At age 26, Jesse Thomas is about as accomplished as most Richmond comedians can be. A transplant from Fairfax, VA, in 2006 Jesse entered the Psychology degree program at VCU and was soon after asked not to return. In the midst of a crashing economy - one that's traditionally placed value on a person based on ones education - Jesse made a bold move in 08 and stepped up to fill the sneakers of Nick Cantone as the house comedian (for lack of a better term) at The Funny Bone comedy club in Short Pump. Being the only full-time Richmond comic not required to hit the road in order to monetize his craft, Jesse made the most of his position by assisting both up-and-comers and established funny people in the Richmond comedy scene.
Standup comedy events started popping up all over the city, filling the needs of starving artists in search of a new audience and venue to hone their passion. In a situation where most professionals would maintain nothing more than an apprehensive curiosity for the competition, Jesse has genuinely supported and nurtured those events in the name of comedy. Going as-far-as hosting said events, doing sets for, and helping facilitate talent unattainable for those not in his position, Jesse deserves some of the credit for all the laughter currently emanating from RVA.
Though he may not accept any recognition for enhancing the Richmond standup experience, it's clear that he deserves it. His egalitarian attitude towards the interested few has further perpetuated RVA comedy, ensuring job security for himself and persevering past a period where every business - including The Funny Bone - must have painfully entertained the idea of cutting its losses and closing the doors. The economy is getting better, and so is RVA comedy.
Jesse is smart, funny, and accomplished in the realm that is Richmond comedy. He can be seen regularly at The Funny Bone, McCormack's, Cafe Diem, Club 955 at Bottoms Up Pizza, Fallout, and tonight at The Republic. I questioned Jesse to learn more about the funny, what makes him tick, and the inner workings of the city's scene. When asked about his ties to Richmond and being asked to leave VCU, Jesse said "That was the best thing that ever happened to me." Here's what else he had to say:
When did you know you wanted to be a stand up comedian? What was that experience like?
I've wanted to do stand-up comedy since I was 12. I remember a reading project we had in 6th grade. All the other boys in the class were given a book called Johnny Tremain. The cover of that book was explosions, war, and a deformed boy with a rifle. I was the only boy given Winter of the Owl. Winter of the Owl's cover was a girl nuzzling a horse in a snow covered meadow. When it came time to do the report, I treated my book like the joke it was. The class gave me a standing ovation. The teacher gave me an "F". That was also the day I realized that not everybody liked my sense of humor.
Comedians write, rewrite and preform material over and over to perfect it. How long does it usually take you to craft a joke, and what's the hardest part of the process?
Once you think a joke is perfected, you have lost the game. The only thing in comedy that is ever perfect is when you imagine how you want your set to go. 95% success rate is about the best you can hope for. To get to 95%, it takes a while. You can't just assume, based on 5, 10, or even 20 times, that a joke will work. It takes months, years even, to get it in front of enough different crowds to say "that joke is pretty effing bulletproof." Normally I like a joke to go through about 15-20 open mic sets before I break it out for paid gigs.
The hardest part of creating new material is doing it at the same open mics several times. A lot of the open mics we do have regulars that come out to that show every time it happens. As wonderful as it is to know that there are going to be people there, it makes it difficult to get a good reading on how a joke is doing 2 weeks in. You have to try and figure out "does this joke just not work, or have they heard it 5 times and it's just not funny to them anymore."
You're kind of a conduit for local comedians and out of towners trying to break into Richmond. Is that ever a burden?
I love my job. I love being able to help bring the Funny Bone's attention to comics that either were overlooked before or have grown into their own of late. That being said, it can absolutely be a burden. It's a little bit difficult to get the ire of my peers simply because I have a job to do. The Funny Bone is a wonderful place for comedians, but it is also a business. Just like any other business, they need to produce what their clientele is looking to buy. Just because I can't help Comedian X get into the Funny Bone doesn't mean Comedian X isn't funny. It just means they don't fit the mold the Funny Bone requires for their business. Some comics get that, and some don't. Regardless, they all seem to hold it against me.
Would you rather be raped by a dolphin or bit by a shark?
Bit by a shark. First of all, scars are bad ass. Second of all, if I have to tell somebody I got raped by a dolphin, they are just going to say, "Well, look at the way you were dressed."
When people find out you're a comedian, I'm sure they say things like "Tell me a joke," or "Say something funny." How do you handle statements like that?
I normally try and change the conversation. If that doesn't work, I tell them the most off-color and sadistic street joke that I can think of. It's normally just any combination of children and wheat threshers.
In your opinion, what's the most underrated holiday and why?
In my opinion, the most underrated holiday is Tom Brady Day. I think a major part of the reason it's so underrated is because it's not celebrated on a set day. It's celebrated whenever somebody says something unkind about Tom Brady in my presence. I begin by, traditionally, yelling that Tom Brady is the greatest ever. And it tends to end with me ceremoniously crying from frustration and swinging my arms in a windmill motion as I walk toward people.
You've been doing standup for awhile now. Is there ever an instance where you get nervous?
All the time. A much smarter man than I once told me "when you stop getting nervous, you've stopped caring." The tricky part is not showing it. Before and after you walk on stage you can be as nervous as you want. Throw up, pace around, chain smoke, whatever you have to do to fight the nerves. But when you walk on stage, you can't take any of that with you. When you step on stage, you have to be Steve McQueen and James Dean's love child. Cool, calm, and confident. In the business, we call it "swinging tiger dick." Nothing can hurt you when you are swinging a big, fat, tiger dick.
Anything else you would like included in the article, feel free to list it here and I'll make sure It's in the write up.
If you can find a way to get The War Of 64 in there, I'd really appreciate it. It's Wednesday the 29th. Richmond's 5 comic team vs. Virginia Beach's 5 comic team. It's gonna be a blast. (The War Of 64 will be held at The Funny Bone in Virginia Beach on Feb. 28th and in Richmond on Feb. 29th. for more information on this event, click here).
Check Jesse Thomas out tonight at The Republic (EVENT PAGE)
