Comedian Kyle Kinane is originally from Chicago and now lives in L.A. where he is making a big impression. Kyle has been a guest on numerous podcasts, voiced promos for Comedy Central, toured with Daniel Tosh and produced two albums. Now he’s on tour and he’s headlining it! Kyle made a stop in Richmond this week for a show at Strange Matter and I had the opportunity to ask him a few questions about himself and his career! Here’s what Kyle had to say:
I understand that you started doing stand-up on a whim without much experience. Were you ever the ‘funny guy’ in school? Did the comedy just come natural?
Well nobody really has experience if they’re doing something for the first time. I was funny to a few of my friends, but probably considered obnoxious by most. I knew I liked making people laugh. It was better attention than getting my ass kicked. Although I usually got mixed results with my sense of humor.
What were you studying in college when you started doing stand-up? Did you immediately know that comedy was what you wanted to do or was it a side thing for a while?
I was loosely studying creative writing. I knew that comedy was going to be a passion as soon as I started. I never thought it would make me any money, which was why I could keep it pure and let it be my passion in life. If you try to generate revenue from your passion too early, I think you can spoil what you love about it in the first place. Just work hard at something you love and if the universe decides you should get paid doing it, then you will.
When was your ‘this is what I want to do with my life’ moment?
It still happens. It’s every time I want to complain about being stuck in an airport or a city I don’t know, I remind myself that the world lets me tell jokes for a living. I think about all the crummy day jobs I had when my life was directionless. It’s not that everything is ideal all the time, but it’s the best outcome I could’ve hoped for in this lifetime.
How did you get into voice acting?
People heard my standup and thought I had a decent voice for a few projects.
Do you ever get stage fright or a crazy batch of nerves before a show?
There’s still nerves, but then there’s the confidence of experience that calms some of those nerves. But they never go away. I still want shows to go well, or at least go the way I want them to go, and there’s never a guarantee that’s going to happen.
What ultimately inspired your move from Chicago to L.A.?
It was time to move out of Chicago and I wasn’t going to deal with winter anymore.
Do you have a favorite venue?
I’ve been fortunate enough to play in so many strange places in so many different countries. Beach bars in South Korea. A small outdoor ampitheater in the woods. In a room above a kitchen in Memphis in already 100 degree-plus weather. I couldn’t pick one. So many unique experiences.
I watched yours and Tommy Chong’s episode of Getting Doug With High. Was it weird smoking on camera for a talk show?
Nah. I don’t really get high much. May as well see what happens.
That Pace Salsa prank on Twitter last year was pretty entertaining. How did you feel about getting pranked by Randy Liedtke?
I was only mad that I had to share the credit for the situation with another comic, but other than that I loved it. Randy is my friend and a true master of the form.
What can we expect from you in the coming months?
Gonna try and record another special during the summer. Perpetual motion of touring. Taking it all in.
Check out Kyle on Twitter, Facebook and tumblr.