Squamish comedian Kelly Dyer brings the laughs to the hometown stage this Thursday with a show at The Knotty Burl.
The Chief caught up with Dyer, 45, while he was working his day job as a carpenter for a chat about being the funny guy, his show and how Squamish is changing.
What follows is an edited version of that conversation.
Q: What is your history in Squamish? Were you born here?
A: I was born in Toronto and then moved to Whistler about 26 years ago, and then 13 years ago I moved to Squamish. When I moved to town, it was still kind of a kept secret, but the word is out now, that is for sure.
Q: Were you a funny kid?
A: Yes, definitely I was always the class clown, the funny one in my family. And my family was super funny. We watched tons of standup as kids — Robin Williams, George Carlin. We always loved laughing and were a jovial, joking around kind of family.
Q: Did you come from a big family? It seems like a lot of comedians became funny as a way to get attention.
A: No, it was just my brother and me. We are addicted to attention, though.
I am lucky now, because believe it or not, becoming a comedian made me more of a normal person because now I have an actual outlet to be funny and get attention. So rather than being the crazy, funny guy at the party or gathering, I don't need to do that anymore because I have a stage and have pursued that profession.
Q: Do you relate when comedians say they get tired of being expected to be ‘on' all the time when they are off stage?
A: Yeah. A lot of people ask for me to tell them a joke or be funny and it doesn't really work like that. I try to turn it around. I remember I was at a party once and someone asked me to tell a joke. He was an excavator, so I said, "Tell you what, you dig me a hole, and I will tell you a joke." He was flabbergasted, but his girlfriend explained he was expecting me to do my job on command and I was doing the same to him.
Q: What do you think of all the change that has happened locally in the 13 years you have been in Squamish?
A: I think it is good and bad. I certainly don't want to see the town turn into Whistler where people are forced out of living here. It might happen if prices keep rising. People will cash out and move to the Interior and put a couple hundred thousand in the bank.
But personally, with more people living here, I have been able to do this show. I put it on every other month at The Knotty Burl, and it has been great. We sold out the first three shows and had some that were about 100 people. So every show has been really good. Everyone leaves wanting more and wondering when the next one is. I am lucky. I can walk to the Squamish show. I usually have to drive to do a show in the city, so I am stoked I can walk out my door and bring live standup to Squamish.
Q: It has been eight years since you started doing comedy and in that time our culture has changed quite a bit. We are more politically correct. How does that impact your comedy, or does it?
A: The world has never been more offendable than it is right now. People are hypersensitive; they get offended on other people's behalf for no reason. That has made it harder, but we as comedians aren't meant to care about that stuff. Our job is to observe and report. So, whatever is going on around us in our lives, we are meant to take that to the stage and turn that into the funny.
Q: You are a dad, so how has that impacted your life or your comedy?
A: Yes, I have an 8-year-old son. It has definitely changed my life in a good way. He has slowed my life down in all the right ways. It has been great, and he is super funny. I have done a few jokes about him.
Q: You signed with Yuk Yuk's in 2014, how has that been for you?
A: It has been great. They have 18 clubs across the country. They are my agent. They take care of all my bookings across the country. If you want to get into comedy it is the fastest route to getting good. You are going to get the most stage time, the most number of shows. The independent route is a little more difficult because you actually have to go to these clubs in Ottawa or Winnipeg and showcase for them, which means you have to fly there, do a set for them to prove you are good and worthy of being booked on the weekend before you can get booked. Once you are in the door of Yuk Yuk's you have 18 clubs to perform at.
Q: Anything else you want people to know?
A: Just thanks to everybody who comes to support live comedy and if you haven't come to check out a show — do.
The Burly Show Comedy Night at The Knotty Burl is hosted by Dyer with Efthimios Nasiopoulos as the headlining comedian. Fellow comedian Ryan Gunther and musical guest Emily Molloy will also take the stage. Doors open at 8 p.m.
Tickets available at Stuntwood Skateshop in downtown Squamish or at the door.
