Chi-Town spolight: Brendan Gay
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Published by Sareth Ney on Jan. 16, 2017 at 4:01 a.m.
Updated on Jan. 17, 2017 at 2:27 a.m. |
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Photo credit: Ashley NiCole'
CHICAGO – Brendan Gay’s inspiration to pursue stand-up comedy came while he worked in the corporate world. He was unhappy and felt he was not living up to his full potential. After listening to comedians (Dave Chappelle and Louis C.K.) and podcasts (Joe Rogan’s “The Joe Rogan Experience” and Marc Maron’s “WTF with Marc Maron”), Gay began to write comedy.
After Gay moved to Chicago, he took stand-up comedy seriously and performed for the first time. During his initial performance on stage, he had mixed emotions. He remembered only seeing four people and they were not paying attention. He remembered bombing and felt awful. At the same time, he felt great doing something courageous and achieved one of his goals.
When it comes to venturing off into other forms of comedy, Gay stated he was happy as being a stand-up comedian and podcaster. Jokingly, he said he had no intentions of trying anything else unless there was money involved. He continued by saying improvisational comedy was completely out of the picture.
If Gay could go on tour with any comedian, he chose Louis C.K. He chose C.K. because of the knowledge he could obtain. Jeselnik, Jeff Ross, Tony Hinchcliffe, Rogan and Joey “CoCo” Diaz were the five comedians he wanted to get roasted by.
Gay’s favorite comedy specials and record albums include Anthony Jeselnik’s “Anthony Jeselnik: Thoughts and Prayers” and Sam Morril’s “Class Act”. Gay’s all-time favorite sketch show is “Chappelle’s Show” and his favorite comedy films are “Superbad” and “Friday”.
Shortly after Gay completes his time on the stage, he wants to share his views with the spectators and see where he is coming from. He hopes those who listen will be inspired to pursue their own desires. His goal is to have them laugh and enjoy the times they shared together.
Over the next five years, Gay sees him as a headlining act and comedy is a full-time gig. In the time frame, he hopes to have a comedy album completed and residing in Los Angeles. He plans to work harder and getting better at his craft.
Online on social media, Gay can be found on his website at brendanbeingbrendan.com. His podcast, “Brendan Being Brendan”, can be heard on the following platforms: iTunes, Soundcloud and Stitcher. He can be followed on Instagram by clicking here or searching @Brendan_gay. He is also on Twitter by searching @BrendanGay92 or clicking here.
After Gay moved to Chicago, he took stand-up comedy seriously and performed for the first time. During his initial performance on stage, he had mixed emotions. He remembered only seeing four people and they were not paying attention. He remembered bombing and felt awful. At the same time, he felt great doing something courageous and achieved one of his goals.
When it comes to venturing off into other forms of comedy, Gay stated he was happy as being a stand-up comedian and podcaster. Jokingly, he said he had no intentions of trying anything else unless there was money involved. He continued by saying improvisational comedy was completely out of the picture.
If Gay could go on tour with any comedian, he chose Louis C.K. He chose C.K. because of the knowledge he could obtain. Jeselnik, Jeff Ross, Tony Hinchcliffe, Rogan and Joey “CoCo” Diaz were the five comedians he wanted to get roasted by.
Gay’s favorite comedy specials and record albums include Anthony Jeselnik’s “Anthony Jeselnik: Thoughts and Prayers” and Sam Morril’s “Class Act”. Gay’s all-time favorite sketch show is “Chappelle’s Show” and his favorite comedy films are “Superbad” and “Friday”.
Shortly after Gay completes his time on the stage, he wants to share his views with the spectators and see where he is coming from. He hopes those who listen will be inspired to pursue their own desires. His goal is to have them laugh and enjoy the times they shared together.
Over the next five years, Gay sees him as a headlining act and comedy is a full-time gig. In the time frame, he hopes to have a comedy album completed and residing in Los Angeles. He plans to work harder and getting better at his craft.
Online on social media, Gay can be found on his website at brendanbeingbrendan.com. His podcast, “Brendan Being Brendan”, can be heard on the following platforms: iTunes, Soundcloud and Stitcher. He can be followed on Instagram by clicking here or searching @Brendan_gay. He is also on Twitter by searching @BrendanGay92 or clicking here.
Brendan Gay’s upcoming tour dates:
Jan. 15 - 21 - Atlanta
Jan. 22 - 28 - Birmingham, Ala.
Jan. 29 - Feb. 4 – Memphis, Tenn.
Feb. 5 - 11 - New Orleans
Feb. 12 - 18 - Baton Rouge, La.
Feb. 19 - 25 - Houston
Feb. 26 - March 4 - Austin, Texas
March 5 - 11 - Dallas
March 12 - 18 - Oklahoma City
March 19 - 25 – Tucson, Ariz.
March 26 - April 1 - Phoenix
April 2 - 8 - San Diego
April 9 - 15 - Long Beach, Calif.
April 16 - 22 - Los Angeles
April 23 - 29 - Las Vegas
April 30 - May 6 - Reno, Nev.
May 7 - 13 - Sacramento, Calif.
May 14 – 20 - Oakland, Calif.
May 21 - 27 - San Francisco
May 28 - June 3 - Portland, Ore.
June 4 - 10 - Seattle
June 11 - 17 - Bozeman/Billings, Mont.
June 18 - 24 Boise, Idaho
June 25 - July 1 - Salt Lake City
July 2 - 8 - Denver
July 9 - 15 - Kansas City, Mo.
July 16 - 22 - Neb.
July 23 - 29 - Des Moines, Iowa
July 30 - Aug. 5 - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.
Aug. 6 - 12 - Madison, Wis.
Aug. 13 - 19 - Milwaukee
Aug. 20 - 26 - Chicago
Aug. 27- Sep 2 - Indianapolis
Sept. 3 - 9 - St. Louis
Sept. 10-16 - Louisville, Ky.
Sept. 17 - 23 - Cincinnati
Sept. 24 - 30 - Columbus, Ohio
Oct. 1 - 7 - Detroit
Oct. 8 - 14 - Cleveland
Oct. 15 - 21 - Pittsburgh
Oct. 22 - 28 - Boston
Oct. 29 - Nov. 4 - New York
Nov. 5 - 11 - Philadelphia
Nov. 12-18 - Jersey City, N.J.
Nov. 19 - 25 - Baltimore
Nov. 26 - Dec. 2 - Washington
Dec. 3 - 9 - Richmond, Va.
Dec. 10 - 16 - Charlotte, N.C.
Dec. 17 - 23 - Raleigh, N.C.
Dec. 24 - 25 - Minn.
Dec. 26 - 31 - Honolulu
Jan. 15 - 21 - Atlanta
Jan. 22 - 28 - Birmingham, Ala.
Jan. 29 - Feb. 4 – Memphis, Tenn.
Feb. 5 - 11 - New Orleans
Feb. 12 - 18 - Baton Rouge, La.
Feb. 19 - 25 - Houston
Feb. 26 - March 4 - Austin, Texas
March 5 - 11 - Dallas
March 12 - 18 - Oklahoma City
March 19 - 25 – Tucson, Ariz.
March 26 - April 1 - Phoenix
April 2 - 8 - San Diego
April 9 - 15 - Long Beach, Calif.
April 16 - 22 - Los Angeles
April 23 - 29 - Las Vegas
April 30 - May 6 - Reno, Nev.
May 7 - 13 - Sacramento, Calif.
May 14 – 20 - Oakland, Calif.
May 21 - 27 - San Francisco
May 28 - June 3 - Portland, Ore.
June 4 - 10 - Seattle
June 11 - 17 - Bozeman/Billings, Mont.
June 18 - 24 Boise, Idaho
June 25 - July 1 - Salt Lake City
July 2 - 8 - Denver
July 9 - 15 - Kansas City, Mo.
July 16 - 22 - Neb.
July 23 - 29 - Des Moines, Iowa
July 30 - Aug. 5 - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.
Aug. 6 - 12 - Madison, Wis.
Aug. 13 - 19 - Milwaukee
Aug. 20 - 26 - Chicago
Aug. 27- Sep 2 - Indianapolis
Sept. 3 - 9 - St. Louis
Sept. 10-16 - Louisville, Ky.
Sept. 17 - 23 - Cincinnati
Sept. 24 - 30 - Columbus, Ohio
Oct. 1 - 7 - Detroit
Oct. 8 - 14 - Cleveland
Oct. 15 - 21 - Pittsburgh
Oct. 22 - 28 - Boston
Oct. 29 - Nov. 4 - New York
Nov. 5 - 11 - Philadelphia
Nov. 12-18 - Jersey City, N.J.
Nov. 19 - 25 - Baltimore
Nov. 26 - Dec. 2 - Washington
Dec. 3 - 9 - Richmond, Va.
Dec. 10 - 16 - Charlotte, N.C.
Dec. 17 - 23 - Raleigh, N.C.
Dec. 24 - 25 - Minn.
Dec. 26 - 31 - Honolulu
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sareth Ney is the journalist for A Quarter and Dream Pictures. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications and Center for New Media from Colorado State University-Pueblo. He is a former apprentice to master of horror, Clive Barker. He is a Wu-Tang Clan inspired superhero, Wu-Man Chu. He is an award-winning short filmmaker; his goal is to write 150 articles in select time zones, inducts every article into his hall of fame, is a stand-up comedian, motivational speaker, founder and co-host of Pueblo's Independent Multimedia Podcast and is the festival director at Sareth-Fest Music and Comedy Festival.
