Executive Producer of the Laugh Your Asheville Off Comedy Festival
Rapid River Magazine: So many of the main stream comics have passed through Laugh Your Asheville Off (LYAO) over the years; were there any comics who were not big at the time but you knew would make it to “Name Brand” status and did?
Charlie Gerencer: Great question! And thank you for making me feel like I know all about comedy! I do. No, really I’m not kidding, I do. In all seriousness, comedy these days is a massive series of subcultures almost too big to be considered subcultures. But for the purpose of this answer I’m sticking with it.
A few of the performers blowing up in popularity that you saw first at LYAO would be Rory Scovel (TBS’s Ground Floor), Seaton Smith (Fox’s Mulaney), Kyle Kinane and Ryan Singer. They are rising to the top of cult comedy stardom. Plus M. Dickson, who has crushed a comedy writing career in Hollywood.
There are many more, but those few jump out at me.
RRM: It’s a comedy festival. I’m sure there have been many behind the scenes funny moments. Care to share one or two with us?
CG: What’s your definition of funny? We’re not allowed back at the Downtown Inn anymore. For reasons I can neither confirm nor deny. I’ve heard tell of things happening during the daytime involving wooded places where comics and some new friends of the area saw some things. Whether those things were actually there I can neither confirm nor deny.
RRM: Living here in Asheville since ’96 I’ve noticed a huge shift toward younger demographics of those attending events, shows, festivals, etc., (young being twenty-somethings). Has your audience aged with you over the years, or are you seeing a large number of young people coming to Laugh Your Asheville Off?
CG: This is another great question. And one that when answered will not potentially get anyone arrested. The LYAO festival, I can say this with all honesty, is the most eclectic festival in the area in terms of it’s audience demographic.
Our event is like a classy, well…I don’t know what it’s like because we are inarguably unique and fun. You see 18 year olds sitting next to a retired couple sitting in front of WLOS news anchors and next to local restaurant owners, and so on. It’s amazingly eclectic and harmonious.
The energy mixed with all the comedy gives you tingles to be part of it. I think it’s equal parts human across the board. If they’ve aged with me then the city is in big trouble because I feel more immature than ever.
RRM: How do you select the comics who will be performing?
CG: We have an open submission process online that runs late February through the beginning of May. Comics submit a 7-10 minute link to their performance set and our talent director/producer Ryan Folks organizes them and we watch and watch and watch. Then collectively we watch and watch.
After that we narrow down the submissions to fit many different criteria. Number one, of course, being are they funny? Then there are many other aspects of the performer that we discuss and bicker back and forth about, then we culminate a lineup and design them so every show is different and every show is unique.
You’ll never see onstage anywhere ever what you will be able to see at our event. The talent scouts and Hollywood executives I bring in to town appreciate this effort too. It makes it fun and not typical for them.
RRM: Talk a little about the energy of attending a live stand-up instead of watching them on television.
CG: There’s no comparison in energy. Laughter is funny. Get it? That was stupid and I shouldn’t have typed that. What’s even more stupid is I’m still typing about its stupid-ness. I’m digressing. Comedy is subjective no matter where you’re watching it. However, experiencing stand-up comedy at our live event, the laughter becomes contagious and spreads like wild fire.
You feel yourself letting go and relaxing and being more open to laughing at everything this crazy world offers us and from many perspectives. It’s an awesome experience when the energy of live stand-up relieves the weight we all carry.
The 9th Annual Laugh Your Asheville Off Comedy Festival, August 12-15, 2015. Tickets available at LaughYourAshevilleOff.com
