Young comedian works his way to the top
Written by Maria Bitter
Calgary comedian Marito Lopez, 22, did not grow up believing he was meant to be funny guy. He enrolled as an English major at Mount Royal University, but soon found it that it wasn't what he was looking for.
"I hated my life. I hated going to school. But one day, one of my friends , who's also a comic was advertising his shows, and I remember I just always thought to myself, 'that would be pretty cool to actually do it one day. ' "
Lopez made his debut in junior high school and "bombed in front of everyone," he said. He took stand-up comedy seriously a year and a half ago by presenting his material at an amateur open-mic night.
Soon he took a break from university life, and started working in the oil and gas industry part- time, while doing stand up every night.
Lopez moved in with 29-year-old friend and fellow comedian, Chris Gordon. Lopez said that he moved in with a more experienced comedian to get a better sense of how a comedian lives.
"It wasn't till about eight years after high school that I hit a low point in my life, and I just said, 'I'm going to take a chance and step on stage and do it,'" said Gordon.
Gordon said that in order to make it into the business you have to take risks. "Never give up. Always be on stage, that's the only way you are going to learn, and do things for yourself," Gordon said. "You need to pursue your own ideas."
Talent agent and comedian Kelly D'Amour, runs the western division of Yuk Yuk's comedy club. She explained that in order to make it big in the comedic world, you have to be original and get as much stage time as possible. She also said that it takes a comedian a number of years before he or she can develop 15 to 20 solid minutes of good material.
"The industry likes edgy people. Somebody who is eclectic and has a fast mind will do great. You also have to be a good story teller. You need to have the confidence and unique material."
D'Amour said that a comedians worst fear is not getting enough laughs and leaving the stage disappointed.
Lopez said, "My biggest fear is that I'll bomb. If people don't laugh at my jokes I'll diss them. I get mad, I'm so sensitive. If you don't laugh at my stuff I will get pissed."
He hopes to make it a full-time career and finish his English degree, "I have to or else my mom will kill me," Lopez said.
D'Amour gives amateur comedians some advice. "You have to work hard and get all the stage time you can, and never ever give up or stop believing in yourself...unless you suck."
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