Monday, February 28, 2011

Who To Watch: Trevor Thompson

Today JH5 is proud to highlight Trevor Thompson as “WHO TO WATCH”.  Thompson was candid in our interview, and provides an insightful look into himself, as well as the comedy world.

The comedy scene in Ottawa has changed considerably since Trevor Thompson first stepped on the stage six and a half years ago.  When Thompson started, the maximum amount of stage time an amateur would receive is twice monthly.  Fast forward to 2010, and comedy and stage time has grown in Ottawa.  The two clubs, Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club and Absolute Comedy still promote New Talent along with their amazing array of signed acts, but there are also various open mic’s and venues hosting comedy shows.  A comic can get stage time anywhere from 2-10 times per month.  

Thompson has been a favorite of JH5 staff from the first introduction to his comedy.   He is not a typical comic, and his material does not follow a pre-set formula.  He moves with ease from jokes about Ottawa, Canada, the world, and hippies with good business sense.  His trademark is his wit, charm, and voice.   Thompson has hosted many show and venues, from large audiences to as few as eight people.  He can take a small audience and make them laugh like they were triple that amount.  While he shines in front of small audiences, he is that much more dynamic in front of a crowd of 150 or more.  Thompson is a very intelligent man and comic, and aware of the world around him.  This increases his skills while performing as he can take what is going on in the world, and apply it to each days performance.  People automatically like Thompson, because his stage persona drives you to him, and leaves you wanting more humour, more laughter, more Thompson.

Thompson tells of his first time on stage.  He was twenty nine, and had always wanted to perform comedy, even as a teenager.  He did not pursue it until later because he had a variety of other creative pursuits all while building a career in the public service.  When he tried comedy for the first time, he brought a lot of friends with him, and the audience was stacked for laughter.  Given Thompson had already had some stage training, and is a skilled writer, he performed well his first time out the gate and fell in love with stand up comedy from that moment.  He states there is nothing as wonderful as the adrenaline one gets from a successful set, the audience’s laughter, and the knowledge everything has fallen into place.  Why do drugs, when you can perform comedy?

Thompson’s idols include Monty Python, Bill Hicks, David Cross, Patton Oswald, and Dave McConnell.  When asked about his best and worst shows he demonstrates his humility (with a side of pessimism) stating he has not had his best set yet, but does remember his worst time on stage.  It was during his first road trip, performing five minutes to an audience in Renfrew where he performed to a crowd of 200 people, who remained absolutely quiet.  They did not just sit there and smile silently, there was hostility in their silence!   He learned on that trip that a comic has to adapt at times to the crowd, and be prepared for anything.   ANYTHING!

Thompson is proud to perform his comedy alongside his peers.  He feels that Ottawa comics form a tight nit community with a talented group of people for the size of it’s population.  Ottawa is very welcoming, which is not always the case in the larger cities where competition for spots is fierce.  Thompson is often seen introducing himself to newcomers, giving them words of encouragement, and always introduces them to the stage with professionalism that gives new comics a boost of much needed extra confidence.  When asked if he had advice for new comedians, he deadpanned “yeah don’t get good and take work away from me”.

Thompson, a local favourite at Ottawa Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club, is concerned that the new “generation” of comics are trying to get too good, too fast.  When Thompson started out, Howard Wagman, General Manager of Yuk Yuk’s said to him “there are no short cuts in comedy.  The only way to get good, is to continue to gain experience and find your voice”.  Thompson has lived by these words, and has slowly earned his spot as one of Ottawa’s top comics.  Even now, six and a half years after he started, Thompson believes he has a long way to go.  He feels every time on stage is a learning experience, a time to grow and improve your act.  He compares the creation of a 45 minute set to writing a novel.  The work that goes into creating an analyzing a ‘bit’ until it is perfected comes with much time on stage until it clicks and is just right.

Thompson also fears that new comics may come with entitlement issues.  He wishes he had the confidence to go and start a fan page before even being established.  When asked about self-promotion, Thompson states that he is not good at talking about himself, seeing himself on video, or telling people about his comedy.  He comes from a world view of “letting the work speak for itself” but acknowledges that the advent of social media such as facebook and twitter have led to EVERYONE self-promoting and he should get moving.  He has the talent, now he needs to get the word out so that people can see his talent. *for more on Self-Promotion see yesterday’s blog here*

Thompson’s career is soaring at a comparable rate to his patience dropping.  People are not aware that texting while watching a show is considered exceptionally rude, and can throw a performer off their ‘game’.  Funny gal Martha Chaves has compared heckling and not paying attention in the audience to cutting a ballerina’s legs off and telling her to dance.  Thompson has lost his temper with audience members, though often with good reason.  He and other comics on the same show may attempt to let the “texter/heckler” know that this is not acceptable, and can even engage them in small banter and tear them apart with their wit, but there are times when a good “shut the eff up” has come out.  Thompson is working on this, but it is agreed that further education needs to go out to the new generation coming to watch stand up comedy.  If you want to talk or work on your computer/phone, then stay home and watch You tube.  You will get what you pay for, but go ahead.  If you want the live excitement, of which there is no comparison, of stand up comedy, then come on out and put the machines away for two hours.  To put it bluntly:  Thompson hates stupid people, but is learning to live along side of them.

While Thompson enjoys his peers, he does feel that the worst thing to see is outdated comics who have just given up.  Comics performing racist/sexist material that they were doing twenty years ago often fare badly.  The world has changed, and comedy has changed with it.  There are dark comedians who can do this material in a way that makes more fun of the racist, but when comics won’t evolve, they do not bring the energy to the audience, and present a bad face for professional comedy.

In an ideal world in ten years Thompson will either be playing Major League Baseball, or making a living full time at comedy.  Either one will satisfy him fully.  Thompson continues to be one of JH5’s favourites, and we are proud to present him as “WHO TO WATCH”.  He will continue to be a strong fixture in the Ottawa comedy scene, and it is our hope that people will catch the Thompson fever.  

Jenn Hayward
JH5 Promotions

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