Amanda Brooke Perrin
Tell me about your ongoing love for Peter Dinklage: what sparked it initially? What will you say when you meet him for reals?
PETER DINKLAGE IS MY EVERYTHING!! He’s a great actor. He is handsome. I like thinking about carrying him in a baby bjorn. I have no idea what I would do or say if I met him in person – I would lose my mind! One of the walls in my room literally has a calendar and a picture of him. That’s it. It’s like a creepy teenager’s bedroom. HE IS THE BEST!
Why are you so fearful of raccoons- what happened?
I just moved to Toronto from Calgary and in Calgary we didn’t just have raccoons hanging out in the street. When I got off work one night at 4 am, I was walking home and saw my first raccoon and I could tell in it’s eyes that it wanted to eat me or make me it’s raccoon bride. They are vicious and terrifying.
You’re from Brockville but worked out in Calgary and now you’re in TO: how does the comedy scene differ between Calgary & TO?
Calgary doesn’t have as many places to do stand up, for sure. I was really lucky to start in Calgary though. It’s such a supportive group of comics out there and a lot fewer obviously. When you move to a new city it’s scary trying to make yourself known – but Toronto has been lovely so far. I wouldn’t say I have a preference; I definitely feel like I can take more risks and am encouraged to do so more often in Toronto. But Calgary will always be my home and where I first started stand up. It will always have a place in my heart. (What is this, Heart & Home magazine?? Yikes – take it easy, Perrin.)
What percentage of TO comics suffer from depression, in your opinion?
Oh maaaaaan. It’s so hard to say. I know, personally, I have suffered from depression before. It’s so hard to tell with people. The happiest people in groups can be the saddest people alone. Comedy is a rollercoaster ride; the highs are amazing and make your body shake and the lows can literally put you in a paralyzing state. I’m not embarrassed about talking about it and I think that if more comics talked about it, maybe we wouldn’t all feel like garbage…. THIS WAS A REALLY SAD ANSWER. I’m very happy with where I am at right now and encourage anyone and everyone to go to therapy! Happy hearts! Yay!
What spurned the ‘tasting weird shit’ videos on youtube? Have you been doing these self-dares for a while and only recently began to film them?
I swear to God I was sitting at home one night, feeling bad about not writing any new jokes in a while. I looked at my bedside table and saw a bottle of lotion and wondered what it tasted like. I kept doing them because Nikki Payne thought it was really funny – and if she thought it was funny, why would I stop? I haven’t done one in a while, but I like will do another one soon.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
I was a mascot for a drug store. I had to wear a gigantic bear costume and kids kept knocking on the back of my giant head. It was sweaty and awful.
What neighborhood are you in?
I’m on Queen West. I like that the homeless people there compliment you and then swear at you if you don’t look at them. I’m so close to everything… like FROYO! That’s probably why I have gained 20 pounds since moving here. Oh, also every day is like a puppy parade on Queen West. I want to throw up from all of the cuteness. I don’t like Queen West because everyone who walks down the street is beautiful, and I have to put on a dress in order to go to the grocery store.
Where do you go eat/drink in the city?
I like drinking anywhere because I am an alcoholic. (Not actually.) The Hooters patio on John and Adelaide is awesome. haha.
What other TO comedians should we check out? Where do you like to go eat/drink in the city? When/where is your next show?
I perform all the time randomly around Toronto – so people should add me on Facebook to see where I am performing! And follow me on Twitter @brookeperrin.
How would you describe the TO comedy scene:
The great thing about Toronto’s scene is that there are a lot of places to get on stage and as clichéd as it is; there really is a lot of talent. I usually perform at Alt.dot Comedy lounge, which is at the Rivoli, and the Comedy Bar on Bloor.
Where do you draw most of your inspiration for your material?
Ideas for material hit me when they do. I know that’s not very helpful but they sometimes just come to me or when something happens in real life that makes me laugh I just translate that onto stage.
Do you date other funny people?
A lot of people say it’s bad for comics to date other comics but I think it’s like anywhere else really and that if you want to date someone then date them. It can turn out badly like any relationship can. I personally don’t live by the rule of “DON’T DATE COMICS” but I try not to because even at a day job I probably wouldn’t date someone, but if I end up liking someone then nothing you can really do.
What was it like to open for Maria Bamford?
Maria Bamford has been one of the most inspirational comics and people I have met. Opening for her was amazing because she listened to my jokes and told me what she liked about them, not what I should change or do in comedy. She is smart and so genuine in real life.
We mostly talked about our dogs. I have a Boston Pug and she of course has her Pugs. She is just a great person and a pleasure to be around.
Do you see yourself staying in TO for the rest of your life?
No I don’t. I don’t know where I want to go. Portland Oregon probably (best city in the world). Even if it is not for comedy, I would like to travel and live other places.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
The worst job I ever had was at an ice cream cone factory. The people there made us work 8 hours with two 15 minute breaks. It was hot, and worst of all they made me wear a hairnet. They also swore at me, which I don’t take kindly too, so on my SECOND day I went for my 15 minute break and never came back.
What neighborhood are you in?
I live in little Italy — College St West. I love that a lot of comics live around me and it has everything I could possibly want.
What does your family think of your vocational choice?
My family is very supportive. They are also the funniest people I know. I also feel like I am playing catch up with them- my Grandma being the funniest. She is a little standup comic herself when she goes out. She talks to people and says the funniest things all the time and makes strangers laugh.
Any horror stories?
The worst gig I ever did was a charity gig where they didn’t want me to tell jokes last minute and gave me a list of people’s names to read off that were way too Italian for me to just see for the first time and pronounce. I ended up stuttering and looking insane. I then was heckled by some kids that were in the audience and I couldn’t really shoot back since they were in the right for saying I looked stupid…
What other TO comedians should we check out?
Bob Kerr, Tim Gilbert, Heidi Brander, Amanda Brooke Perrin Matt Carter, Dylan Gott, Deb Robinson, Desiree Lavoy, Nick Carter, Diana Love and so many others…
Where do you like to go eat/drink in the city?
Hog Town Vegan and Sadie’s Diner are deeeeeelish! I also am usually at Brass Taps on College, Comedy Bar and Nirvana.
Check out Rhiannon perform this Saturday July 7th @ the Crown and Dragon at 414 College Street for The One Hour Fun Hour Comedy Show: Aging Legends (8 pm). Follow her on Twitter: @RhiannonArcher
Deborah Robinson
How would you describe the TO comedy scene now as compared to NYC? Both are very supportive. I love doing comedy here cause it’s one big happy family…don’t get me wrong, there are for sure “weird uncle types” in the scene though. hahaha
When do most of your ideas hit you for your material? Anything that makes me laugh – Mostly my friends acting stupid or from me acting stupid. My husband is also a great source too. He and I are really awkward so when I talk about our lovemaking, people seem to dig it. I say what ever inspires me at the moment. I love Curb Your Enthusiasm and people in really uncomfortable situations. I also think I can be stupid at times and very vulnerable which makes the audience let their guard down..and that’s when I hit’em with the sweet stuff I like to call, “the twist.” It’s a brown liquid…don’t ask.
Is your family also hilarious? Very, they can be a bit biting at times with their wit, but it keeps me on my toes. They’re all Albertian hosers.
Heidi Brander
Do you prefer making youtube videos or doing standup?
Standup! There’s no rhyme or reason to Youtube. I wrote a song about the iPhone application Grindr that got over 100,000 hits (deservedly so) but other than that the biggest creative impact I’ve made on Youtube is a mash-up of a cartoon bear dancing to the tune of B2K’s “Bump Bump Bump.” It has twelve thousand hits. HOW?!?
What’s shitty about comedy in T.O.?
The fact that Katherine Ryan & Dana Alexander aren’t here anymore.
What’s great about it?
When comics who don’t drink beer give me their beer tickets.
What places do you typically perform at?
For me, Andrew Johnston’s “Bitch Salad” is the perfect comedy show. He puts so much thought into every detail, from the poster, the date, and the running order to which song he’ll play to bring up a comic. He really doesn’t get enough props for it. *Chest thump* It’s so crazy to me how some people think it won’t make a difference if their show has no promotion, starts 45 minutes late, and they intro a comic as “She’s a girl…please welcome Hilda Brando” (for example.) If the host doesn’t give a shit, why should the audience give a shit?
When do most of your ideas hit?
When I get an idea I’ll write it down in the “Notes” section of my iPhone and go back to it later. If it’s a good idea I’ll still be excited about it days later, but most of the time they’re pretty indecipherable. For example, right now I have a list in there that says “Surprise Bodies” “Goldfish names” and “Does Jann Arden shop at Ardene?” I do a lot of writing other than stand-up, so when I’m trying to write stand-up and I’m drawing a blank I’ll just move over to the next thing. I write song parodies with my musical comedy act “The Cheeto Girls”, I’ve been writing for MTV, YTV, and I’m always writing spec scripts, so I just rotate between all of them so I won’t get burned out on one. Like I do with my various lovers.
What comic trends/memes do you love?
It’s not a meme yet, but the inevitable gif of Tom Cruise making the James Van Der Beek crying face.
What neighborhood are you in? What do you like about it? What’s weird about it?
I just moved to the Village, which I resisted for a while because I’m enough of a fag hag as it is. I’m in love with it — there are so many local businesses and the people are so friendly. The second I step out my door someone will wave & say hello. Every day I feel like Belle at the beginning of “Beauty & the Beast”.
What does your family think of your vocational choice?
My family is ridiculously supportive! I gave my dad a glossy autographed photo of myself performing in drag as a joke Christmas gift. The next time I went to visit he had it hanging up in his office.
What was your worst gig? Best?
My worst gig was a set I did when a toilet exploded during my set. I was onstage & furthest away from the smell, so when everyone started running out of the room I thought it was because of my jokes. My best gig was when I got to help write a monologue for what would turn out to be Jackie Burroughs’ final onstage performance. She read a passage from what we wrote as an unreleased sexy book by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Very “50 Shades of Grey”. It was raunchy, and she couldn’t have been more game. She even came up with our salacious twist ending herself!
What other TO comedians should we check out?
I love love love love Sara Hennessey, Desiree Lavoy-Dorsch, Emma Hunter and Dini Dimakos but my favourite comic to watch is Andrew Johnston when he’s drunk. It’s magical.
Favourite place to drink: Trinity Bellwoods Park.
Favourite place to eat: Straight from the fingers of the boys at Cheese Magic in Kensington Market.
Heidi was just nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award – “Best Standup Newcomer”. Her next show is July 4th at Slacks! 8pm — come out for it! Follow her Twitter: @heidibrander
Tiffy Thompson is a writer and illustrator for the Toronto Standard. Follow her on Twitter at @tiffyjthompson.
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