He brings a unique perspective on stage and doesn’t shy away from any topic. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Younis Dhaher. The Chicago, IL native shares some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how he always owns the laughs.
Name: Younis Dhaher
Hometown: Chicago, IL/Los Angeles, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @younisdhaher
Years in Comedy: 4 (Since 2019)
Comedic Influences: George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Dave Chapelle, Chris Rock, Mo Amer, Ramy Youssef, Shane Gillis, Nate Bargatze, Kevin Hart, & Bill Burr
Favorite Comedy Album: Chris Rock “Never Scared”
Favorite Comedy Special: Richard Pryor “Live on the Sunset Strip”
Favorite Comedy Movie: The Truman Show
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Ramy
Favorite City to Perform In: Chicago, IL
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Self Deprecating, dark humor, dating, family, & current events
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: Fun, outgoing, goofy, comedy nerds, not serious, and willing to take risks with the comedian.
Favorite Comedy Club: The Laugh Factory
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I have always loved stand-up comedy and writing since I was a kid; one time, when I was in college, they had a comedy competition at UIC called Last Comic Standing, and I just went for it and luckily won it and ever since then the bug bit me and I haven’t stopped doing it since.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I just remember being super nervous and going over my lines so that I don’t mess up any jokes, and honestly, I still feel the same way today before every show. I have gotten less nervous and started having more fun up there as time went by but if it’s a big pressure type of show, I would say the same fears still apply.
How would you describe your comedic style:
I feel like my comedic style is constantly growing and changing and I am always trying to get better and evolve over time. I don’t really know what my comedic style is however I would try and say it is the best version of me at that time and I am just trying to be my authentic self on stage.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I try and write every day, even if it’s just a quick one-page journal and through doing that I come up with ideas and premises for stand up. From there I try and hit the stage almost every day if not at least 5X a week for a show or an open mic and iron out those ideas into bits. I also get inspiration from just living life and being in the moment and talking to people. Through conversations i’ll catch myself thinking oh that’s funny, I wonder if it would work on stage.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
I am currently living in LA, I have only been here for like 5 months now and I would say I feel as if I have met a lot of talented and great people who help inspire me to get better. This scene has so much talent and you get to see some of the greatest comedians on any random day whether it’s a Tuesday at laugh factory or a Saturday night bar show you just never know who will stop by and do some time. That’s one thing that I really love about the scene here. Everyone is always grinding and working hard in this scene and it’s just always something going on here.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
That’s a tricky thing because success is very different for each person. My POV is that as long as you are progressing and getting better each day and you see growth within your art, that’s really all that matters. Success to me is showing up and doing the work and giving it your 100%. Success is not giving up and being resilient through it all.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
There are so many, from my boys like Rami Abushhab, Adil Qaisar, Mo Ali, and Yazid Suliman, who are based out of Chicago right now, to Reem Edan, Paul Costabile, Natalie Friedman, and many more. All of them are just so hardworking, funny, and great people that constantly inspire me day in and day out.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
I think some memorable moments must be meeting comedians I’ve looked up to and just getting to talk to them and pick their brains about how they approach comedy. I feel I am always a fan of this craft, so getting to talk to some legendary comedians has always been a moment I’ll never forget. There are also certain shows that were beyond amazing, like my first time debuting at Zanies in Chicago was just such a special night. From the performance to the overall energy that night, it will forever be one of my fav shows.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
To keep working hard, and when you fall, just get back up and try again. The beautiful thing about failing is that it is when you learn the most. So going back and reflecting on failed shows/performances and seeing what you did wrong helps make you better, and over time, you learn to grow and see certain failures as blessings/springboards to success.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
I never really paid attention to it, but I will say making people laugh and just being a good human, I noticed it uplifts my mood as much as it does for them. Laughing and having fun with people just makes life easier to deal with, and I feel like it helps you connect with people on a deeper level.
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
I think just going after it and hitting mics early on is a great start. Then from there, hop on shows. If you feel like you are ready but no one is booking you, just create your lane and book yourself and who you think is funny and throw independent shows. Be kind, honest, and fair to comics and show as much love as you can to everyone from the audience to other comics doing this because we all know this is not an easy landscape. Being supportive of your peers goes a long way and just makes the overall craft great. I would also like to say everything will happen at the right time, and things happen for you, not to you, so don’t get upset if things don’t always work your way. This craft will take time so don’t be hard on yourself and just enjoy the journey.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
I would love to see more comedians have an abundance mindset and remind them that there is room for all of us to eat. Not saying there aren’t comedians who are positive and have that type of mindset, but I just wish to see more of it. I would love to see comedians put their egos aside and just know everything is going to be alright, but that’s not just a comedy world issue. That’s just a human issue that, God willing, we will get through as people.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
“As long as you don’t quit, you will be successful… also BE FUNNY!!!”
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“Where Do I Begin”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I bumped into Miranda Cosgrove from the show “ICarly” randomly on the street in Studio City two weeks ago, and all that came into mind was asking her why they did my boy Gibby like that in the show, and she just smiled and kept it moving. I don’t even think she really heard me and she was probably really annoyed. So shout out Gibby from the showman. He was my fav character (Laughs).
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
I can write a whole book on this one, from random crab shacks to T-Mobile stores. To random bars in the middle of nowhere that didn’t have a stage or microphone, and I had to do my whole set standing on top of the piano where people didn’t even know a show was supposed to take place and probably just thought I was crazy. I can go on and on, but honestly, those shows really do help build character for this craft.
A Younis Dhaher Fun Fact:
I can twist my whole foot around 360 without breaking it.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I would love for comedy to take me as far as God has written for me. Inshallah, I can go down as one of the GOATS and be mentioned in the conversation when it comes to stand-up comedy. I want to leave a legacy and help push the envelope the same way all the greats did before me. I would be lying to you if I didn’t say some version of that. I feel like that’s the type of mindset you should have going into anything you love. I want to be as great as I can and take it as far as it goes.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Through practice and consistency. Just keep going after it, and one day you will own the laughs.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
I am excited for the future of comedy and I feel like this art form is only growing and becoming more widely popular around the world. I am hyped to see new faces and new cultures embracing this art form and can’t wait to be part of it.
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 would love to write on the show DAVE and maybe do an episode where Dave switches careers and becomes a stand-up comedian.
If you could choose ONE comedy club and THREE comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
I would love to perform with Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, and Chris Rock at The Comedy Store, and maybe at the end of the night, we all go on stage and roast each other and do some crowd work.
What’s next for you:
I have a lot of ideas and projects that I am working on. Let’s just say Feb 2024, I got something special that I am cooking up, and I can’t wait for people to see it.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Because life is too short to cry and be sad about stupid sh*t, live life, laugh as loud as you can, and just enjoy it because when it’s all said and done, you want to look back and smile at all the great memories you made.
Follow Younis Dhaher’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Younis Dhaher
Youtube: Younis Dhaher
Personal Website: Younis Dhaher
