He’s a lawyer by day and a jokester by night, but if you ask the California judicial system, they would love nothing more than for him to focus on his night job. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Chris Flail. The Shenandoah, PA native shares with us some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how he owns the laughs.
Name: Chris Flail
Hometown: Shenandoah, PA/Bakersfield, CA/Sacramento, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @chrisflail or Chris Flail Comedy
Years in Comedy: 7
Favorite City to Perform In: Bakersfield, CA/San Luis Obispo, CA
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Anything that surprises an audience that they would laugh at. I like to take really hard subjects and, as I call it, pour just enough sugar on them for a crowd to take the ride.
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: A crowd that truly loves stand-up comedy and wants to listen.
Favorite Comedy Club: Temblor Brewing Co.& Madhouse Comedy Club
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I was part of the lucky generation who watched the original ‘Comedy Central Presents’ legendary specials at 8,9, and 10 years old. I was also lucky at the same age to be given several bootleg comedy movies from a relative: Coming to America; Back to School with Rodney Dangerfield; Planes, Trains, and Automobiles; and Weird Science. From that point on, I was hooked on comedy.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I was absolutely terrified and could not wait to feel the relief after coming off stage. It was at a rowdy bar in Pittsburgh, PA. The host went up and bombed. Second comic – even worse. The third comic was blind, had to be carried onto the stage, and received a standing ovation for getting onto the stage… then HE bombed. They didn’t even give HIM a charity laugh. And then I was fourth… I felt like I was walking to a guillotine.
How would you describe your comedic style:
I am autobiographical, try to hit all aspects of the craft with different types of jokes, and focus most on connecting directly with the audience members.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I write as though I am describing a story or my feelings to one of 3-4 very close people in my life; then edit the material and references to visually make sense to a stranger who just met me.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
I lived in Bakersfield for 7 years, where I was there since Day-1 of the modern scene. It has grown exponentially and is welcome, supportive, and breeds true quality and originality in its talent. In just the past month, I have moved to Sacramento – and while I have not lived here long enough to fairly sum up the scene, the scale and potential here are very exciting.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
True success in comedy is walking off any stage knowing that you truly gave something to an audience and furthered the craft in your work and your approach. It’s the most difficult skill to acquire in comedy and the quickest to lose sight of, myself included.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Everyone I started within Bakersfield, especially Joe Alaniz who since 2014 has been the best comic I have worked with and the one whose skills consistently push me to continue to develop. But there are so many in the central valley and beyond who have produced and promoted so much good comedy in a region that doesn’t get its due credit, who I’ve been lucky to work with over the years: Dave Bynum, Mike Harmon, Dan Betts, Tyson Paul, Bruce Gray, Andrew Boydston, John Hacker, Mike Scott, Mar Haggard, Danny Minch, Dave Apkarian, Tanya Mansfield, Jess De La Garza, Alex Valencia, Curt Seablom, Ryan Bell, the Class Clowns, Canoodle Studios, Landyn Webb, Mike Zalusky, Aidan Candelario, Rick Storer, Liv Doty, Nick Malizia, Terrance Washington, Tom and Steph Clark, and many many many more. You all have grown central valley/coast comedy in a very special way, and moving to a new area has only reaffirmed that for me.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
Opening for Dave Attell and Nick Swardson; truly surreal moments, because I watched these guys on comedy central as a child – I felt like my TV was talking to me.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
It’s never as bad as you think it is, there are good lessons in (nearly) every failure, and no one else remembers it as vividly as you do. I always tell comics, keep checking boxes. In three years, it will not matter that you bombed on a particular show – but it WILL matter that you got on stage 250 times.
How do people react towards you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
Sometimes surprised, because (unfortunately) I’ve learned I have a pretty intense resting face.
Describe what it’s been like building a career in stand-up comedy:
Very painful, but even more rewarding. If you are willing to accept lots of angst and heartbreak, you can have moments great enough for five lifetimes. And it’s those occasional, fleeting, glimmering moments, that chase your right back to the salt mine for more kicks to the chops!
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
Such a great question. I would make the quality of the comedy/comedians what rules the day for getting opportunities in comedy. For those of us on the come-up, the business has a giant problem with valuing the wrong things like networking (a.k.a. befriending people for what they can do for you), followers (both real and fake), who’s wearing super cool sneakers, and jackets on stage…… There are lots of us on the LONNNGGGGGG road hoping it’s still enough to be friendly, respectful, professional, and most importantly, very good at the actual art form – rather than pretending to be an influencer or the promoter’s best buddy. Fingers crossed.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
The best ones I’ve worked with never give much advice. The only common threads are “keep going” and “let me know if you ever need anything,” the second of which is just LA-celeb speak for “I don’t know how to end this brief relationship.”
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
Regional Sensation (ironically, of course) – only because I routinely say it to annoy my girlfriend when we are in public and encounter someone who happens to recognize me from a show.
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
Theo Von texted me this between 12:31-12:32 am after a show:
“Hey Bud”
“Did I leave my wallet there?”
“It’s like a little thing with my cards in it”
“Maybe in the office”
“Nevermind I found it”
Then sent two selfies of us and my other friend Daniel Betts who was also on the show. 1-minute! And he defined “wallet” for me as “it’s like a little thing with my cards in it.” That man is the real deal, no gimmick.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
Funeral home, dressed as LL Cool J (80s LL, of course). Not-so-fun fact, I also arrived early to the show not knowing that they still were finishing service from the afternoon. So a few dozen grieving family members left a burial of their loved one, only to be greeted by a man wearing a Kangol hat, multiple chains, and a matching sweatsuit with no undershirt. Don’t call it a comeback.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
Enough to make a living doing stand-up and have a following that, regardless of size (hundreds, thousands, millions), I can book rooms in different cities that will fill with people who are totally into what I have to offer. And then introduce THOSE people to my favorite comics to work with.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
Brighter than ever, comedy has exploded onto the mainstream.
What’s next for you:
I’ll be joining WOTL for their September 22nd showcase at the Sacramento Punchline!
Watch Chris Flail as his MMA alter ego “Bro Rogan”:
Follow Chris Flail’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter: @chrisflail
Facebook: Chris Flail Comedy
