By C. Patterson – cpatterson@blitzweekly.com
Before he takes the stage for the Ladies Night Out Tour with Bill Bellamy in Arlington on August 10-12, actor and comedian Jay Reid took center stage with BW and gave us the low down on how he started in the business, what it’s like being on tour, and what he better not find in your closet.
So who did you tell first that you were going to be a comedian?
Actually I told a girl that I was dating at the time. I told her first and she kind of encouraged me to get on stage and do it. So if it weren’t for her I probably wouldn’t be a comedian.
What was the first time on stage like?
I was very nervous and had no confidence at all. I didn’t know how the material would work in front of the crowd because it was a really big crowd that I was performing in front of for the first time. I was just unsure of my material and myself and it showed afterwards.
You’ve gone to Iraq and entertained the troops before. What was that experience like?
It was an unforgettable, unbelievable experience. I got a chance to actually live like a soldier and see what they go through on a day-to-day basis out there in Iraq and to be able to talk to them was touching. I can’t wait to be able to do it again.
What has been the craziest moment you’ve had on the tour so far?
[Bill Bellamy and myself] will do a lot of wild stuff. We do stuff like go into jam lounges and I’ll get on the drums and he’ll get on the mic and start singing. We just do a bunch of wild stuff.
You’re also really into Twitter and Instagram. What are the “do’s and don’ts?”
[Laughing] Don’t ever send a naked picture of yourself on Twitter or you’ll be a trending topic.
Well that may actually be good press. Certain comedians don’t like to give away jokes via Twitter and some actually use it as another medium. What is your stance on that?
I think for me if I think of a premise I’ll throw it out there and see if people like it. If it is something that people like and people are talking about I’ll write some jokes for my stand-up on that. I do that sometimes.
What’s the biggest misconception about the comedy industry?
I think people think that comedy is dead and I don’t believe that. I think that comedy is still alive and that people should go support it a lot more. You have comedians like myself and a lot of others that I work with that work really hard on a daily basis to make people laugh. They get up every day and just focus on how can I brighten somebody else’s day. I think that they should definitely give those type of people more support because we work hard for you guys.
What’s one thing no man should have in his wardrobe?
Skinny jeans and jeggings. UGG boots, I never want to see a man in UGG boots.
[Laughing] What’s the next thing that you are working on?
I’m working on some movie scripts and I have also been writing some sitcoms. I have the Showtime special coming out in the fall. Wow, I have my own comedy special I’m working on in Las Vegas on the strip. So, I’m doing a lot.
What’s the hardest part of the comedian lifestyle?
The traveling is the hardest part. Being away from your family and your friends, the people that are around you that you love. You know sometimes you miss birthdays or special events that they are doing, you miss a lot of that. So if I could get some of that time back I would love it, but this is the life I chose.
Before he takes the stage for the Ladies Night Out Tour with Bill Bellamy in Arlington on August 10-12, actor and comedian Jay Reid took center stage with BW and gave us the low down on how he started in the business, what it’s like being on tour, and what he better not find in your closet.
So who did you tell first that you were going to be a comedian?
Actually I told a girl that I was dating at the time. I told her first and she kind of encouraged me to get on stage and do it. So if it weren’t for her I probably wouldn’t be a comedian.
What was the first time on stage like?
I was very nervous and had no confidence at all. I didn’t know how the material would work in front of the crowd because it was a really big crowd that I was performing in front of for the first time. I was just unsure of my material and myself and it showed afterwards.
You’ve gone to Iraq and entertained the troops before. What was that experience like?
It was an unforgettable, unbelievable experience. I got a chance to actually live like a soldier and see what they go through on a day-to-day basis out there in Iraq and to be able to talk to them was touching. I can’t wait to be able to do it again.
What has been the craziest moment you’ve had on the tour so far?
[Bill Bellamy and myself] will do a lot of wild stuff. We do stuff like go into jam lounges and I’ll get on the drums and he’ll get on the mic and start singing. We just do a bunch of wild stuff.
You’re also really into Twitter and Instagram. What are the “do’s and don’ts?”
[Laughing] Don’t ever send a naked picture of yourself on Twitter or you’ll be a trending topic.
Well that may actually be good press. Certain comedians don’t like to give away jokes via Twitter and some actually use it as another medium. What is your stance on that?
I think for me if I think of a premise I’ll throw it out there and see if people like it. If it is something that people like and people are talking about I’ll write some jokes for my stand-up on that. I do that sometimes.
What’s the biggest misconception about the comedy industry?
I think people think that comedy is dead and I don’t believe that. I think that comedy is still alive and that people should go support it a lot more. You have comedians like myself and a lot of others that I work with that work really hard on a daily basis to make people laugh. They get up every day and just focus on how can I brighten somebody else’s day. I think that they should definitely give those type of people more support because we work hard for you guys.
What’s one thing no man should have in his wardrobe?
Skinny jeans and jeggings. UGG boots, I never want to see a man in UGG boots.
[Laughing] What’s the next thing that you are working on?
I’m working on some movie scripts and I have also been writing some sitcoms. I have the Showtime special coming out in the fall. Wow, I have my own comedy special I’m working on in Las Vegas on the strip. So, I’m doing a lot.
What’s the hardest part of the comedian lifestyle?
The traveling is the hardest part. Being away from your family and your friends, the people that are around you that you love. You know sometimes you miss birthdays or special events that they are doing, you miss a lot of that. So if I could get some of that time back I would love it, but this is the life I chose.