Make enjoyable of everyone: Matt Mathews on comedy, chaos and roasting

For Matt Mathews, his comedy is all about serving to a typically wildly chaotic world lock the doorways, chortle raucously and “make fun of everybody.” Direct from Birmingham, Alabama, Mathews has labored in different careers as a photographer and an author, however bantering with a packed crowd from the stage is the place he actually shines. We sat down to talk with Matt Mathews forward of his upcoming “Boujee On A Budget Tour” stops in Pennsylvania and New Jersey about his comedy stylings, his dream gig and why his husband stays his largest cheerleader.

You’ve had a number of careers, however all of them appear to have their very own particular person ardour inside you. Is there one that you just get extra of a cost out of doing than one other?
Yeah, I imply every little thing is so completely different, every little thing has its place. Obviously, I don’t do images anymore as a result of I simply don’t have the time. I don’t suppose there’s something that may ever beat the sensation of being on stage.

You do plenty of crowd work and it’s so enjoyable as a result of everyone appears to come back to play. When you’re on stage, is it ever troublesome to resolve who you’re going to play with a bit?
No [laughs].I positively will go off of the vibe that any person’s giving me. There are positively folks, you may inform, they’re simply dying for it; they need it so dangerous. The factor is, these individuals are paying cash to take a seat in these entrance row seats as a result of they need to be roasted. They’re paying to be there for that motive.

Now, there are some folks, plenty of the time, they’ll deliver a associate or one thing they usually’re not the largest followers of comedy or they don’t actually know who I’m or one thing like that and people are those that I actually go after. Especially the straight guys that sit there they usually’re simply so terrified to chortle. I’ll give it to them and by the top of it, they’re consuming out of the palm of my hand they usually find it irresistible. I believe when you don’t chortle and also you seem like you’re not having a great time, then it’s my job to make it possible for I get you by the top of the night time.

Is it troublesome to be actually humorous in right this moment’s world, which may typically be overly cautious by way of what might be thought of actually humorous?
I positively, within the final 12 months, have even gotten extra offensive. I’d say that I simply don’t care. I really feel like one of the best comedians are the those that don’t maintain again. and I simply don’t care if I harm your emotions; I don’t care if I offend you. I do know that I’m a great particular person, I do know that I’ve a great coronary heart and I do know that I’d by no means be imply to any person in actual life simply to be an asshole or simply to be imply.

I additionally know that we’re in a extremely darkish world and everyone is so offended over every little thing and I simply don’t have time for that. So when you come to my present and also you’re simply simply offended…effectively, primary, you tousled and got here to the unsuitable present. Number two, I’m going to offend you simply since you seem like you ought to be simply offended. I really feel like we ought to be making enjoyable of everyone. I really feel like we must always deliver bullying again as a result of folks get so offended over every little thing and I simply have zero time for it. I really feel like everyone’s truthful sport at my present. It doesn’t matter your race, your sexuality — it doesn’t matter; I’m going to make enjoyable of you, and I inform those that at my present.

When I begin the start of my present, I inform folks, we’re in a darkish world and tonight we’re gonna pull the stick out of our asses, and we’re gonna chortle about delicate topics, and we’re going to make enjoyable of everyone. We’re going to take darkish matters that may sometimes make us unhappy and make us cry and issues that we might perhaps shrink back from and we’re gonna make enjoyable of them and we’re gonna chortle about it as a result of that’s what we’ve got to do in life.

Is there anyone from the comedy world that you just sample what you do after or anyone that’s an inspiration?
You know, it’s very humorous to me as a result of folks will ask me this query, however I don’t watch plenty of comedy. It’s not as a result of I don’t suppose that there are folks which can be proficient, as a result of I completely do, however I’m a agency believer that comparability is the thief of pleasure. If I watch plenty of different comics, I really feel like I’ll evaluate myself to them. I don’t need to evaluate myself to another comics, I need to simply form of be in my lane and concentrate on the issues that I ought to be doing and tips on how to higher my very own craft. I completely love Katt Williams, and I believe that he’s unbelievable and there are different comics that I believe are nice.

I like the wholesomeness of Leanne Morgan. I believe that she’s treasured and she or he’s simply up there form of doing her factor and making everyone glad and never offending anyone; that alone is plenty of expertise proper there. I actually do attempt to simply keep in my lane and never evaluate myself to different folks.

My personal mom is formally an enormous Leanne Morgan fan and her new Netflix sitcom is sensational. She is without doubt one of the largest comedy names on the market now.
You can’t not love her. She’s treasured. She doesn’t say a curse phrase and she or he doesn’t say something dangerous. Everything she talks about is simply so healthful. She’s like Barney [laughs]! It may by no means be me, however that’s why folks in all probability love her greater than they love me as a result of I’m going to say shit that’s gonna harm your emotions.

Your comedy is within the spirit of wonderful and legendary roasts. I may actually see you thrive on a roast dais.
I imply yeah, final aim proper there!

You give your husband so many kudos and you actually give him his props for mainly being the middle of your world and never letting you come completely unhinged. Is he actually your largest cheerleader?
Oh, yeah. I imply, he’s my greatest buddy. He is my largest assist system. He is my primary fan, all the time. He might inform me that I’m completely nuts for doing one thing or he might say that I must not do that or that, however he’s all the time going to assist me in no matter I do as a result of he is aware of I’m going to do it anyway. I all the time inform folks I’m on a degree ten always and he’s on a degree zero. He is calm. He’s the yin to my yang for positive as a result of I’m the one which stays prepared. Like, I’ll slash your tires, you already know, I’m form of loopy. He’s like, “It’s not that big a deal.”

Coming from the South and I believe being on the planet that we dwell in now, it should be so surreal so that you can be seeing such a divide and also you’re proper in the midst of it. How do you navigate each side of that world?
I believe on the finish of the day, it simply form of comes right down to being a relatable particular person. We do have a lot division and a lot hate on the planet, however there’s additionally plenty of love and there’s plenty of good folks on the market. I believe that when folks see that on the finish of the day, we’re actually not that completely different and it’s straightforward to get caught up in all the issues which can be taking place on the planet.

Laughter brings us collectively and laughter is one of the best drugs. That’s form of the rationale why I’ll completely keep away from matters in my present that I do know will simply divide folks. I actually attempt to wish to deliver folks collectively in my exhibits and simply make folks chortle and to overlook about what’s occurring exterior for 90 minutes of their day. They’re coming to chortle they usually’re coming to get pleasure from their night time. They’re coming to overlook concerning the onerous issues that they’re combating exterior of those partitions. That’s what my job is. My job is to not divide folks anymore.

Matt Mathews will take the stage along with his “Boujee On A Budget Tour” at 8 p.m. on Aug. 22 at Wind Creek Casino, 77 Wind Creek Blvd, Bethlehem, PA and on Aug. 23 at Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino Resort, 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J. For extra info or to buy tickets, go to mattmathews.com/comedy-tour.

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