I talked with Maryland native Brian McDaniel about his stand up career.

Q: Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Bowie, Maryland

 

Q: Do you have a favorite memory of growing up in Maryland?

It’s a GREAT place to grow up. It was a really small town then, with tons of outdoor stuff to do. I distinctly remember shoveling snow so I could buy baseball cards. ::laughs::

 

Q: When did you first know you wanted to be a comedian?

I was still working at TMZ, and Lisa Lampanelli was guest hosting. She was talking about the actor Ice-T, and I just remember dying laughing. I said to myself “Either I do it, or I don’t. So a couple weeks later I hit an open mic night. It was a defining moment for me.

 
Q: What is your favorite thing about stand up comedy?

It’s cerebral. The reaction you get back from an audience is real. It’s immediate.

 

Q: What are some pros and cons of being on the road?

Pros = Getting tons of work in. I can get more face time with different crowds that may or may not respond. You get to learn a lot about yourself.

Cons = Traveling all over the place…getting up waaayy too early for work. And of course being away from your wife and kids.

 

Q: What makes YOU laugh?

Stupid, silly stuff my friends do. Bill Burr is one the funniest comics out there. He’s unreal..at the top of his game for sure.

 

Q: What is your favorite venue to perform in?

Has to be the Acme Comedy Club in Minneapolis. The ceilings are low, it’s really dark, the sound is fantastic. The audiences there are SO smart.

 

Q: You worked for TMZ for a while. Was that a crazy experience?

It was great..tons of fun. I was on the team that transitioned the website to TV. I got a lot of exposure. Doing ANYTHING in Hollywood for eight years is considered a long time. I worked with a ton of great people, including Harvey Levin. I still have a great relationship with him. It was just time to move on.

 

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