| Calgary native Roman Danylo is the front man of his own Canadian comedy television series. On Comedy Inc., seen on CTV and the Comedy Network, Danylo heads up a talented ensemble of performers. They have delivered such memorable sketches as "Hussein’s Line Is It Anyway" and a bit called "Supernatural Kids Say the Darndest Things." Danylo himself also tours extensively doing stand-up, is involved in many other TV projects and has done some film acting.
Calgary comic Clark Robertson is another guy who wears many performance hats. He’s done a lot of nightclub comedy, acted in TV commercials, provided some animation voice-overs and has recently been promoting himself as a Don Cherry impersonator for hire. While Robertson does not currently enjoy the same level of notoriety as Danylo, he, like the Comedy Inc. star, makes a sizable chunk of his income from corporate comedy appearances.
It seems playing for company-organized gatherings of white-collar professionals has become a welcome alternative to an endless stream of nightclub gigs where things can go badly.
"I once had a hex put on me in a comedy club by an audience member," recalls Danylo.
"When it comes to worst gigs, the list goes on," says Robertson. "I have had drunks heckling; someone tried to stab me once, I have taken a lighter off the head, I have fought a couple of guys onstage – and those were the kids shows," he jokes.
While Robertson still does nightclub stand-up, including upcoming performances at Calgary’s FunnyFest, he’s put a major emphasis on landing corporate shows for the last half-decade. His ongoing role as a Don Cherry impersonator originated as a request from one of these shows.
"They gave me $275 in the budget for a costume," he recalls. "And I spent $1,200." Robertson defends the expense. "You’ve got to look crisp if you’re going to be Don," he says.
Robertson enjoys the favourable audience environment offered by big-business performances. "In the bars, you’re just trying to blow out material and not leave an opening for someone to get a word in edgewise," he says. "But once I did corporate shows for about a year, my demeanour changed." He became comfortable because he learned, "people would actually listen to a story."
The Vancouver-based Danylo finds many of his corporate gigs bring him back to Calgary. "I really like doing that stuff because they pay really well and they treat you nicely," he says. "The corporate world is quite a bit like high school. You find out what the cliques are, who the popular kids are and then you make fun of them."
But even the seemingly protected atmosphere of corporate comedy can provide its share of misadventures. "I was doing an event once where they didn’t have lighting," says Danylo. "So what they did is just turn up the heat lamps from the buffet. One side of my face was sort of well done by the end of the show."
While Danylo’s showbiz career continues to gain momentum, with multiple entertainment projects in development; he seems quite content to retain the corporate shows. "I sort of consider it my day job," he says.
Robertson will also continue with corporate comedy but would like to expand into regular TV work. So if you’re looking to launch a sitcom about an in-your-face redneck TV hockey analyst who becomes the Odd Couple roommate to a flamboyant gay entertainer, give the guy a call. |
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