Comedy: A nine-to-five job

Stand-up Comedy, held on Friday night in the Campus Black Box Theatre, was a sold-out success. It featured comedians Mike Haun, Steve Holbert, Linda Sherbert, Andrew Markle, Robin Henry and Kevin Dwyer, with three being Georgia College alumni, and all being hilarious.

Catering to a crowd that ranged from college kids to professors and community residents, each comedian cracked up the audience for the entire two-hour event. The amount of laughs a single comedian can pack into a 10-minute segment amazes many, and may bring one to question, “Are comedians always this funny?” GC graduate Steve Holbert was more than willing to divulge his inner thoughts as well as his preparation for Friday night’s show.

Holbert has remained close to campus after his graduation from GC, working as a secretary in the Department of Theatre. Holbert spends much of his time developing his jokes, drawing inspiration from the tragedies in the lives of friends.

“I feel like I’m a lifeguard, and I’m the only one who sees the fat kid drowning,” Holbert said when asked if being a comedian changed his daily perspective.

He feels that the worse the situation, the better the joke that may be derived. Holbert refrains from crude humor and states that he likes comedians Andrew Markle and Linda Shubert “because they are classy.”

Holbert and Markle, a GC graduate, are good friends as well.

“I worked with Steve in improve, and when I was in school here, I was producing shows at Buffington’s, so we knew each other from that as well,” Markle said.

Holbert shared some of his quirks, including his obsession with Krispy Kreme and his love affair with Converse.  His favorite color is lime green, “the color of comedy.”

GC sophomore and computer science major Ginny VanDyck was briefly acquainted with Holbert through mutual friends in the Department of Theatre, and she attended Comedy Night as well.

“Steve is a really nice guy, and he’s definitely one of the funniest people I’ve ever met,” VanDyck said.

Holbert also disclosed some of his deepest thoughts.  If he could ask anyone one question, it would be to Grandmother Willow: “Why does Pocahontas keep jumping off of things and no one talks to her about it? ‘Just Around the River Bend’ is a very stressful musical number. Also, where is Grandfather Willow?”

He also revealed his feelings on dealing with screaming groupies.

“I need them to breathe,” Holbert expressed.

Steve Holbert allowed the Colonnade an inside look at his day as he prepared for the show Friday night.

7 a.m. – Wake up; feel like P. Diddy; run set.

7:30 a.m. – Wake up again; run set.

8 a.m. – Wake up again; run set; shower.

8:30 a.m. – Drive to McDonald’s; run set while eating McGriddle.

9 a.m. – Watch “Ghost Adventures” with friends.

11 a.m. – Meet with Colonnade reporter; eat delicious BBQ downtown; make new friend.

11:30-2 p.m.- Search through antique store; leave phone in antique store; browse comic book store; go to another antique store; pick up everything; try on jewelry.

2-5 p.m. – Run set; cry between runs.

5-6:30 p.m. – Hang out with family; cry because feeling unprepared.

6:30 p.m. – Contemplate running away from show; cry in green room.

8 p.m. – Do show.

10 p.m. – Cry tears of joy because show went well.

10:15 p.m. – Restock on tissues.

10:30 p.m. – Drop off friends who paid to come to show.

11 p.m. – Make ketchup and butter sandwich; watch television show “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

12 a.m. – Go to bed; cry because alone; contemplate buying cuddlefish or having child.

Posted by Jessica McQuain on Sep 13 2012. Filed under A&E. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.