Comedian Thai Rivera is returning to the Valley this weekend to perform at Stand Up, Scottsdale! Comedy Club. Check out Fab AZ’s exclusive interview with Thai Rivera:
Q: Where are you from?
A: Born in Phoenix, raised in Casa Grande and eventually back to Phoenix…short answer Arizona.
Q: How long have you been doing comedy?
A: 8 years
Q: How was your first gig? Was it immediately gratifying, or did you bomb at first?
A: I had the worst stage fright, so I forgot all of the material I had written. Fortunately, the stuff I was saying was funny enough to make people laugh, so I had a good time. I definitely didn’t bomb, but it didn’t turn out exactly the way that I had planned it.
Q: How do you feel about coming back to the Valley?
A: I love it here better than anywhere else so I’m excited. I know it’s not really popular to say you love the place you come from and we all know Arizona has its problems but so does everywhere. I travel A LOT and haven’t found a place that I could truly call perfect but my family and closest friends are here so that’s as close to perfect as I would want any place to be.
Q: What can comedy goers expect from you at Stand-Up, Scottsdale! this weekend?
A: Well, this weekend I’m taping my first Comedy DVD, so they can expect to see how that works out. But outside of that, AN ALL OUT GOOD TIME!!! My style is not at all politically correct and many would describe me as “edgy,” which is code for “I say stuff we’re all thinking but most don’t feel they can say.” I curse a bit and don’t hold back in my act, but I think that’s part of what people come out for. I always feel that if people wanted to see the cleaned up version they’d stay home and watch stand up on TV.
Q: What is the source of inspiration for your jokes?
A: Everyday life. I’m constantly meeting new people and being put in awkward situations, so the jokes pretty much write themselves.
Q: How do you test out new material?
A: Open mics. I have a reputation for being the hardest working comic on the LA scene. Most nights I do between 3 and 5 sets just so I can keep tweaking my jokes and getting used to the wording. A lot of comics at my level don’t go to open mics anymore, but I still do. In my opinion, there’s no better way to test new material out.
Q: How do you keep yourself busy while on tour/traveling/performing?
A: I shop and go to the gym A LOT. I’ve got a pretty extensive shoe and t-shirt collection. Sometimes I hang out at clubs but not too much because my work has me in bars and clubs all the time, so I try to do things that will get me out of work mode.
Q: What are your thoughts on the Snuggie?
A: I guess it’s nice if you’re not comfortable going old school and just wrapping a blanket around yourself and walking around the house like that. Maybe having a blanket with arms built into it might help you feel like less of a loser and like you’ve at least half gotten dressed. Wait…was I supposed to plug the snuggie? Do they sponsor you guys? Have I been set up?
Q: If you had the chance to do a comedy show with three comedians, living or dead, who would they be?
A: Richard Pryor, George Carlin and Jo Koy.
Q: What’s an interesting fact that people wouldn’t know about you?
A: That I’m not Asian. LOL!!!!
Q: Where can people find more information about you? Anything coming up we should know about?
A: People can find out more about me at the newly redesigned www.ThaiRivera.com, pretty much everything is there. As for what’s coming up,I have a couple of things that I’m really not allowed to talk about so everybody should keep an eye out and pay attention! Trust me when I say BIG THINGS are happening for me in 2012 🙂
See Thai Rivera at Stand Up, Scottsdale! Comedy Club January 27 and 28.