Today we’d like to introduce you to Gavin Bloom.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Gavin. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m sure that my story is very similar to that of many comedians. “Humor is a defense mechanism that hides my insecurities I want the attention that may be necessary to make up for a lack of it as a child, or because humor gave me positive attention and reinforcement, which lead me to crave more. Ultimately, at 38 years old, I recognize how important humor and laughter is to our well being, both individually, and as a society- anywhere in the world. It’s important to remember that life has hard times and struggles. As my brother reminded me, attending my first booking in Las Vegas over the summer, it is being able to laugh at ourselves and the hardships we’ve faced. That is what helps us get through them. In November of 1987, my parents, brother and I moved to America from Cape Town South Africa when I was six years old. My parents wanted a better life and opportunities for my brother and me, as the classic American Dream goes for generations of immigrants before us. This decision was nothing short of a monumental sacrifice; taking such a risk and leaving behind our deep and extended family and support circles to follow a dream. The reality, however, continues to remind me of how easy it is to filter out the struggles and trials that are involved in the fulfillment of any dream. My dad was a successful and respected pharmacist in South Africa, having followed in the footsteps of Grandpa and taking over the family business. Our new life in America leads him to open a dry-cleaning business in Scottsdale, which is still around today. This resulted in his having to work long days and long nights, adding to long weeks. We were only able to spend time with my Dad on Sundays, something we were not used to backing in Cape Town; we saw him so much more often. This changed things gradually; adding stress on my mom- who had the majority of time with us kids, and on my dad- who regretted that he couldn’t be there with us as well.
As the years went by, this continued to be our life. My parents both worked- and worked hard-coming home exhausted and still having to carry out critical parenting duties; doing their best with kids who are growing up in a country far different from what they experienced. I think it was a culture shock, too, and they were not given time to process their new environment. I know that I felt out of place for the longest time. In kindergarten, I practiced daily with The Pledge of Allegiance to lose my South African accent. Needless to say, I was very quiet. When I did open my mouth, I tried to be funny; make it count. And, for the most part, I was quite successful. Never mind that my audience was predominantly Kindergartners, I was still very proud of the reactions I received when I was able to say something clever enough to make other kids laugh. Ironically, I felt that my parents’ sense of humor was eroding with every passing year. My parents were working longer and harder, money was getting tighter, and soon, it was teenagers that were once their children. I’m not saying that my brother and I made it difficult but, I know it couldn’t have been easy. Hell, in my teenage years, I didn’t even want to be around me most of the time. It wasn’t always the happiest environment in my household. Again, the need for humor, laughter, and validation was what was most important to me socially. I don’t think my parents ever really saw that side of me.
It was in High School that I performed my first stand up set, in 1998, at a coffee house fundraiser for our Theater Dept. I had a lot of fun doing it and couldn’t believe how well received it was. Why I stopped after just one performance, I have no real excuse other than I didn’t believe in myself enough to create a thought; a joke, that hadn’t already been created or expressed better by someone else. I suppose I buckled under the pressure that I created for myself. Little did I know, that’s EXACTLY what real comedians do!
I believe that we all have a calling; something- or many things- special that we can offer the world as a result of our experiences; finely tuned through pain and trauma, but also through love and good times. In 2011, after years of working customer service jobs, I had a moment of clarity: “Stand Up Comedy is something I need to do. Not just for a career, but sanity and happiness.” I never, and to this day, fit the mold of the status quo employee. I can pretend and I think a lot of us do because rent is a real thing which can’t always be paid from jokes. I took the next step that year and signed up for ComedySchools, a local stand-up comedy class based in Tempe Arizona under the direction of Tony Visich.
Over the last nine years, I’ve worked my way up to “Feature Comedian” status and have worked with comedians from all over the country. It’s common for the comedian’s road to be of duration. And, many comedians have told me never to look at the distance, both traveled and ahead, as a measure of success. I don’t know how long the road ahead is, but I do know that it’s the laughs the keep me going.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I say this with a bit of a tongue-in-cheek chuckle, No, it hasn’t been a smooth road, but I can still appreciate that fact. It’s the bumps in the road the shape our character and makes the good, joyful, times so much more valuable and vibrant. I honestly don’t know what I would do with a “smooth road”. That’s too boring for me… (Tongue-in-Cheek)
Naturally, moving to America was very difficult. I regret not growing up with the influence and company of my Grandparents (from both sides of my family). I always felt a strong bond with my Granny and Grandpa (my Dad’s parents). They were calming, insightful, and above all, loving. I think that their kindness and warmth would have been a great help to me during some of the darker times, growing up in a strange new place, without them. I think there were many times were growing up, and I am still susceptible to these challenges in the present, where I’m affected by the cynicism, anger, and pessimism that is in the world. It’s so important to have an “anchor”, someone or something that grounds you and reminds you that no matter what is going on out there, which doesn’t agree with you, it doesn’t define you. I think my Grandparents were those anchors, for me. I wish that I had them around as I fought my battles with depression. Hell, who’s to say I would have been depressed? It’s amazing what kindness and kind words can do to a person’s spirit when outside experiences can fool us into thinking that our spirit has no value.
Please tell us about your work.
I’m an aspiring local Stand Up Comedian; performing professionally since 2011. I am so proud that I have been able to make people- strangers- laugh and escape from their daunting daily grind, for so many years. I’m proud that so many people have come up to me and admire the courage it takes to go up on stage and attempt to do this. Honestly, I feel kind of guilty about it. Public speaking is one of the top phobias in this country. But for me, it’s more comfortable than being in most social situations.
People who have seen me perform, or have workshop comedy bits and jokes with me, have told me that they like my style of comedy because it’s thought to provoke. I’m extremely proud of this compliment. When we think of a comedian, today, it is so easy to only highlight a couple of flash elements, most of which are quite aggressive and sometimes mean spirited. Is that what comedy is about? Sure, I use some swear words from time to time, but it’s not every other word- just because you can. I don’t think Racism is funny. Not by itself, anyway. What I mean is, if I’m going to use Racism in my comedy, you can be sure that you’ll be smarter for it. Comedy is such a powerful device. We can use it to teach and talk about very serious and sensitive topics in a very disarming way. We can teach, and remind ourselves, why the idea of Racism is so ridiculous and outdated; to take a look at ourselves and realize that we all feel the same pains and joys and we share the capacity to empathize with anyone because typically we can relate to our experiences. Now, I believe, this is when Comedy is used for good. It has to have a point and it has to be funny. Otherwise, I’ve seen that many aspiring comedians mistake stand up comedy for cart blanche to say racist things or otherwise shocking things, that they wouldn’t say in everyday conversation. I suppose you can do this, but there is a difference between being funny and apologetically shocking for shocking’s sake. There’s a tried and true credo among writers: “Show, don’t tell.” Half the fun of a joke is filling in the details on your own, with your imagination. I have jokes about sex, sure, but they are far funnier when the delivery is implied as opposed to heavy handed and vulgar or, when the “twist” is so good, the punchline becomes about the twist and overshadows the vulgarity. Comedy is an art-form, no doubt about it.
I appreciate the fact that people come to a comedy club to feel good and enjoy themselves. I don’t want to single anyone out or verbally beat up on an audience member when they’ve paid well to enjoy a comedy show. I feel it’s not necessary. And, if I do, you can be sure that the joke falls back on me before it’s all said and done.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I think I would have taken more risks. I think I would have moved to Los Angeles after high school, and made an effort to pursue acting, improv theater, and stand-up comedy. The comedy scene is so different from 20 years ago. I think I would have still had that childlike wonder, passion, and CONFIDENCE for it which, I admit, does get chipped away a bit every year. It would have been a time where stand-up was still niche and even a little mysterious. It was before Youtube and Netflix specials so jokes had a longer shelf-life. It was more special to me then. But, I suppose that, like with anything you focus on, the proverbial magnifying glass makes small objects seem it bigger. I’m sure that it is just as special; just as niche; just as mysterious: to everyone who is not immediately involved.
Contact Info:
- Email: gavinbloomcomedian@gmail.com
- Instagram: GavinBloomComedian
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gavin-Bloom-Comedian-249646855080071/
- Twitter: GavinInBloom
Image Credit:
Ben Lewis, Tony B., Jozalyn Sharp Filth Factory Las Vegas.
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