing the first version of it.

Right.

If you go back and see the stuff that I was working on, I film all my sets. So stuff that I was doing two years ago that I'm using full time now, if you hear me working on it back then, it's total dog crap.

Right. You just didn't have it down pat yet.

I didn't know how to pace it, and I had little tags to it and stuff. I mean, you can see if you go back on my TikTok, you can go back two years, and you'll see me do one joke about pride and I did a baseball park, and you'll hear the first time I ever did that joke. And then you go a year and a half later, and it's actually one of my biggest laughs.

Yeah.

But you can hear it go from nothing to how it is now.

Right?

Change. And I left that on there just for that, you know, that you can see the evolution of a joke.

Yeah, for sure. Yeah. And I'm sure, like. Like, it was a big deal, like, with Mulaney about. Like, they kept stressing it to us, like, every email, hey, be sure, you know, that you're. You're doing this and you're doing that and yada, yada, yada. And I was just like, oh, my God, this is, like, crazy. I was like, this guy is such a diva.

Like. Like, he's just so full of himself. What? Yada, yada, yada. But then as, like, once we found out about the Netflix special and all that kind of stuff, I was like, okay. I was like, now this makes sense. Like, he doesn't want someone, A, stealing his new material, for one, and B, like, he doesn't want to miss that opportunity when that docuserie or documentary, like, airs, you know? So I was like, I get it now. It makes more sense. But in the beginning, they were like.

So, like, I was like, jesus Christ,

anybody's gonna steal my material.

You think you're safe? What is something that you once joked about that today you wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole

probably. I don't really have too much, like I said. I mean, there's some things, like one of the things that people often say is that I'm trying to. It's in my bio online that somebody wrote up. If you, if you search for me in any kind of AI thing, it'll. That I'm trying to change the misconceptions of West Virginia.

Okay.

Is kind of a thing to make us not look like rednecks or whatever. But we are.

I was going to say there's really no changing that.

Like, I'll do shows, I'll stay in openers. Always say, like, oh, yeah, he came here and I think that lady that's with him is his sister.

Yeah.

You know, and it's, you know, whatever. I don't really care. So. So I don't try to protect West Virginia as much as I do. But one joke that I definitely won't say anymore. I used to have a closer for many years where I talked about a very popular West Virginia biscuit restaurant.

Okay.

It was a very good joke. It's one of, I think, the best written jokes that's ever hit this state. It would kill every time. But now with my big boy jobs that I have, I am a. I have a partnership with that biscuit gravy restaurant. So I have scrubbed that son of a gun from the Internet.

Right.

It'll never be done again. I gotta pay bills. So. And that's. I feel that. But yeah, there's some things that you just. I've made some jokes, you know, about my kids before and stuff. And, and after a while they're like, can you stop doing that? You know? So, yeah, I've kind of listened to them.

Sarah. Sarah's okay. Like, I say some stuff to embarrass her, but she just brushes it off.

I feel like that's like life with my husband. So I'm right there with you, Sarah. Like, yeah, hey, I'm. I'm the butt of like every joke. Like he. His favorite one to tell is one time. Literally one time. We've been together for 20 years.

I got in the shower and I don't know what I was doing, but somehow I got water like up my nose and was like drowning in the, in the shower. And so his favorite thing is like, oh, Vanessa can't even take a shower without drowning, blah, blah, blah. And I'm like, shut up. I'm like, everybody in the world does

not need to know openly talk about our sex life. And when I mention it in, in, in my act, people turn around and look right at her. She hates that. Yeah, that's not something she likes at all. She always brings it up, like. And sometimes I'll actually point her out and say, there she is.

Yeah, there's the lucky lady. Yeah.

So those are the titties I'm talking about. So she don't like that at all.

Yeah. My husband will, he will tell people that, like, we've broken ceiling fans out of the ceiling like crazy. And like, these are people that I've never met. And like, we'll be out at dinner or something. They'll come up and he's like, oh, by the way, they were looking at you weird. I told him this, this, and this. And I'm like, what the is wrong with you? I'm like, you. Why do you make up things like that? He's like, they don't know that I made it up.

He's like, they have no clue. And I'm like, you are the worst. I was like, I. I don't even want to know. The things that other people probably think about you.

18 year old son. One thing, this is a little behind the scenes things. I have two children. I have a 20 year old and an 18 year old. But when I in my act, you would think I have 20 kids because. But actually it sounds like I'll have like four because I'll say my youngest son, my oldest son, my youngest daughter. My oldest daughter, right? Same two kids. But I have a joke where I talk about my daughter where it sounds like she's six years old.

She's 20, works for Camza, good girl job. And my son's 18 years old and I talk about him being a little feminine boy and stuff like that. So they've asked me at times like, hey, can you tone it down, dad, I'm not gay. I know how to change the, you know, the tire on my bike, you know, Right. Me sound like it's a little wimp. And I'm always sorry about it. Yes. Yeah, it goes.

It's imaginary. I don't mention you by name. It's for sure it's my little fake kids.

Right? I get it 100%. Do you remember your first, like, great laugh? The moment that you felt like, okay, I cracked this room. Like, this is going to be a great show.

Yeah. So after doing open mics for years, I always got laughs and stuff, but I never had, like anything big here. Years back, I did a small room in West Virginia and I was like, I'm gonna try something new. So I walked up. Nobody was getting laughs that night. It was a very tough crowd.

Yeah.

A lot of people were doing political stuff. And I walked up and I said, I remember this joke. I said, they say that an act of bestiality happens every 10 seconds in the United States, but not once. When asked that question, where were you when those towers fell? Have I ever heard anyone say, I was balls deep in a goat? And it just turned the crowd. It was so stupid. It was out of nowhere.

I can imagine the, like, what the fuck? Look on everybody's faces, and they were just like, what?

What's going on? And the room, actually, it changed the room.

Yeah.

Everybody else that went up after me, it totally changed everything. One stupid joke.

Yeah.

And there was probably four comedians before me. And I'll never forget that. I was just like, sometimes you have to take a risk.

Yeah.

And that was a big risk because everybody was. At the time, Donald Trump had just got elected again or whatever. First time. And so they were all throwing, you know, Donald Trump doing impressions and stuff. So it was just so dumb that for some reason that worked. And I'll never forget it. I was so proud of that.

Yeah, for sure. I get that 100%. You've played all kinds of rooms. So tell me the difference between a crowd, like, in Willing, West Virginia, versus like, a crowd in Columbus.

So the college crowds, like I said before, are the more liberal crowds. I do better with the older crowds and the black crowds. For some reason, the young white girls hate me. I don't know why. I guess it's because I compare trans people to boneless wings and stuff like that, which I'm not gonna do the bit. That is something that I do. And I'll talk about JonBenet Ramsey and shit, but they do not like. They don't like that.

I prefer an older crowd. West Virginia, I mean, everywhere is a pretty good crowd. I mean, there's like. This is my home state, so I can. I do a lot of West Virginia material. I can make fun of Jim justice anywhere. And about how Baby Dog probably has licked peanut butter off his nuts. I would guarantee it.

I would guarantee it.

Yeah. Yeah. Unless, like, Baby Dog likes to be right. She might be fancy, I don't know. But we can. West Virginia, everywhere is good. You know, I've did. I've did bars with five people in West Virginia and had just a blast, as I did the Charleston Coliseum with 2,000 people.

Yeah.

So it just. It just really depends, you know, those Little crowds, those big crowds. Last year I did Danae Hayes, who is a TikTok top comedian, very popular, millions of followers, has got into comedy. I opened up for her. She'd been doing comedy for about six months and I opened up for her.

Isn't it crazy how Tick Tock has like just made people's careers just like fly?

Yeah. The Charleston Coliseum. People called me up and said, we have this comedian named Danae Hayes. I googled her and I was like, I didn't see any comedy. It was just, you know, her singing dirty songs and stuff. They were like, we want you to come open for her. I was like, absolutely, I'll be there. What? They did not tell me that I.

That she's a lesbian comedian and that I'll be performing in front of 2,000 lesbians. And then my dumb ass would have

prepared you a little better had, you

know, I had no clue. And I was standing in the bike and then, you know, her management, which Danae shout out to nae, she's the best, man. Like, I had so much fun with her. I'm supposed to do some shows with her this year. She is a blast and she's going to be a great comedian. She's going to be one to watch out for. But I walked out like I was in the back and they were like, now you know how our crowd is. And I was like, oh, oh, I had no clue.

No, tell me, please, please enlighten me.

So at the same night, there was a concert in the actual coliseum. We were in the theater, 2,000 people. Hart was playing. And when I was getting on the elevator in the parking garage, it opened up and it was just full jam packed with flannel shirt wearing lesbians. And I was like. And that's when I started getting like, oh, no. And when I was walking on this lady goes, oh, good grief. You know, And I was like, I was like, what's going Like? I was like, my fat ass is getting on this elevator.

So I took a big risk in my set. I walked on stage, 2,000 lesbians right there. And I was like, all right, where's the bitch that.

When I that got on the elevator with me?

Yeah. Got on the elevator that, you know, made a comment. I was like, I know you're here, lady. I saw that haircut. I was like, you're in this crowd.

I know you are.

And the place went nuts. And then I just did my material. And then after that, I was taking pictures like crazy. And then for shows for the last year, like, Lesbian couples were coming to all my shows and stuff. I had a huge lesbian following, which is awesome. I love these ladies.

They're the funniest.

They're great.

Yes.

And I never knew how much that lesbians and gay guys hate each other. And so I started hanging out with both.

My oldest brother is gay, so, like, I'm very, like, intertwined in the world, and it is definitely a thing.

It's like, I'm the little spirit straight Switzerland between the gay guys. So much fun to hear the hate that they have for each other. They just. They just do not like each other. But they're both very, very fun crowds.

Yes. Yes. Have you seen Becky Robinson? She's another one that got Tick Tock famous. Like, I didn't know for, like, the first, I don't know, three or four rabbit holes of going down her Tick Tock. I didn't realize that she was a lesbian. So, like, I was telling my boss, because where she's playing in Charleston, I was like, she might do okay down here. I was like, I don't know. I was like, you know, maybe look into seeing if their tour wants to, you know, route into Huntington after she hits Charleston.

And he watches her and he's like, oh, my God. He was like. I was googling like, who. Who's. Who's her family and all this? And I was like, oh, no, that's all. I was like, she's the full blown lesbian. I was like. I was like, her whole family, Maccabee, the kids, the whole jam.

I was like, it's all made up. I was like, I can't imagine what the inside of her head is like.

Yeah. Like, for the LGBTQ community supports their own when it comes to these shows, and it's amazing. And they are the best crowds there. There's a comedian now, Matt Matthews.

Matt. Matt. Yeah. He's the farm guy.

Absolutely.

He's like, get up. It's time to do farm chores. Yes. He's my fav.

Every week, like, do, dude, please let me open.

So funny.

He's the absolute best. He's so good. He's like. He's like Gay Matt rife on stage. He's so good.

That is the best way to.

Yeah, he's. He is the absolute funniest person out there right now, everybody. I mean, there's. There's a bunch of great comedians out there, but this guy's so naturally funny.

He really is. Like, he will. My favorite videos of his are where he hangs out with the. I think her name's Kale K A I L the teen mom. But, like, she'll do footage of him for, like, her podcast or, like, visiting his farm and stuff. And he's like, you better get all these, like, crotch goblins. He's like, I'm not taking care of your kid, you know? And I'm like, this is gold. I was like, this is so good.

Yeah. He did a bunch of videos with Danae.

Okay.

She was the one that wrecked his tractor into the.

Oh, okay, I've seen that one. Okay.

That was like, right after I was touring with her.

Okay.

I was like, I was like, holy crap. I was like, this dude. Like, I've sent her messages. Like, please get a hold of him.

Connect us. Yeah, I need to, I need to tell my boss that. Like, see if we can make that happen. He's so funny and he's so extra, which makes it even better.

Like, like he did one where he took over and became a bartender at a brewery.

Oh, I've missed that one.

Yeah, it's so good because all these old men would come in there and

I can only imagine it up. Yeah.

I was just like, this is the best thing. And he did it in a bathrobe, so it was even funnier. Like, he, he's absolutely, he's like one of the, like, he's like, I watch him cost. Yeah, I want to be gay.

He really is. He is very funny. Like, I, I get it.

100 hear this podcast and be like, man, he's trying to tell us something.

Yeah, he's coming out. Poor Sarah, there's something you need to know. All right, so what is the weirdest request that you've ever got from an audience?

Oh, gosh. I had somebody yell for me to take off my shirt. Like, burp, Pull a burp one time. And I was like, that's not how happening. I was like, no, no, no. That was kind of weird. I signed some titties in Pigeon Forest, Tennessee. That was, that was pretty good.

That's a. Check it off the list.

Lady comes up. I, I, I sign. It's weird around here. I'm nobody. I got out of state and I sign autographs, right? Pictures of people. It's weird, but like, like, I can't get respect in my own speedway. Hey, man, you took the last piece of pizza. I'm a celebrity.

I was like, damn it, don't you know who I am?

Yeah, this, this big booed, not very good looking lady came up to me and pigeon forced.

That's always the ones.

Yeah. And she was like, I want you to sign my shirt right here on my teddy. And she opens up her flannel and was wearing a Confederate flag shirt. And I look. Of course she was.

Of course she was.

A head shake, and I was like, oh. I was like, this checks out. Yeah, that was a lot of.

That's hilarious. What is the funniest crowd reaction that you didn't see coming?

Oh, the funniest crowd reaction. Well, I mean, we've had. I did a Pride show on Juneteenth. It was last year.

Yeah. I think that's the way it fell last year.

And I didn't really know what. And I was the headliner being a straight white guy. And I was like, I'm a risk taker. So I opened up with a little joke. I was like, man, I was like. Like, I know y' all are brave, being with the LGBTQ community, I was like, but none of y' all brave as me, because I'm a straight white guy doing a Pride show on Juneteenth.

Right?

And then I said, I didn't know whether to wear mascara or blackface to this thing. And there was an audible gasp and then just uncontrollable laughter for about two minutes. And I almost just put the mic back in the stand, said, thank you. I'm out of here.

Yeah, the job is done.

Anything that could beat that, right? So that was. That was. That was a big one. I really like that. And then every once in a while, I'll get people. I'll say something that's not controversial at all, but they take it as with the young crowds. I've seen people walk out, and when that happens, and I know that a. You know, these people weren't here to have fun.

They were just. Right. I'll see that. I kind of take pride in making sure they know that I know they're walking out.

Right. See you later. Bye. Thanks for wasting your money on me. Yeah.

Stuff. So I take pride in those. Every once in a while. I want everybody to have a good time, but, you know, I'm not gonna. I'm not gonna give in to your feelings.

Yeah, I get that. 100, I think, like, my favorite show over here at Pullman Square. Whenever Funny Bone was over here was a show specifically, we were sitting, like. You know how they had, like, the front tables that, like, right up to the bar or to the stage? So we were sitting at one of those tables, like, off to the left side, and this gentleman, he just kept passing out, like, the guy. I forget who the actual comedian was. It was. It was somebody local that had played a lot, but it wasn't. It wasn't air Michael.

I don't remember who it was, but anyways, the guy just kept passing out and, like, the crowd would, like, the laughter would wake him back up, and he'd just kind of, like, come to. And so the comedian had picked up on it, and his friends got embarrassed and were like, oh, let's get him out of here, you know, blah, blah. So, like, the commentary of them trying to get him out from the table, pay their tab and all that, like, made, like, a good 20 minutes of the show of his. His act, you know, And I've never laughed so hard in my life. Like, him just picking up on, like, every friend, picking, like, okay, this guy's getting the leg, this guy's getting the arm, you know?

And I was like, people are always fun.

Yeah.

I mean, they. They can get out of. Out of hand. I had a guy at a show in Elkview, West Virginia, which was a fun little place.

Yeah.

A guy stood up, got angry over a joke, and began to. I guess he turned it into a Trump rally and started telling everybody how the. If we voted for Harris, that it was going to be, you know, it was going to fall apart, and people just laughed at him. And then he was escorted out and then somehow snuck back in the back door and sat back down the bar and finished watching the show. It was so strange.

It's like, yeah, what was the whole point of everything?

Buddy Sanders were like, man, we really need him to keep buying liquor.

He was a money maker that night.

He snuck right back in, was sitting there when I left.

That's fun. How odd, though. Like, what odd behavior? Like, you're so bothered that you stood up and made a scene, but yet you're gonna sneak back in one of the.

The shirts where Trump got shot, where he had. Yeah, I don't do anything political. I don't even remember why he got mad. And it was. It wasn't a political joke, and he was just hammered and his wife was, like, putting her hand over his mouth.

Right.

Trying to shut him up. He goes, no, they all need to know, you know, so it was one that. It was one of the only sets that we hadn't filmed.

Yeah.

And I was like, man, I was like, I would be so famous if that would have been put on.

Right.

Such a good moment.

Right.

I wish I had that.

Well, and, like, it. It seems like when it comes to politics, the people that, like, have the biggest Mouths. They really think that their thought process is like, the thought process, like they're not seeing any other angle of it. So it's like you need help. Like, whether it's one way or the other, it's like you are delusional. You're wild. Your bio. And I was like, I was very surprised by this one mentions the music, which you've already kind of told us that you were part of the little band that got you into the comedy.

But pro wrestling, yeah, let's talk about that for a minute. How did those worlds kind of shape your years ago?

I trained some pro wrestling was never any good. Didn't do a whole lot of shows. But some friends of mine had a little wrestling company called IWA East Coast Charleston that did a lot of, like, independent wrestling. They would bring in guys that were kind of past their prom and stuff, and they did the death match type wrestling where they fall into light bulbs and stuff, stuff like that. We're getting huge crafts, 3, 400 people a show and stuff. And we actually were released on DVDs. So, you know, I volunteered to do commentary for these DVDs. So we did that for many, many years.

DVDs were selling all over the country, all over the world. You can go to Japan and go into DVD stores and find our dvd.

Isn't that interesting, like, how that happens?

It's like, it's very, very strange.

Like, how the hell did this end up here?

You didn't know. You didn't know how big it had got. And then we did a reunion show many years ago, and people were lining up, bringing copies of DVDs for me to autograph.

Oh, that's awesome.

And. And this was right when me and Sarah got together and she was like, what the hell's going on?

What did I get myself into?

Yeah, the people that did that, actually Pat McAfee, the big ESPN podcast guy, who's also a professional wrestler and does commentary for wwe. His first match was with us with our company.

That's cool.

So I did the commentary for Pat's first match, became, you know, friends with him. He's very dear male. Love that guy a lot. And every once in a while, he'll just start talking about it on his show. And when that happens, I start getting tagged in thousands of posts. And I'm like, oh, no, like, he

must have mentioned it. What did he say now?

He'll post. He'll play that video from our little wrestling show years ago on. On his show on ESPN for millions of people, right? And Then all of a sudden it blows up again. So where. Where. I didn't think it was that big of a thing where I started doing shows and the clubs would use that as a credit for me.

Yeah.

And I'm like. I'm like, well, I mean, I've. I've. I've did some guest stuff on Take

it where you can get it, man.

I was like. Like, I'm on there all the time. I've been on six times or something. But they started using that as a credit.

Yeah.

So that was. Yeah, that was kind of strange.

That's interesting. Like, I. I think it's funny that, like, the DVDs overseas, like, that's hilarious to me.

It's very strange because I do the English commentary. They put their own Japanese commentary on it.

Yeah.

And then you hear them and they'll be like, oh, like that. And then you go to. You flip a button. It's English commentary. It's like, oh, he threw him off the goddamn road. You know, this is my redneck ass. You know, he body slammed his ass right there. Cold on the floo.

It's really dumb, but it's kind of flattering.

Yeah, for sure. I would totally brag about that all the time. That might be, like, my opening statement to people. I'm Vanessa, and I did this. I'm big in Japan.

Yeah. I didn't know how big it got until I searched for myself on Google one time.

I'm so afraid to do that, especially with, like, AI now.

I'm like, oh, it was on the Internet movie database, and there was like eight wrestling DVDs on there. And it had like, all the stuff. And I was like. Like, I was like, holy crap. I was like. I was like, I'm on the Internet movie database for wrestling things. I was like. I was like.

I had my own reality show at one point, for Christ's sake. That's not on there.

Right.

I was like, here, this is.

Yeah, that's pretty funny. What? Let's. I mean, let's talk a little bit about business. How do you get booked? How do you keep getting booked? How does. How's that working out for you?

So I do promote some of my own shows in West Virginia. I try not to perform on them too much. Sometimes I'll. I do a monthly show in Charleston. There's no comedy clubs around here anymore.

There really isn't. I did see that this jerk that's coming into Rip Pullman, that they're talking about doing some comedy shows. So that's cool.

That might be pretty cool. My goal is to eventually, in Charleston and Huntington is to have a comedy show. It's just open Fridays, Saturday evenings. You know, few hours a show, you can get beers, few drinks, you know, just that kind of thing. That's my goal for West Virginia. I just know that there's. I have to travel because there's nothing around here.

Yeah.

My bookings have came from word of mouth. I don't want to toot my own horn. I'm pretty good on stage.

Yeah.

Like, I can go anywhere, do any kind of crowd. And bookers know that I'm easy to get along with. I'm not a dick.

That's what makes the difference.

Yeah. Yeah. So I'll go. I don't have. I had a club recently get hold me and wanted me to make out a writer. You actually commented on that.

I was like, don't get wild, man, because everybody's going to think you're a dick.

So mine, I'm just like, yeah, how about some water? Maybe some Tic Tacs? You know, stuff like that. Like, I'm not into that. I've toured with some big. I toured with a comedian last year. Year was a very big comedian. He'd won last comic standing stuff. He's been in movies and all this. I was touring with him.

Unfortunately, he's no longer touring because he got in trouble. Some law.

So life happens.

He's gonna be going to jail.

Yeah.

He might as well had his own island, if you know what I mean. Oh, yeah.

Yeah. Fun.

I had no clue.

Yeah. Lots of people getting caught up in. In the island.

Yeah. He never hit on my kids. I was like, maybe my kids are ugly.

Yeah.

But his rider, you know, like, he wanted fresh fruit and, like, rotisserie chickens and monster energy drinks. It had to be the white ones that can't.

Oh, they're very specific. That's, like, a very big part of my job. Like, they're very, very specific. And it's crazy. Like, the. Like, they'll say, okay, we want, like, that Zevia, but we want six of them. And they all have to be in this flavor. This flavor, this flavor.

And I'm like, we're in fucking Huntington, West Virginia. Like, there was one. Forget the name of the brand that Mulaney wanted, but it specifically, it was a sparkling water that was shipped out of Texas that we. Nobody carries it here. And, like, by the time it would have got here, by the time we got the rider and, like, paying to ship it, it wasn't going to arrive. On time. And I'm like, shit. Like, okay, I'm going to lose this job.

And I just started it. But his people were not that bothered by it. We were just like, look, we can't find it, whatever. But. But there's like seven other kinds of drinks that I had to have. And I'm like, you're here for an hour. Like, literally, there's no way you'll consume all this.

Yeah. When. I mean, I've. I've seen catered meals and stuff like that. And it had launders. They was like, hey, grab you something to eat or whatever. Because they don't eat it.

No, it's just in their budget. Yeah, it's wild because Seinfeld, like, I mean, he wanted. I mean, it was a slew of stuff, which. I mean, it was all, like, things that made sense, like, if you're coming into town. He did not want cereal because I

heard, like, if you watch the Seinfeld show, he always. He's always eating cereal.

Yeah, it's kind of like his jam. Yeah. Well. And he. He wanted, like. So what he did. Hopefully I don't get my hand smacked at work. He came in a day early and didn't tell us he was coming in.

So he came in, he rented out the movies at Pullman Square, and he and his crew watched a movie. He literally ate, came straight over to the Keith, went on stage, and then flew right back out. So, like, all the stuff that we did for his room, which part of it was. He wanted protein powder, Which, I mean, it's like. And again, I get it. Maybe he's gonna work out. He don't know. Like, he don't know what is, you know, ahead of time, weeks ahead of time.

He don't know what that's gonna look like. So, like, protein powder. He wanted Starbucks coffee. He wanted a very specific peanut butter that we weren't able to get. But he did have the option of getting the equivalent of. Which was very hard to find because he is j. So their dietary selections, you know, so we were able to find a peanut butter and jelly. So that's actually what he ended up happening out of his whole.

Everything. He got in his room, he had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and drank half a cup of Starbucks coffee, went on stage, got on a jet, left immediately after. So I was like, what do we do with all this stuff?

I want to get that. He's a. I mean, that's a damn superstar. It's a. A pay list.

Yeah, he did. He did sign Several posters for us for free, like, for the house. So, like, the people working there and stuff like that. So that was really cool. And the guy that we dealt with, his, I guess producer, super nice guy, Very, very matter of fact. But I'm like, shoot, you're representing Jerry Seinfeld. Like, you've got to be.

Yeah, yeah.

So, like, I got it.

But it was 15 of a lot of money.

Everybody was like, oh, God, he's a lot. And I was like, I. You probably have to be. I was like, because imagine walking into a theater or like a arena or something like that, and, like, it's just full of incompetent people. Like, I bet that happens more often than not. So having to be very like, okay, this, this, this, and then double checking this, this, and this, I get, you know. So it's very interesting how that all works, though. But, yeah, that's why I was like, don't be a diva, because you'll forever be remembered as the dick that wanted.

I'm so, like, I don't eat before shows. I just did a. I did a show in Cleveland recently, and Sarah and I tried a Korean barbecue for the first time ever.

Was it good?

It was delicious.

I've heard really good things, but I've never had it. But I've heard really good things.

I was like, it was really cool. We ate some weird meats. I don't really know what the hell they were. They were delicious.

I get that.

That was about four hours for my show, and I have this rule. I don't eat. And then I was on stage, and I was like, oh, no, my stomach.

Yeah.

You know, And I was like, oh, man, this is gonna be. Be chaos. But I made her through. I did.

That would be my fear.

So I try not. So there's. I, like, I drink water. I drink some energy drinks. I did a festival a couple years ago. My little buddy Chase Turner was with me. He's like my little protege. And, man, I got sick of my stomach, like, so bad right before the show.

And I couldn't find Pepto Bismol anywhere.

Yeah.

So I went into a sheets and they had a brand called Stomach. It is just. It's called Stomach Pink Bismuth. And I. I kept going. I drank the whole bottle before the show. I was taking pictures with it, and I sent all these cool emails to that company. Was like, dude, let me be your, like, spokesperson.

Yeah.

I was like, stomach.

I was like, I found this randomly and a sheet.

Yeah. So there's all. If you go on to anybody, my social media and just find pictures of

me, like, stomach knock off peptics.

I don't even know, like, it's me. I mean, it's sold at a damn gas station.

That's right.

Yeah. So a stomach shout out, man, hire me, big brother.

I love that. Yeah, that would be. I think that would really be my worst fear, like, getting up there and, like, people actively hearing the rumbles of my. Oh, God, I'd be so embarrassed. I'd be like, shit. Literally a bigger. Oh, that doesn't sound like a good idea at all. What is one professional mistake that comics could just stop making, in your opinion,

thinking that you're better than you are. There's a lot of comics out there. I'm talking about the up and coming comics. Seinfeld do whatever the hell he wants.

Absolutely.

But one of the things is, if you don't overestimate the amount of material you have. I've did this forever. I have a lot of material. But if you think you have 20 minutes, you have 10 minutes. If you think you have 10.

It's the same way with podcasting.

Yeah, exactly. Don't stretch it out. There's some guys out there that are taking some bookings. Just because you can talk for 30 minutes doesn't mean you can be funny for 30 minutes. They're taking bookings out there for some of these shows. And, yeah, I can do 30, I can do 45. And they'll have five minutes of funny and then, you know, and just nothing. There's people.

Yeah, they're openers that'll do five minutes and not have five minutes.

Yeah, because, like, time flies when you're on stage.

Yeah.

Like, I. I can say that just out of experience of, like, past work, of working for, like, grants and stuff like that, and being, like a trainer, just being up there, you're like, oh, I did not anticipate that this would take three minutes as opposed to the 10 minutes that I assumed, you know?

Yeah, I could probably. If I get on stage and not just on material, like, if I start, you know, going with the crowd a little bit and just if something happens in the crowd, like, I'll go off and we'll just have a conversation, and it's a blast to me. I think it's really fun. I don't.

I think it would be fun. Sometimes it presents itself right. For sure.

Well, this guy just came in and dressed. He's seven foot tall. Let's talk about it.

Yeah.

And that did happen, didn't sir? It was. It Was a good one. That guy loved me, man. Shout out to Sheila. He's awesome. But there was, you know, I recently did a show, I headlined a show and you know, usually there'll be a host, an opener, a feature. You know, the headliner does like 45, the feature, 15, 20, opener, 5, 10. Host, you know, does like three minutes and then, you know, in between, everybody see something fun, funny, you know, don't

do set little one liners.

Yeah, right. So they had added. It was a sold out show. And the club owner wanted to add a few people. He had, were younger comics to kind of give them some time, you know, and so. And I'm totally up for that. Yeah, man, I am all about helping out younger comics. I'll cut my time.

You're not gonna hear many headliners. So they'll cut their time, right? Hey man, if you got somebody you want to give five minutes to, I'm doing 45. I'll do 40, 40. And I had two shows that night. This was the first show. But they gave this lady who I guess does the graphics for their posters and stuff like that.

Just giving her the opportunity.

They're giving her five minutes.

Yeah.

And they let her open up and she did not tell jokes. She got up and apparently she's a chemistry major or something. And she talked about the difference between tap water and seltzer water for five minutes. Nobody laughed. People were confused. They thought they were the most boring TED talk ever. There was no laughing after. And then she said thank you and got off stage.

And people were just talking to each other, to tables, like, what the hell was.

What is going on?

I don't know.

What is life, right?

And you know, don't kill a crowd. Like that made it really.

Yeah, don't start the night off really rough.

And then the feature that night decided did a really good set. And then his final joke just totally comes out with a anti Semitic Free Palestine joke. Right before I get up, I'm like, what the hell's happening?

Right?

Like, what am I gonna do? So I did what anybody did when my, my Casey Anthony joke that keeps failing. When it bombed, the crowd just right. And I said, I was like, hey, if you guys don't wanna laugh, I can get that girl back up here. We'll talk about water for another 10 minutes. And the place went there. They loved that. You know, I made fun of her and then I thought she was a little shit in my bag backstage or something after that I was a little hurt, but you know, just know, you know, you have to if you're going to do this, you know, know the crowd, be funny and the big mistake they're making is thinking they have more time than they do. That is a huge mistake.

Or if you, or. And not learning that if you get a big life laugh, it's something. And you're near the end of your time. End it there.

Yeah. End it on a high note.

Tom Brady that wins through. Get out there. You know, like you, you just can't. If you keep trying to go, you know, you know, you might think, oh, I got them now, then you're never going to.

You're going to top it. Right. I get that. Let's see, I've got a few here, but I want to skip over a couple. What makes a venue great for comedy

Advertising? I want asses in the seats.

Yeah.

I really do. I love a venue. Who knows how important advertising is. That's why I like real comedy clubs. 100% in the business to do comedy. Yeah. That's why I love theaters. You guys always have great, man.

You guys, you know, you got your stuff out there. One of these days my name will be on that marquee.

I hope that it is. I hope that it is.

I'm telling you. I've said that. I saw Schindler's List there. It can only go. I just saw the movie. Depressing.

What the year did you see it in?

Was it the year it came out? We took a. I was a senior in high school. We took a school trip there. It was so depressing that we all just went down like in the basement, smoked in the bathroom. Like we were just like. I remember setting on like a. This luxurious couch. Yeah.

Out down there. Like it was like the couch from Titanic. That.

Yes.

Like I was laying on it like smoking a cigarette. I did not wake up. Watch the Jews get mad.

Right. That movie is like so depressing. Oh, it's the worst. It really is. Yeah. I'm always interested in like at what point people phases of life that they got to go in the Keith. Like was it when it was chopped up? When it was. When it was not like what.

You know, what was the situation?

Oh, it was so bad. I'll never forget that trip going down. I'd been there before for other showings. I think we saw the wizard of Oz there one time. And then like movie wise, when I was a kid. And then we went and saw. God, this is how old I went with like an aunt or something. Carol Burnett was there like doing a comedy thing.

I Was really, really little. So like I don't remember any of the comedy or even.

You just know that you did.

Yeah, I know. I was there.

Yeah, that's cool.

Uh, but clubs gotta have like good advertising. Um, you know, like there, there's a lot of venues that'll hire me to do comedy shows and I'll do it and then like, I'm very good at making posters and advertising and I'll send it to em and I'll never see them advertise.

Yeah.

Like all you have to do, share this, you know.

Right.

And. And if I, and if I'm making a percentage of the door and I'm risking everything for me to do it, you know, I really appreciate you helping out out. Right on that. But some don't do it. Some of the clubs over advertise, which is a great thing. I was recently on a board billboard in Pigeon Forge.

Heck yeah.

Beside of a Dolly Parton billboard, which was the craziest. I. I swear I went down there and I took a thousand pictures of that billboard.

Yeah.

Standing out selfies. Sarah took selfies in front of it.

Yeah, absolutely.

For a while.

Yes.

Like, man, I'm on a damn billboard. You know, like across from the wax museum. This is.

Yeah, there was this. I don't know who it was, but there's this random. I guess he's like an up and coming comedian. And it was just like I was watching reels like so it wasn't like anybody I follow or anything, but he had gone into, I think it was Pigeon Forge. And he saw himself as he's approaching with his kids in the car up, up on this like electronic billboard. And so he's like, oh my God, you guys see that? And his kids are like, oh, shut the fuck up. You know, basically like, we don't care, dad. Whatever.

Are we there yet? I need to pee. And he turns around when got the chance and like came back around and he said we literally had to sit there for 15 minutes to wait for it to loop back around. And he was like, see? See dad? And he was like. And I was there for four seconds in all my glory. And my kids were still not impressed. I was like, yeah, I get it.

I was like, that's for 10 seconds. It was every 4 minutes and 20 seconds. We sit there and watch. We sit in the Johnny Carino's parking lot.

I love it.

And sit there and do it. There was a hotel right beside of it. And I contemplated that second second night getting that hotel.

Yes. You can see it all Evening.

I wish I would have nothing like sitting there eating your continental breakfast, looking at my fat head up on a beach, but that was really awesome. I love good advertising. The Addict Comedy Club in Columbus. They're. They constantly advertise.

I've heard really good things about up there.

It's great. They have. You know, it's weird. Weird that I'll go up and headline, then the next night it'll be like, you know, just, you know, monsters coming in.

Right.

Bobcat Gow.

Right.

Stuff like that. And I'm like, oh, man. I was like, people would be real disappointed.

Should have hung out an extra night. Yeah.

Crackpots Comedy club up near Cleveland, Canton area. They advertise like crazy. They're all over the Internet. I'm in Fort Wayne Comedy club this coming up weekend. They do a lot of advertising. Um, you know, and it's just. That's a big thing. Like, I want to see.

Yeah, well, that's. That's a big, like, even, like, the job at the Keith, like, we. We hire someone to do marketing for us, but then us as well use our social media to promote as much as we can, because we need those seats full. We need it for us and for the artists. Like, that's. That's the way it thrives.

So that's how you make your money. I mean, you guys are like. You guys have brought Condi back. You know, it's really starting to.

It's been fun. It's been really fun to bring that component back to town because it's been a long time since we've had it. So I hope that we are able to keep making that happen. Like, it's like, our director, David is amazing, so I don't know why it wouldn't keep going up, but, like, it's gonna be hard to top Seinfeld, you know?

And plus, you guys had. Gosh, I'm pretty sure that the Keats where I saw Taylor Swift on Country years ago.

Yes, yes. And if anybody at home listening, if you guys have photos of that, we are dying to get photos to have to put on the wall. Like, we know it happened. We like all those things, but there's nothing remain. Like, there's no posters or anything that we can find anywhere.

Pretty sure she opened up for some. I remember. Yeah, that was crazy because I used to go down there all the time.

Yeah, it was a pretty big deal, especially back then, because no one really knew who Taylor Swift was. Like, yeah, that's what I told my boss. I was like, imagine us make that happen?

I saw Garth Brooks at Canon Park.

Yes, me too. Me, too. Yeah.

And my cousin made me go with her. Her mom dropped us off, and I was like. She was like, oh, there's this good country singer. And I was like. I was like, I don't want to watch this crap.

There's so many people that have played at Cannon park, which is the craziest thing is they don't even do that really anymore. I think, like, when they have the Wayne County Fair, they do some, like, bluegrass music, but other than that.

I did comedy at the Wayne County Fair.

Did you?

At Cannon park, one of the picnic shelters. It was. It was. They. They contacted me. They were like, we'd like you to do some clean comedy. Come down. It was me and two other comedians

give you free corn dogs. We didn't even get free corn dogs. Oh, no. Like, we're never coming back. Oh. The whole reason I'm here. Come on.

Road to Haunted House. I did. I remember it was. There was a. There was Holly. She was a musician.

Forbes.

Yeah, the bald chick. She was performing that night, and we did a comedy show before her. So in the crowd, it was the sound guy and her family. And I was just, like, pretty much standing there on this huge stage with all this fancy stuff.

Right.

Just being like.

So I've been like, you got some. Me just come down there, hang out with you?

Yeah. I was like. I was like, oh, so you're into music. Do you think Dolly Parton's farts smell bad or. I mean, I can't imagine.

It's Dolly. There's no way.

No way, man. They smell like bubble gum.

Yes.

I was like. I felt so stupid. I was like, this is the worst memory of the fair. Like, people aren't going to be like, I saw Bo Vance at the Canon Park.

Right. That's funny. Yeah. I've seen so many people that at Canon Park. And then, like, I also. When we used to have. Was it Summer Motion? That was at the riverfront.

Yeah. Yeah.

So, like, Alan Jackson. I mean, so many people that, like, I was. As a kid, I didn't really have a choice. Like, I was getting brought by, like, my aunts and uncle, mom, dad, you know, they were dragging me to their fun. But, like, there's so many people that we. I mean, we used to be kind of like a mecca for music people to come here, you know?

Do you remember. You're probably around my age. The. The Fox Expo.

Yes. Yes.

So I think it was my 11th grade year. My friend's mom worked for Fox 11.

Okay.

And I got to be Casey Fogg.

Oh, how cool.

And it was the year that they brought in the Pink Power Ranger.

Yes. Oh, my God. She was my favorite. Her and the Yellow Ranger. Yeah.

Come on, baby.

Yes. I've been waiting my whole life for this,

and I didn't even, like, really get to meet her. I got to meet Sergeant Slaughter. But, yeah, and I had a better chance with Sergeant Slaughter, I do believe.

Right?

Like, yeah. I was like, yeah. I was like, well, whatever. I'm not getting the tank. Right.

I had completely forgot about that.

Yeah. Yeah. So I got to walk around.

So funny. That's what I was gonna say. Did you hit her with it? Like, we can keep the costume fun girl off the head.

There she is. Keep that freak away from me. She's definitely not a Furry.

Love it. Oh, my God. We saw one the other day in the mall. And my little girl, she's. She's 11. And like, while she's aware that that's like a thing, it's not. She goes to Vincent. Like, it's Wayne County.

It's not that big of a thing. Where. And she was like, mom, what is. What. What is that girl wearing? And I was like, let's go sit down and have a talk, honey.

I don't. I don't understand that. I think we were near. I don't remember. We were some mall in some big city.

That's where we were, was the mall.

It was all these just purple headed people with tails walking around and stuff. Like, it was so strange. There's some really bad malls out there. And I was just like. I was. I was like, I think we're at the Furry Mall. Street mall, you know, all these kids wearing chains and stuff, leashes. And I was like, man, what is this world?

It's definitely interesting. For sure. Absolutely. All right, we're gonna do a little bit of rapid fire. So just first thing that comes to your mind. Best gas station snack for the road shows.

Oh, man, I'm. I'm kind of into speedway wings right now.

I never had them.

Oh, they're good, man. Are they five or what? Seven for $5 or something like that.

Can't beat that. Hell yeah. Okay. Pepperoni.

Bucky's burritos.

I've never been to Bucky's.

That's a life changer.

Like, I literally almost last weekend on Saturday morning, I was like. Or no, it was. It was Friday morning. I was like, hey, honey, let's. Let's both play hooky. And Take our little girl up to Buc ee's because she's, you know, she's never been either. And he's like, I gotta go to work, blah, blah. And I was like, well, I don't want to really go by myself.

Like, take her by myself. So we didn't go. But like, I want to. I want to go to the BUC EE's and I want to go to Ikea on the way. Like, I want to do like, the West Virginia round trip, you know? All right. Pepperoni roll. Legendary or overrated?

Oh, legendary. And there's a place up north I don't know was that has a hamburger called the West Virginia Burger. It is. They take little pieces of pepperoni and they cook it in with the ground beef. And then the bun is two pepperoni rolls. I don't remember where that place was, but it was up near Buck.

That sounds good.

Yeah, that was the. And you dip it in pizza sauce.

Sounds real good. That sounds delicious. That breaks all the time. You're good. I actually. I'm the one that originally broke it. And I just keep shoving it up there. I haven't actually glued it back.

Yeah, well, I was. I used to sit right there where you're at. So I would do. I would like, wiggle around and I just knocked it loose. And I was like, nobody will notice. All right. Worst heckle that. You should have answered better.

Oh, man, there was. There was some old people. One time, the. The guy was just heckling everybody before me. It was. It was pretty bad.

So you were kind of prepared for it?

Well, he was heckling everybody for me. And then I. I went really hard on him. As soon as I walked up, I said, like, what is this? Like, bring your asshole grandpa. And then he shut up. Which I really wanted it to last longer.

Right.

But I think that the worst one, I did a show in Morgantown. It was a late night show at a comedy festival right on WVU's campus. And it was like 200 well dressed sorority girls at this show. And one of them was totally trash. And she heckled everybody. And when I walked up, the first thing I said is a little vulgar. But I said, I was like, oh, you're the one that keeps you running your mouth. And she was like, yeah, that's me.

And I was like, God, I hope your pussy ain't as big as your mouth. And I made her cry. So for the rest of the night, she sat there with her head between her legs and her friends, just, like,

she got what was coming to her, honestly, if she had been hackling all night.

Oh, yeah. They were like, you'll be all right. You know, I felt so bad. And then she sat through my whole set with just tears in her eyes, and people were just looking at me like I was an asshole.

Yeah, drunk college girls are the worst. Like. Like, even, like, being a drunk college girl and, like, having friends in toe that just couldn't handle themselves drinking. I'm like, man, you're ruining the whole vibe. Like, I just want to go home now, like you. This is not fun. Not fun at all. That.

That. That's a good one. That's pretty funny, right? She had him on display. Why not? That's hilarious. One town that you'll always see is Guess too,

man. I like Huntington. Yeah, I like Huntington. This is a very. I just did that show at Fat Patties. The first show was. It was like a bunch of rich white people. Second show was a bunch of black people.

Yeah.

You just don't know what you're going to get, right? And they were equally as fun. They were just totally different kind of crowds.

Yeah.

It makes you work down here. I've did the pride shows that I've done. Redneck bars down here.

Yeah, for sure.

You just know what you're going. You don't know what you get. April 11th, I'm at some place down here. I don't remember what it's called. I'm so excited about it because it's like. It's like ritzy place.

Okay.

And I'm gonna walk in there, you know, I'm gonna be like, why the hell is there four Four Forks? But, like, you know, like, you just know what you're going. You don't know what you're going to get down here, huh?

Yeah.

One of the most fun places, but also Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, man. Anytime you can go somewhere and, you know, be around Dolly.

Yeah.

You know, and all those good places.

The proximity. Yeah, absolutely. I get that. It's funny you said that about the rich white people. That must have been the group that my. My girlfriend and her mom was in. That must have been it. Yeah.

Yeah, that's funny. Worst TV show that you secretly like.

Oh, man, the worst TV show. Boy, I'll tell you what, I really like these. These autism shows now. These.

Oh, they on the spectrum.

Yeah, I like those, but I don't know if it was bad. They're either really good or really bad. I like what they're doing for, you know, the special needs community.

For sure.

Sure.

It almost Seems like it's like, exploitation in a sense. Yeah. Yeah. I have mixed feelings about it.

Use the R word, you know, that's like, a thing a lot of clubs will say. You can't say the N word, can't say the R word and stuff like that. And like, I'm totally. Again, I'm totally. I don't like to, you know, make fun of, talk down on people or anything like that, you know, but I think we treated our special needs community different back in the day for sure. And now, you know, we kind of looked at them and I don't want to say we felt sorry for him, but, like, we. We. We did, you know, like, we hemmed

them with, like, kitten paws.

Right, Right. And now we're just like, throw them out there. Get some ass.

It's like, let's put them on a dating show. Right?

Throw that one. Like. Like. And it's just like, you're baiting them in.

Yeah.

Like, are they getting choices? Did that one dude really want the. The. The. The one girl? Like, they took the one guy and they put in it him. Like, he's just an autistic guy. You put him with the. The girl with down syndrome, Right?

Like, did. Did he choose that or did, like, whoever's taking care of him, this is what you get.

Pick one.

Right.

You know, and. And the one poor guy, they. They stuck him with Georgie, you know, and he's like, georgie, can I kiss you, man? Like, like, it's crazy. If you watch the Specials, is the. The down syndrome house in England?

No, I've never seen that.

Gosh, look for it. It's great. It's the best. They just took. It's like Big Brother with Down syndrome people. And then they all just start hooking up. Like, I don't. It turns into Love Island.

So instead of, like, this one time at band camp, it's like, that's so funny.

No, it's really cool. Yeah. Watch that one special.

I'll definitely look it up. All right, so we've been talking for, like, an hour and 15 minutes, so I'm gonna let you go. This has been very fun. If people want to catch you live or follow you on your work, we're still.

They go, I'm at Bo Vance Comedy on all social media, except for Pinterest, because I ain't that gay yet, but I'm on all social media also. Wvcomedy.com. that is my website, also post all the comedy shows that I'm not on in West Virginia. Just try to help everybody out. Let's grow comedy in West Virginia.

All right, well, thank you so much for being here. And guys at home, follow Bo on social media. Catch a show if he's in your town. And don't forget to subscribe, rate and share this episode. And until next time, guys, we're out of here.

Thanks for listening to the Tri State Time Machine. If you have a memory you want Vanessa to talk more about, just send her an [email protected] or post a comment on the Tri State Time Machine Machine Facebook page. Did you like the episode? Be sure to share it with friends and family. It's the only way we can continue this fun work that we do. You can find a link in the show notes that you can use to share it.