Need a laugh? Josh O’Neil can help you out. In addition to being a Xavier Player and a genuinely funny guy, Josh O’Neil is also a stand up comedian. We caught up with Josh as our most recent Campus Celebrity, and you can see him in action at Go Bananas Comedy Club Oct. 23rd-26th, or at MOTRPub on November 11th.
Hometown: Shrewsbury, MA / Cincinnati, OH (I’ve moved too much between the two to pick a side.)
Year: Junior
Major: Electronic Media
Hobbies: Standup Comedy, Playing Guitar, Watching Netflix, Dog-sitting
How did you get into stand up comedy?
When I moved here for college I really wanted to immerse myself in whatever kind of comedy scene Cincinnati had to offer. I’ve loved standup since I was ten and I had done a couple of open mics in Massachusetts the summer before moving, but that was just dabbling. I wanted this to be a larger part of my life. I was lucky enough to start performing at Go Bananas in Montgomery halfway through first semester of my freshman year. Everyone there is so welcoming and supportive of each other that before you know it, you’re hanging out there on a pretty regular basis.
What are the best and worst parts of performing?
The best part of performing is definitely doing well onstage. Making someone laugh is a very affirming experience in that your writing is delighting people to the point where they can’t help but express that vocally. It really makes you feel like you’re doing something right.
The worst part, by a mile, is talkative audiences. If someone in a movie theatre is making loud comments, it doesn’t ruin everything; the movie keeps playing. But if you can hear audience members talking over your own voice, it can kill a show’s momentum in a heartbeat. It’s frustrating because most clubs stress before the show that you shouldn’t talk, but some people just have no idea how to act in a comedy club. At the same time though, a lady who booed me during an entire set last week gave me $45 after, so what do I know?
What’s the biggest thing you’ve taken away from it?
Standup’s an art form. I learned that right away. I’m not speaking for myself yet. I’m only 2 years in. If my comic persona were an artwork, it’d be those bulldogs playing poker. But professional comedians are on a level of artistry that still blows my mind. They put too much work, thought, creativity, and time into their acts for it not to be compared with the likes of painters, musicians, etc.
Any advice for aspiring comedians?
Do it. If you’ve ever wanted to do it, do it. If you want to, but you’re nervous, do it. You never realize how fun it is until you experience it firsthand.
More importantly though, keep doing it. If you do it once and you’re not as good as you thought you would be, keep doing it. Nobody’s good their first time. If you are performing regularly but your unhappy with your material, keep going. Everybody outgrows their material. There are clips of Louis CK on YouTube from the 80s, and Louis has been public with how much he hates that material. Look at Louis now. If you keep going, not only will you be able to learn more and more about the art, but your desire to get better will motivate you more than any group project or final exam ever will.
Favorite comedian: Mike Birbiglia’s been my favorite ever since I knew what standup was. There might be some personal bias in that we went to the same high school, but there are very few comedians who would have anything bad to say about him. His material’s so poignant, personal, and well written, and he’s only gotten better over the years. He’s one of like 4 comedians I’ve seen make my dad laugh, and that’s saying something. If you haven’t seen him, he has 2 specials and a movie on Netflix (Mike Birbiglia, not my dad).
Favorite movie: Scream
Favorite TV show: Cheers
Favorite band: The Avett Brothers
Tell us a joke: Why do seagulls fly over the sea? Because if they flew over the bay, they’d be bay-gulls! (I’m funnier in person. I promise.)
Fun fact: I didn’t talk until I was 4. My mom says I’m making up for that nowadays.
Any shows coming up?
I’ll be hosting at Go Bananas Comedy Club Oct. 23rd-26th for headlining act Ryan Stout. He’s been on Conan, Chelsea Lately, and Comedy Central, so it’s gonna be a hell of a show. I’ll also be performing at MOTRPub on their monthly standup showcase MOTRMouth on November 11th.