As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Lucas Copp. The Portland, OR native shares some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and explains how he always owns the laughs.
Name: Lucas Copp
Hometown: Portland,OR
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @lucasgcopp73
Years in Comedy: 5
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: Kill Tony and my instagram clips
Comedic Influences: Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle, Norm MacDonald, Deon Cole, Jim Carrey, Conan O’Brien, Ali Siddiq, & Eddie Murphy
Favorite Comedy Album: Richard Pryor Live & Smoking
Favorite Comedy Special: Ali Siddiq Domino Effect Part 2: LOSS
Favorite Comedy Movie: Ace Ventura 2: When Nature Calls
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Impractical Jokers
Favorite Comedic Character: Fire Marshal Bill
Favorite City to Perform In: San Diego, CA
Favorite Topics to Joke About: I like jokes that take real things that happened to me and then I make them absurd.
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: Drunk and rowdy
Favorite Comedy Club: Savage Henry In Eureka California
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I watched Kevin Hart’s Grown Little Man special in 6th grade and cried laughing. I remember loving the idea that he was so funny just talking alone.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
On my 18th birthday I saw a whiteboard that advertised an open mic. I went to the mic two day later just to watch and the comics were so bad I was inspired to try. I made fun of a lady’s tattoos and it went pretty well. I never looked back.
How would you describe your comedic style:
I’m very honest and blue collar if that collar was in Portland and found in a thrift store. I also do a lot of you look like jokes to the audience.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
Talking to comics that are funny, or going on stage with a premise and bombing with the idea until it becomes funny or I give up on it. I also sit down and write, it’s just not as organic.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
Lots of opportunities to do comedy every night multiple times. Being in Portland there is a low tolerance for being overtly offensive which in my opinion is good for new people coming in who would typically be targeted by an edgy comic and it’s good for the writing process because you’re forced to be a more clever and knowledgeable comic.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
Paying your bills with jokes is very successful to me
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Gotta say Adam Pasi and Shane Brennan. My good friends Milo Loza and Juan Denmark. Also the very famous Imani Denae.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
One time I told a guy in the audience to be quiet who was a very tall and unhinged war veteran who was recently released from prison. He stepped on my shoe so I couldn’t move, slapped my hat off and told me he would cut out my liver and cook it. I talked my way out of it and walked away. Before I left though I wanted to talk to him one more time in the name of comedy. I went up and asked him “are you okay” and he started crying.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
That all comedy is just practice, no matter how big and important the show is. Every set is practice until you record the special.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
They make it easier for me to hit them with the set up.
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
Slow, sad and filled with self doubt and then sometimes it’s the best feeling in the world and your filled with confident delusion. It’s beautiful.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
Less people on open mic sign up sheets and more money being paid to people on shows.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
Comedy doesn’t need you, you need to impose your presence in comedy and grow like a stubborn weed coming out of a crack in concrete.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“That’s Pretty Good”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I was at a strip club and Dave Chappelle showed up, I dapped him up then got really drunk and his security guard kicked me out very physically.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
The side walk in downtown Portland to homeless people and tourists waiting in line at voodoo doughnuts.
A Lucas Copp Fun Fact:
I took my girlfriend bungie jumping and she broke up with me that day. I don’t do fun things with women I love anymore
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
A house.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Do a lot of comedy and do new jokes all the time. You’ll probably be good if you don’t quit.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
I think the clips are making it something people want to watch in more short formats and that will probably makes us less funny but it’ll probably be fine.
If you could write an episode for ONE classic TV sitcom, which show would it be:
I would write an episode of three stooges but in my episode the injuries would have the real world consequences they should have and our main characters would have to learn how to live with CTE.
If you could choose ONE comedy club and THREE comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
The Comedy Cellar in New York with Bill Burr, Norm MacDonald and Dave Chappelle
What’s next for you:
I’m going to do comedy until I’m 90 like Don Rickles.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Because it going to suck regardless of how much fun you have.
Follow Lucas Copp’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Lucas Copp
Youtube: Lucas Copp
