As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Matt Falk. The Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada native shares some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how he always owns the laughs.
Name: Matt Falk
Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Instagram: @MattFalkComedy Tik-Tok: @MattFalkComedy
Years in Comedy: 16
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: If you have, it’s probably one of my Dry Bar Comedy Specials or my TV tapings for the Winnipeg Comedy Festival. Most recently my comedy special, NOT GREAT with 800 Pound Gorilla Media.
Comedic Influences: My OG influences are Robin Williams, Ellen Degeneres and Eddie Izzard. I’ve had countless more over the years, but those three really helped shape my style in the beginning.
Favorite Comedy Album: (So cruel to make me only pick one…so I won’t)
Mitch Hedberg “Strategic Grill Locations”
Mike Birbiglia “Sleepwalk With Me”
Favorite Comedy Special: (Will the cruelty ever end?!)
I could pick so many, but I’ll choose Nate Bargatze’s episode of The Standups on Netflix (S1E1). It was a big moment in my adult stand-up comedy consciousness.
Favorite Comedy Movie: The Producers
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Parks and Recreation (specifically season 4). But like every millennial, I quote The Office nonstop.
Favorite Comedic Character: George Costanza. He’s horrible. I love him.
Favorite City to Perform In: Los Angeles (you just never know who’s gonna be on the show with you)
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Something absurd that I take way too seriously.
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: Excited and Attentive…and a little bit familiar with my work.
Favorite Comedy Club: Rumors Comedy Club in Winnipeg Manitoba
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I always loved making people laugh. I watched a TON of comedy specials and Just For Laughs when I was growing up and then I performed stand-up at a talent show…and the spark was ignited.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I remember being nervous, but excited. The feeling of getting a laugh from an audience was immediately infectious. I was absolutely hooked from first go.
How would you describe your comedic style:
I can never answer this question. But a producer once described my style as, “boyish charm with manic outbursts.” I’ve always liked that.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
My wife Sabrina and I write together. So one of us will come up with an idea and I’ll record it on my phone. Then we’ll workshop it together, I’ll try it on stage, we’ll re-work it together, and I’ll try it again. And then we just keep going like that until it’s ready. As we get closer to recording it, we’ll tighten it and make sure it fits within the larger hour.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
Vibrant, ever-changing and supportive. There’s a ton of comics and producers putting on shows— you can get on stage any night of the week. Plus the talent is next level, some of the best comics in the country are coming out of our little city of Winnipeg.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
Being able to keep working on projects that are creatively exciting. That’s the main goal. But alongside that is the goal of longevity. Being able to keep doing this job while being challenged and excited… that’s the dream, baby!
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Most comedians I work with inspire me in some way. If I have to name a few I’ll pick K. Trevor Wilson, Aisha Alfa, Matt Wright, Debra DiGiovanni, Paul Rabliauskas—oh man…I could list people forever!
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
I’d say performing at Just For Laughs. It was a childhood dream come true. And the best of the best are just all around you. It’s pretty surreal.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
To stay calm and not take it personally. Take a deep breath, don’t let defensiveness creep up, and just keep being authentic.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
People often think that I’m just as entertaining off stage as I am on stage. That’s unfortunately not true. I disappoint a lot of people when they talk to me off stage.
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
It’s like building a house, brick by brick. And you have to find every brick on your own. And they’re hidden in different spots in a complicated hedge maze. And then every third brick, you have to throw away because it has a crack down the middle. But then a contractor comes by and promises you a truck load of bricks! You get all excited but the shipment is a year late and it’s not a truck load, it’s 4 bricks. And the truck backs into your house and topples one of your walls. And crowds are slowly forming to watch you build the house but they’re growing impatient. And you just keep slowly going like that until you either finish your house or you make do without a roof.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
I’m Canadian. So, I really want Canadian comedians to have more opportunities to work and make a living in Canada. Comedy is our greatest export, but I’d love to see it have a place to thrive here too.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
Greg Proops told me to move to London…I haven’t followed his advice yet; but it’s nice to think about. And yes, I know this is ironic considering my last answer.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
Well, I released a comedy special a couple weeks ago and it’s called, “NOT GREAT.” But if I released one this week I’d call it, “BETTER THAN EXPECTED.”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I saw Andy Kindler after one of his shows and told him he was brilliant (cause he was) and gave him a bunch of compliments. Then I saw him a few hours later and instead of coming up with something different to say, I just repeated my first compliment word for word. I think I hoped he wouldn’t remember and I could have another interaction with him. He clearly remembered and looked at me like, “why is this kid saying this all again?” But he was very nice.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
I’ve performed in a lot of people’s basements. Whenever you have to take off your shoes for a show…it’s gonna be a weird show.
A Matt Falk Fun Fact:
I love Agatha Christie novels! There’s nothing more relaxing than sitting down with an old paperback and letting the queen of murder mystery throw you for a loop!
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
Screenplays. That’s the ultimate goal—to write movies.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Rehearse. I think rehearsals are one of the most under-utilized tools in stand-up. Get in front of a partner or a mirror and practice your act. Get used to the words, the inflections. Just talk it out. It’ll make you way more comfortable on stage.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
Comedy is insane right now. It feels like statistically every fourth person on the planet is a professional comedian. But there’s an audience for most of them! If people keep enjoying comedy as much as they are now, and comedians keep expanding the format and being inventive, we’re in for something special in the next ten years.
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:
FRAISER — Frasier and Daphne suffer a near-death experience in an elevator— the adrenaline makes them temporarily believe they have feelings for each other, which sends Niles into fits of passive-aggressive rage, culminating in him taking over Frasier’s radio show to let off some steam.
If you could choose 1 comedy club and 3 comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
I’d do it at Rumors Comedy Club in Winnipeg with Kevin Hart, Maria Bamford and James Acaster. That’s such an insane lineup…just thinking about this should be illegal!
What’s next for you:
I wish I could say it was basking in the glow of another special release, but that’s not the nature of the industry. I’ve been working on the next hour for a while already. Writing a tv pilot. And auditioning for whatever’s being made where I live. I’ve also been hosting a podcast for some time where I force comedians answer questions from the ghosts of comedy past, present and future.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Because life is hard—it’s so hard. And if we take everything so seriously, we’ll never be able to get through it.
Follow Matt Falk’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Matt Falk
Youtube: Matt Falk
Personal Website: Matt Falk
