What I Thought Comedy Was Part 8 by Anthony Corvino
Your significant other. Relationships and comedy go hand in hand and when I started out joke writing most of my material was spurred from my first relationship. It seemed only natural that the socially awkward teenager would pull from his only real life experience, holding down a relationship. I think relationships and comedy make sense because of how easily audiences can relate to the performer with emphasis being placed on the word ‘relate’. As a comic I’m constantly looking to relate or form some sort of relationship with my audience, what better way to do that than talk about the one person I share my joys, vulnerabilities and flaws with.
My first girlfriend supported my desire and passion for comedy while accepting that I would occasionally talk about her and our relationship and usually in very unflattering ways. Her family, friends, and bowel movements were all fair game. I took comedic license with her experiences with the goal of getting laughs and furthering my comedic ‘career’. Even writing the previous sentence makes me cringe a little at how disingenuous it sounds. I would have thought I could have found something, anything else to talk about, but bits about my girlfriend seemed to win audiences over because I didn’t shy away from anything. I was mining for every little truth nugget I could find out of a bit and sometimes I believe feelings were hurt, but she would never let on. I think it validated that she was a lot stronger than me when it came to taking a joke.
Fast forward to now and my current relationship with fellow comic Beth Raynor takes a lot of the spotlight in my act. Something about having a girlfriend that does comedy keeps you honest as a performer which is both refreshing and scares the living shit out of me. Whether I follow her, or she follows me I know she can and will call me out on my bullshit. It also warms my heart to know I have a girlfriend that enjoys talking about her love for vibrators, key lime pie, and black guys. I love you too honey. But that is why we write together, bounce jokes off each other, critique each other and still find time to appreciate the uniqueness of our acts. We are in a relationship born through riffing, shit-giving, and snuggles. And isn’t that what it’s really all about, the snuggles.
Anthony Corvino is from New York originally and is now a stand up comic in Wilmington, NC and an improviser with the Nutt House Improv Troupe. You can check out his website here