Stand-up Comedy Interview with Mike E. Winfield

Stand-up comedy is a great way to hear a humorous perspective on a given situation. I find it entertaining both for the jokes, and for how much fun the comedian seems have telling them. I found out about Mike E. Winfield through word of his upcoming performance at the Capitol City Comedy Club (Feb 4-7!). I reached out to him to ask his thoughts on stand-up comedy, because it is apparent that he enjoys his profession.

Travis Blair: What is it about stand-up comedy that keeps bringing you back up to the microphone?

Mike E. Winfield: It’s the last place for un punishable free speech, and it’s liberating. Oh yeah, the money. I love it.

Does a venue ever affect the performance of your routine?

A venue can definitely have an affect. Some are more intimate and some are large and theatrical. I feel like a born performer so they all make me tingly inside. I’d perform in a living room or a coffee shop if it’s some people sitting in front of me. I have a lot of ideas in my book and they don’t work just saying them in my head.

Is there a moment in stand-up comedy that influenced you?

I’m driven by the love of creativity and I look for it in all genres. I love hip hop, and a lot of well written verses challenges me to become a better artist. I like to get the people talking. I appreciate a joke that’s well done.

How has your experience on the stage helped you on the screen?

I’m not sure if performing on stage has really helped me on screen. On screen has made me look at the way I act out a lot of my material on stage. After I began acting, I became more physical on stage. What I mean, is I act out more of my material.

What makes for a good joke?

A good joke is one that other comedians look and think, “I wish I would have wrote that.” A good joke is so simple, and often so obvious that people relate in a way that shows that we are all connected somehow.

Find out more about Mike E. Winfield and his upcoming performances at his website, and follow him on Twitter here.