For over two decades, this comedian has taken us on a magical journey of laughter. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Dylan White. The Thousand Oaks, CA native shares some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how he always owns the laughs.
Name: Dylan White
Hometown: Thousand Oaks, CA/Chandler, AZ
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @itsdylanwhite
Years in Comedy: 25 … but not in a row and not always in stand-up comedy
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: Apart from a couple very minor TV and film appearances, I’m mostly known for playing the Genie in “Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular” at Disney California Adventure for 10+ years
Comedic Influences: George Carlin, Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Brian Regan, Richard Jeni, Kathleen Madigan, Ray Romano, John Mulaney, and Taylor Tomlinson
Favorite Comedy Album: Bill Cosby: Himself (but it’s really hard to listen to now, dammit)
Favorite Comedy Special: Robin Williams “Live at The Met”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Just one? No way.
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Cheers, Frasier, Friends, Arrested Development, The Office, & Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Favorite Comedic Character: How could I not say The Genie?
Favorite City to Perform In: Haven’t found a favorite city yet … but I do have a least favorite.
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Ridiculous little life things, personal experiences and observations, and anything I can look at from a different perspective.
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: I mean, of course, any audience that’s open to having fun. I’d rather play to a lively small crowd than a dead sold-out house.
Favorite Comedy Club: So far … Tempe Improv and Flappers in Burbank, CA.
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I’ve been on stage in plays and musicals since I was a kid and always enjoyed playing the funny parts most. When I realized that I could do a show with only the funny part, that’s when the lightbulb went on.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
It was the first time I felt like I knew where I belonged.
How would you describe your comedic style:
Oddly observational, somewhat sarcastic, exasperated but never angry.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I have a notebook of ideas. Some are just a few words, others are completely written (and re-written). A lot of things come from riffing out loud, then putting it on paper, then trying it out loud again. Editing happens on stage when I see what actually works and what doesn’t and I go back and figure out how best to tell the joke or do the bit with the best economy of words. And then some things are just spur-of-the-moment on stage that I really hope I remember later.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
Flourishing. Opportunities are popping up everywhere. And there’s a supportiveness in the comedy community here that I never experienced in Los Angeles.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
As long as they’re laughing and you’re still having fun, you’re succeeding.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Patrick Bean, Adam Jay, Ty LaVette, Mary Upchurch, Kubari Eady, and pretty much anyone who can be funny on stage and not an a-hole in person.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
In the final performance of Aladdin, during the moment where I “riff” with Jafar, I did ten minutes of Disney and show-specific material that I had never performed before and haven’t performed since. It was a tribute to the show and it killed. An incredible moment in an incredible performance that felt like a f**king rock concert.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
There are no failures, only lessons.
How do people react towards you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
If they aren’t laughing then they haven’t realized I can do it.
Describe what it’s been like building a career in stand-up comedy:
Just like anything else, there is no one right way to do it. We’re all on our own paths. So while it’s easier said than done, don’t compare your career to another’s. Be persistent and professional and everything else will take care of itself … if you’re funny.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
There should be a Constitutional amendment outlawing “bringers”
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
I didn’t get this advice personally, but Steve Martin once said, “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” I think that applies to everything, not just comedy.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“Dylan White: Live On Stage, Dead Inside”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I had a throw-away moment in “Catch Me If You Can” that they actually threw away on the cutting room floor. But I was on set with Tom Hanks and we riffed a little between takes. Cracked each other up. Something supremely satisfying about making Tom Hanks laugh.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
I performed in an airplane hangar once. It was a picnic-style setting and everyone brought their own chairs and blankets. Unusual, but in was an incredible show!
A Dylan White Fun Fact:
I know way too much 80s music than should be healthy for a person.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
Geographically speaking, I’d like them to take me everywhere. “Careerically” speaking, of course, I want to sell out theaters, have a handful of specials, and hopefully have people remember that I didn’t just make them laugh, I made them happy … at least for a little while.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
You don’t own the laughs. We all do. We’re just sharing them with each other.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
I think—I hope—that people’s super-sensitivity has reached its apex. As it always has been, it’ll be up to comedians to poke holes and poke fun so we stop taking everything so damn seriously.
If you could write one episode for one classic TV sitcom which show would it be and give a brief detailed sentence on the episode:
I’d write an episode of FRIENDS where Chandler’s old roommate Kip (who was only mentioned but never seen) returns and up-ends everything. It’s completely self-serving, but I would’ve played Kip.
If you could choose 1 comedy club and 3 comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
The club wouldn’t matter, but if I got to share a bill with John Mulaney, Brian Regan, and Taylor Tomlinson and then have all of us on stage riffing with each other at the end of the show … that’d get me higher than doing mushrooms with a maharishi.
What’s next for you:
I actually just released my 4th novel. It’s a sci-fi adventure called “The Orion Abduction.” I’m working on its sequel as I continue my comedy.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Life isn’t taking you seriously, either.
Follow Dylan White’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @itsdylanwhite
Youtube: Dylan White
Personal Website: www.dylanwhite.com
