Were can you find standup comedy, knife juggling, and fire breathing in one place? With this week’s guest, Tom Allen of TomCat Performance! In our final remote-recorded episode we talk about how to get into circus performance, and the difference between English and Canadian comedy audiences.
Tom says he has always had a performative compulsion, which led him to become a circus performer nearly 15 years ago, before immigrating to Canada. This started out with juggling fire, and led into fire eating, fire breathing, sword swallowing, unicycle riding, and a lot of other head turning performances. As a circus performer he had always tried to incorporate comedy into his routine, which he says is cheating a little bit, since it allowed him to get away with making mistakes that might have sunk a more serious performer.
After moving to Canada a decade ago Tom gravitated towards circus performing here as well, and during the last oil boom frequently performed at corporate gigs, and even once set himself on fire doing so. Over time the circus performance industry in Calgary was largely amalgamated into one big performance corporation, and Tom started looking at other opportunities to scratch his creative itch, leading him to stand up comedy.
In addition to explaining how English and Canadian audiences differ in their comedic tastes Tom give us the inside scoop on where the best spots are in Calgary for standup any night of the week. Of course during the COVID quarantine many comedy clubs and bars with open mic were closed, so Tom had to adapt. During this time he started creating online content including his very well received Half True Story of Banff, which you can watch on his Facebook Page.
After we laugh our butts off with Tom we chat with Mama T about which 80s popstars she most identifies with, while throwing some shade at Vanilla Ice. While we’re at it we do an ice-box audit to see if being stuck at home during quarantine meant T’s fridge would be better stocked. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t.
Have a question for Mama T? A story from the bottom of a beer can? Send it in and we’ll read it anonymously on-air! DM us on instagram @wildrosebrewery or email it to Nick - nmcmorrow@wildrosebrewery.com
Wild Rose Brewery: taproom | website | instagram | twitter
Tom Allen - TomCat Performance: facebook | instagram
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