I chatted with comedian Tyler Horvath about his upbringing and his comedy career
When did you know you wanted to be a comedian?
When I was in High School I kind of just got obsessed with comedy, standup and like SNL and comedy movies and everything. I never thought I could be a comedian though until I was out of college and stumbled into a couple of open mics to watch a friend of a friend. There were a few people who were very funny but many people struggled and I just thought oh the bar is pretty low actually. That person had a brutal set but seems to know everyone here. You can be a part of this even when you’re not good yet. So that was when I went ok maybe I could try this now that the barrier to entry is lower than I thought. That and listening to podcasts like Maron and Pete Holmes’ where they sort of outlined all these different paths to a career that all start at open mics. So that was exciting and I went ok there’s a way to do this it’s not just an insane jump into the void.
What did your family say when you decided to be a comedian?
Well I had a few wilderness years where I just was lost coming out of college, not knowing what I wanted to/could do. I moved home, got a bs job in my home city, the whole nine yards of guy-who’s-going-nowhere. So when I started comedy and eventually they saw me go on at a little show, they were just very happy that I was headed in a direction, any direction. I’m lucky they’re very supportive.
What is the biggest misconception people have about being a working comedian?
That it’s like a debaucherous time out on the road I’d say. There may have been a time when that was the case, but I feel like it’s really romanticized. Travelling is brutal on the body and people who burn the candle at both ends don’t last long. Most working comedians especially at higher levels are pretty disciplined and focus their whole day/week to getting themselves ready for the shows. It’s not as sexy but it’s the reality of delivering something on stage that is worth what the audience has paid their hard earned money for.
What is the weirdest crowd interaction you’ve ever had?
Well there’s many at the beginning that are tough. You’re doing shows in bars where people are trying to watch baseball and they turn off the tvs because it’s time for your show. So people order a shot and a beer and glare at you as if you’re the reason their team sucks. That’s a strange feeling and I’m well acquianted with it.
Is there any topic you won’t touch in your stand up?
I don’t have any hard and fast rules but there’s a lot of topics I wouldn’t consider touching unless and until I had an angle that I thought was worth exploring. I’m not looking at difficult topics and trying to write about them necessarily. I have at times and it never felt like me. Comedians like taking stances on controversial topics because the stakes are built in. When you start any topic you have to answer an implied question for the audience which is, why should I care about this? What does this matter? And with something big or controversial, they probably already do care, so you’re just playing with house money. Idk maybe it’s just fear of touching the stove for me but I don’t find that all too appealing. I’d rather take something that no one thinks or cares about and try to find a reason for them to care. All that said, no idea how I’ll feel about it tomorrow or next week, let alone 10 years from now.
I’ve watched many of your videos (some even before I emailed about this interview.) The video about Zohran/Cuomo/the plane absolutely LAID ME OUT laughing. What is it like interacting with fans and strangers alike via your social media channels?
Thanks I really appreciate that. It’s strange but great. I was resistant for a long time to posting on social media. But at some point you do have to put yourself out there. I’ve been really surprised and excited by most of the reactions. People are very kind for the most part.
Who is your favorite comedian and why?
Instead of talking about people who’ve been famous for 20 years I’ll give you a few of my favorites among my friends and peers. Maddie Weiner, Geoffrey Asmus, Emil Wakim, Tim Smith, Olivia Carter, Tucker Brookshire, Dan Docimo, Mike Rice. Lucky to say they’re all friends of mine and incredible. If you haven’t heard of them just look them up and you’ll see why they’re on the list.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
Teleportation. No more early flights. Or awkward conversations.
Excited about your upcoming show in Baltimore?
Couldn’t be more excited. I’ve only been once before and had a blast. I’ve heard the Port is a great venue and it’s gonna be great to get in there and see for myself. Grab the mic my hands still covered in Blue Crab and Old Bay. Those references work right?
Tyler headlines Port Comedy Club in Baltimore Thursday, February 26th! Buy tix